ChildFund Alliance Europe Office

ChildFund Alliance Europe Office is a member-led initiative set up in close coordination with the ChildFund Alliance Secretariat. It was established in Brussels in 2014 to strengthen cooperation with European Union institutions. The Brussels office has two main strategic goals:

  • To advocate with key EU institutions for policies, programs and funding opportunities to promote children’s rights.
  • To promote and increase access to funding opportunities provided by the EU.

Advocacy

ChildFund Alliance Europe Office works to strengthen the engagement and cooperation of ChildFund Alliance with European Union (EU) institutions. ChildFund Alliance Europe Office works together with other organizations, including United Nations agencies and NGOs, to promote children’s rights as a priority in the EU’s external action.

ChildFund Alliance is a member of CONCORD, the European confederation of Relief and Development NGOs and the main interlocutor with the EU institutions on development policy.

In Brussels, ChildFund Alliance is also a member of the Children’s Rights Action Group, a coalition of 18 NGOs committed to making children’s rights a priority of the EU agenda. The coalition supports the Intergroup on Children’s Rights, the first formal body in the European Parliament that will mainstream children’s rights and promote the interests and well-being of children everywhere.

Catherine Lalonde

Director, ChildFund Alliance Europe Office

Catherine is the Director of ChildFund Alliance Europe Office. Working from Brussels and in coordination with the Secretariat, she provides strategic leadership for the Alliance on policy, advocacy and fundraising initiatives with European institutions, networks and partners.  She also supports and strengthens the representation and engagement of the Alliance Members with these stakeholders. Prior to joining ChildFund Alliance, Catherine held strategic positions in human rights and humanitarian nongovernmental organizations as an advocacy expert and head of programs. Trained as a lawyer, Catherine holds a LL.B. from the Université de Montréal and a LL.M. from the Geneva Academy of International Humanitarian Law and Human Rights.