Description
FRA and UNDP analysis (2012) on situation of Roma communities across 11 EU countries indicates invidious and alarming situation of Roma people. This ethnic group is discriminated at both socio-economic and political dimensions. Roma NGOs lack capacity in involving themselves in policy making processes and have limited possibilities to influence decisions concerning Roma situation. Project aims at fostering development of NGO coalition working with Roma issues as well as strengthening expert and organizational capacity of those NGOs. This is going to be achieved through advocacy activities and involvement into Roma policy making and implementation monitoring process. NGO capacity building is planned to be implemented through trainings and seminars on coalition building, networking, advocating as well as adopting Aflatoon methodology for work with Roma children. Media representatives will also be familiarized with Roma situation in Lithuania and encouraged to raise public awareness of Roma community instead of fostering stigmatization of it. Beneficiaries: NGOs, Roma community. Target groups: state and municipal authorities, policy makers, media.
Summary of project results
Following several reviews, assessments and reports prepared by EU FRA, UNDP, ECRI, Lithuanian Social Research Institute and others the Roma community is considered to be one of the most disadvantaged and discriminated vulnerable groups in a number of European Countries, including Lithuania. Roma people suffer from exclusion, hate speech and hate crimes, find difficulties in integrating themselves into labour market, school communities, are usually unable to advocate for their rights even at local level. Referring to An EU Framework for national Roma integration strategies up to 2020 (EC, 2011) Roma integration has been announced as one of EU priorities at social development dimension, however, Lithuanian strategy on Roma inclusion has been evaluated as the one with least measures envisaged among all EU member state. In light of this project promoter decided to fill some gaps by implementing a project for strengthening NGOs working with Roma issues. The aim of the project was to help the NGO‘s working with the Roma issues forming a strong, organized formal network on the basis of an embryonic coalition that does exist already. This should improve representation of Roma, provide advocacy to this community and allow effectively solving Roma issues they are facing in social, economic, political and cultural fields. The project activities were concentrated around 3 axis: - reinforcing the NGOs providing opportunities for Roma people to participate to the policy and decision making; - strengthen a network of NGOs working with Roma issues by inviting new members; - building administrative and managerial capacity, project drafting and implementation skills, networking and joint operation of projects. Project promoter has achieved the following results: Trainings provided to the target group on NGO advocacy (32 participants from 19 NGO’s), NGO’s administrative capacity building ( 8 NGO’s), planning and utilizing EU funding opportunities for solution of Roma issues (72 participants from 18 NGO’s), implementing Aflatoun methodology (16 participants from 10 NGO’s), developing leadership (30 participants from 9 NGO’s). 1 consultation with the policy makers and the NGO for Roma coalition members was organized thus increasing mutual understanding and allowing to coordinate activities. Project promoter has also launched the website of the coalition and provided consultations for member organizations on further development of the network.
Summary of bilateral results