Changing Discourses, Changing Practices: The Roma as Human Resource

Programme 2014 - 2020 INTERREG VB Danube

Date of latest update: 2023-11-06

Description

Description (EN):

Roma people are the largest ethnic minority in the European Union (EU) and among the most deprived, facing social exclusion, discrimination and unequal access to employment, education, housing and health. Most of the estimated 5,2 M Roma people living in the Danube Region today still face intolerance, discrimination and exclusion from the labour market. Despite all efforts so far, policy makers and public entities are still lacking in-depth knowledge of the target group, proper institutional capacities and tools for integrating fragmented and inefficient services, an efficient institutional framework to interweave interventions and cooperate with key stakeholders, especially civil society and the private sector. The lack of, or inadequacy of evaluation & monitoring tools has also been a major obstacle in designing & implementing policies explicitly targeting the marginalised Roma. Therefore, RARE aims to enhance the capacities of and cooperation among actors having a stake in the labour market participation of the Roma in order to better exploit their economic potential. RARE will result in equipping partner institutions with new opportunities for synergies and innovation to effectively tackle labour market inclusion of the Roma in the Danube Region and monitor and assess efficiency of interventions. RARE Partners will define the prerequisites of effective institutional cooperation, elaborate and test innovative intervention models for labour market inclusion and will develop convincing economic argumentation for such interventions. The leveraging of know-how acquired in RARE will be facilitated by persuasive and easily digestible presentation of knowledge facilitated through sensitisation activities and transnational and national networks of stakeholders.

Achievements (EN):

RARE - THE GAINS FROM INTEGRATION OF ROMA PERSONS INTO THE LABOUR MARKET: Roma persons in Central and Eastern European countries – due to low levels of education, discrimination and segregation – have much lower (legal) employment rates than the majority population. Not only does this translate into low incomes and poverty for the Roma, but it also means a loss in production and national income for the society. The recent economic upturn – which led to a shortage of skilled labour – has shed ample light on this issue. It is important for decision makers and the general public to understand that finding policies and services which help (uneducated) Roma requires significant investment in terms of financial (and intellectual) resources, but they will pay off in the longer run. This is certainly the case when compared to the current – often ineffective approaches which do not help Roma out of the circles of welfare benefits – illegal, and uncertain jobs – public works. More effective policies will economise on welfare benefits, help Roma become taxpayers, and help businesses by providing them will skilled manual workers. Our approach: Measuring to what extent alternative novel approaches piloted in the RARE programme are efficient (in the sense that they improve the re-intergration of Roma into the labour market) and are cost effective (meaning that they achieve integration at a lower cost than the status quo) are key elements of the RARE programme. Furthermore, we will show how wider society would benefit from extending these approaches to more locations in Central and Eastern Europe. The first building block is to find a credible impact evaluation strategy – in other words to find an empirical approach with which the researcher can say that the improvement in the beneficiaries‘ labour market situation is due to the programme (and not to some other factors). We chose to pursue a quantitative (counterfactual) evaluation strategy, whereby we compare the changes in the situation of the beneficiaries to a comparable group of non-beneficiaries. To gather data, a short survey was distributed among the beneficiaries and the suitably defined comparison group, both before and after the end of the pilots. Throughout this step of our research we encountered several issues: (a) we did not have enough time to measure the long-term outcomes of programme participants; (b) the number of persons targeted was small in order to draw precise conclusions.[1] The second building block was to gather information about the (total) cost of the pilots, as well as the current status quo (the alternative approach). Furthermore, we gathered data about the earnings of the Roma, as well as on welfare benefits to be able to calculate the gains from the programme, which materialise in (a) improved incomes for the participants and (b) reduced welfare payments and increased income taxes for the state. Finally, we had to estimate what would be the benefit from expanding the programmes – where we adapted a methodology from the World Bank and complemented it with realistic assumptions. An important illustrative example: The pilot in Pécs provided (informal) vocational training – by the way of senior artisans - to Roma from two segregated settlements. The recruitment process, started with an information session, followed by a short questionnaire (including a simple skills test). The second step, which was a random allocation of the 30 eligible, Roma who had sufficient basic skills and motivation into a ‘participant’ and a ‘control’ group guaranteed a credible evaluation strategy. The result of the pilot were positive, with the earnings of participants improving by 25 percent more than those of non-participants after the programme, contributing to an increase of around 45 EUR per month in terms of per head household earned incomes.[2] Furthermore, 6 months after the end of the programme, 70 percent of participant were (still) employed. The programme was much more expensive than the status quo (public works participation), as its total monthly per head costs were close to three times higher. However, we can calculate based on our findings, and using additional assumptions, that the RARE pilot programme was cost effective, as its (net) savings were roughly 570EUR per participant per year for the state (relative to the status quo).[3] When one considers the scenario that the programme is expanded more widely, there are some issues to think about. First, that the participants were likely to be more motivated to learn new skill and to be re-employed than the long-term jobless Roma living in socially excluded communities. Second, that such a programme can only operate in large towns, where there is sufficient demand for the artisanal skills learned. Third, that there was a strong congruency between HCSOM’s current and previous services and the RARE programme, thus taking such a programme to towns where HCSOM (or a similar organisation) has not yet started doing social work, will likely result in more modest results and/or higher costs. Thus, we assume that (a) a similar programme, with similar participant numbers can be implemented in all larger towns in Hungary (of which there are 20), so altogether 300 participants will be included; and (b) that results will be 20 percent lower when expanding the programme. In such a case, the investment cost would be around 600,000EUR but would bring 300,000EUR for the state (in the form of additional taxes and saved welfare benefits) in one year. Thus overall, this programme would cost the state about 100,000EUR less than if participants took part in a public works programme. We need to further keep in mind that the families of the participants would also benefit, which would be of the order of 300,000EUR increased income. The results of similar interventions in the Czech Republic and in Serbia also suggest that vocational (or entrepreneurial) training in combination with mentoring can serve as a way out of poverty for young Roma and at the same time yield returns for the state and wider society. In Vojvodina (Serbia) fifteen young persons, most of whom previously only had informal, seasonal work gained additional (vocational) knowledge through on-the-job training. Less than three months after the end of the training, eight of the participants are about to sign formal employment contracts. In Brno (Czech Republic) fourteen persons participated in business training. Needless to say, developing full-fledged business plans is an arduous task, but five of the participants were successful in this respect. While they did not (yet) start their own business, four of them landed jobs that lead them out of long-term unemployment. Even though there is a large amount of uncertainty involved in developing a business, the investment into participants’ business training already paid off by moving them from welfare benefits to legal work.

Website: http://www.interreg-danube.eu/

Expected Results (EN): Intensity of cooperation of institutional actors and other stakeholders in the programme area in order to tackle major societal challenges (survey based composite indicator)

Expected Outputs (EN):

Reinforced and sustainable national and transnational cooperation will equip partner institutions with new opportunities for synergies and innovation whereas improved, coherent and interwoven services will better reflect on the skills and competence gaps revealed by employers'. As such, partner institutions will be enabled to better respond to the challenge of labour market activation of Roma people, hence contributing to the programme result indicator. The project will break obstacles and barriers of the institutional systems by developing joint actions, providing innovative solutions and building up mutual trust among key stakeholders of labour market inclusion, including the young and mobile Roma population of the Danube region. With proven transferable solutions to be applied in other localities and public services the project will result in improved transnational, national, regional and local governance systems. The integrated approach combining the impact of sensitization with evidence-based strategy design will, in the long term, contribute to the strengthening of the Roma’s position on the labour market, as effective strategies will facilitate 1)obtaining marketable knowledge and qualification, 2)employment on the primary labour market (instead of the grey economy), 3)the reduction of gender inequalities in Roma employment, 4) creating more inclusive institutional attitudes and 5) the reduction of discrimination on the labour market.

Thematic information

Labour market and employment Institutional cooperation and cooperation networks Social inclusion and equal opportunities

Specific Objective:

Improve institutional capacities to tackle major societal challenges (short title). Strengthen multilevel- and transnational governance and institutional capacities and provide viable institutional and legal frameworks for more effective, wider and deeper transnational cooperation across the Danube region in areas with major societal challenges

Thematic Objective:

(11) enhancing institutional capacity of public authorities and stakeholders and efficient public administration through actions to strengthen the institutional capacity and the efficiency of public administrations and public services related to the implementation of the ERDF, and in support of actions under the ESF to strengthen the institutional capacity and the efficiency of public administration.

Investment Priority: (11 ETC) ETC specific for transnational cooperation: enhancing institutional capacity of public authorities and stakeholders and efficient public administration by developing and coordinating macro-regional and sea-basin strategies

Partners (13)

Lead Partner: Magyar Máltai Szeretetszolgálat Egyesület

Address: Szarvas Gábor 58-60, 1125 Budapest, Hungary

Legal status: private

Website: http://www.maltai.hu

Total budget: EUR 449 012.80

ERDF budget: EUR 381 660.88

Ústav sociálních inovací, o.p.s.

Name: Ústav sociálních inovací, o.p.s.

Address: Na Návsi 218, 664 51 Kobylnice, Czech Republic

Legal status: private

Website: http://www.socialni-inovace.cz

Total budget: EUR 180 881.20

ERDF budget: EUR 153 749.02

ETP Slovensko – Centrum pre udržateľný rozvoj

Name: ETP Slovensko – Centrum pre udržateľný rozvoj

Address: Zemplínska 15/A, 4001 Košice,, Slovakia

Legal status: private

Website: http://www.etp.sk

Total budget: EUR 246 383.70

ERDF budget: EUR 209 426.14

Център за междуетнически диалог и толерантност „Амалипе”

Name: Център за междуетнически диалог и толерантност „Амалипе”

Address: Hristo Botev 13, 5000 Veliko Tarnovo, Bulgaria

Legal status: public

Website: http://www.amalipe.com

Total budget: EUR 154 641.95

ERDF budget: EUR 131 445.66

Kancelarija za inkluziju Roma

Name: Kancelarija za inkluziju Roma

Address: Bulevar Mihajla Pupina 25, 21000 Novi Sad, Serbia

Legal status: public

Website: http://www.inkluzijaroma.vojvodina.gov.rs/

Total budget: EUR 153 818.75

IPA2 budget: EUR 130 745.94

Centar za proizvodnju znanja i vestina

Name: Centar za proizvodnju znanja i vestina

Address: Bulevar Jovana Dučića 25, 21000 Novi Sad, Serbia

Legal status: private

Website: http://www.cpzv.org

Total budget: EUR 150 143.75

IPA2 budget: EUR 127 622.19

Agenția de Dezvoltare Comunitară ”Impreună

Name: Agenția de Dezvoltare Comunitară ”Impreună

Address: Mihai Eminescu street 124 C Building, 6th floor, apartment 14, 20084 Bucharest, Romania

Legal status: private

Website: http://www.agentiaimpreuna.ro

Total budget: EUR 144 334.70

ERDF budget: EUR 122 684.50

Pécsi Városfejlesztési Nonprofit Zrt.

Name: Pécsi Városfejlesztési Nonprofit Zrt.

Address: Mária u. 9, 7621 Pécs, Hungary

Legal status: private

Website: http://www.pvfzrt.hu

Total budget: EUR 133 363.40

ERDF budget: EUR 113 358.89

UAT Municipiul Sfântu Gheorghe

Name: UAT Municipiul Sfântu Gheorghe

Address: str. 1 Decembrie 1918 2, 1918 Sfantu Gheorghe, Romania

Legal status: public

Website: http://www.sepsiszentgyorgyinfo.ro

Total budget: EUR 124 705.10

ERDF budget: EUR 105 999.34

Centrum spoločenských a psychologických vied SAV

Name: Centrum spoločenských a psychologických vied SAV

Address: Šancová 56, 811 05 Bratislava, Slovakia

Legal status: public

Website: http://www.prog.sav.sk

Total budget: EUR 105 447.20

ERDF budget: EUR 89 630.12

Departamentul pentru Relaţii Interetnice - Secretariatul General al Guvernului

Name: Departamentul pentru Relaţii Interetnice - Secretariatul General al Guvernului

Address: str. Paris, sector 1 65, 11815 Bucureşti, Romania

Legal status: public

Website (not verified): http://www.dri.gov.ro

Total budget: EUR 88 927.00

ERDF budget: EUR 75 587.95

Stalna konferencija romskih udruženja građana (SKRUG) - Liga Roma

Name: Stalna konferencija romskih udruženja građana (SKRUG) - Liga Roma

Address: Obilicev venac 17/II/2, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia

Legal status: private

Website: http://www.ligaroma.org.rs

Total budget: EUR 9 448.94

IPA2 budget: EUR 8 031.60

Ludia v Tatrach, o.z.

Name: Ludia v Tatrach, o.z.

Address: Máše Haľamovej 4004/5, Štrba 059 85 Štrbske Pleso, Slovakia

Legal status: public

Website (not verified): http://www.centrumpodlesom.sk

Total budget: EUR 6 555.98

ERDF budget: EUR 5 572.58

Partners map

Partners and Projects info

Institute of Social Innovations

Changing Discourses, Changing Practices: The Roma as Human Resource

Partners and Projects info

Magyar Máltai Szeretetszolgálat Egyesület

Changing Discourses, Changing Practices: The Roma as Human Resource

Partners and Projects info

ETP Slovakia – Centre for Sustainable Development

Changing Discourses, Changing Practices: The Roma as Human Resource

Partners and Projects info

Amalipe Center for Interethnic Dialogue and Tolerance

Changing Discourses, Changing Practices: The Roma as Human Resource

Partners and Projects info

Roma Inclusion Office

Changing Discourses, Changing Practices: The Roma as Human Resource

Partners and Projects info

Know How Centre

Changing Discourses, Changing Practices: The Roma as Human Resource

Partners and Projects info

Impreuna Agency for Community Development Foundation

Changing Discourses, Changing Practices: The Roma as Human Resource

Partners and Projects info

City of Pécs, Urban Development Company

Changing Discourses, Changing Practices: The Roma as Human Resource

Partners and Projects info

Municipality of Sfantu Gheorge

Changing Discourses, Changing Practices: The Roma as Human Resource

Partners and Projects info

Centre of Social and Psychological Sciences, Slovak Academy of Sciences

Changing Discourses, Changing Practices: The Roma as Human Resource

Partners and Projects info

Department for Interethnic Relations - General Secretariat of the Government

Changing Discourses, Changing Practices: The Roma as Human Resource

Partners and Projects info

Standing Conference of the Roma Associations of the Citizens – the League of Roma

Changing Discourses, Changing Practices: The Roma as Human Resource

Partners and Projects info

People in Tatras, n.o.

Changing Discourses, Changing Practices: The Roma as Human Resource

Lead partner

Project partner

Summary

Project name (EN): Changing Discourses, Changing Practices: The Roma as Human Resource

Project acronym: DTP1-320-4.1 RARE

Project start date: 2017-01-01

Project end date: 2019-08-31

Project status: closed

Total budget/expenditure: EUR 1 947 664.47

Total EU funding (amount): EUR 1 655 514.80

Total EU funding (co-financing rate): 85.00%

Co-financing sources:

ERDF: Amount, EUR 1 389 115.08.
IPA/IPA II/IPA III: Amount, EUR 266 399.72.

Documents

Documents on this project are listed below, and organised by category. Please note field "Data source", attached to each document. Keep.eu users are free to use these documents as long as they mention the data source and keep.eu.

Reports

PILOT INTERVENTIONS IN ROMA EMPLOYMENT

Attachment type: file

Type of document: Report

Data source: http://www.interreg-danube.eu/approved-projects/rare

Publication date: 2020-01-27

Document date: 2019-09-01

Languages: en

Attachment file: Download

Economic projections and good practices

Attachment type: file

Type of document: Report

Data source: http://www.interreg-danube.eu/approved-projects/rare

Publication date: 2020-01-27

Document date: 2017-12-01

Languages: en

Attachment file: Download

Economy projections

Attachment type: file

Type of document: Report

Data source: http://www.interreg-danube.eu/approved-projects/rare

Publication date: 2020-01-27

Document date: 2018-04-01

Languages: en

Attachment file: Download

Deficiency map: public service logic

Attachment type: file

Type of document: Report

Data source: http://www.interreg-danube.eu/approved-projects/rare

Publication date: 2020-01-27

Document date: 2017-10-01

Languages: en

Attachment file: Download

Brochures / magazines / manuals

Final Brochure of the RARE project - Changing Discourses, Changing Practices

Attachment type: file

Type of document: Brochure / magazine / manual

Data source: http://www.interreg-danube.eu/approved-projects/rare

Publication date: 2020-01-27

Document date: 2019-08-01

Languages: en

Attachment file: Download

Information regarding the data in keep.eu on the programme financing this project

Financing programme

2014 - 2020 INTERREG VB Danube

Last month that data in keep.eu was retrieved from the Programme's website or received from the Programme

2023-09-22

No. of projects in keep.eu / Total no. of projects (% of projects in keep.eu)

155 / 155 (100%)

No. of project partnerships in keep.eu / Total no. of project partnerships (% of project partnerships in keep.eu)

1 582 / 1 582 (100%)

Notes on the data

Information provided by the Programme. Achievements were retrieved by Interact from the Programme website (http://www.interreg-danube.eu/), or a website directly linked from it, on 2021-10-06, 2023-01-10 and 2024-01-30.

Languages

Contact Form

Changing Discourses, Changing Practices: The Roma as Human Resource

Description

Thematic information

Partners (13)

Partners map

Summary

Documents

Information regarding the data in keep.eu on the programme financing this project

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