Rome, 25Rome, 25thth February 2010 February 2010

Added value of local, Added value of local, regional dimension in regional dimension in

social inclusion of Romasocial inclusion of Roma

Brian HarveyBrian Harveybrharvey@iol.iebrharvey@iol.ie

Potential of structural fundsPotential of structural funds► Substantial funding, €347bnSubstantial funding, €347bn►Multi-annual, 7 years, time & scale to be Multi-annual, 7 years, time & scale to be

effectiveeffective► Highly systematizedHighly systematized► Principle of partnership, #11Principle of partnership, #11►Open to new entrants, innovationOpen to new entrants, innovation► New priorities, including minorities, with New priorities, including minorities, with

gender mainstreaminggender mainstreaming► Substantial scope in ESF regulation, ERDF, Substantial scope in ESF regulation, ERDF, butbut►Governments find them challenging to operateGovernments find them challenging to operate

Many examples of structural funds Many examples of structural funds for Romafor Roma

► Vocational & skills trainingVocational & skills training►Roma economyRoma economy► Prevention of early school leavingPrevention of early school leaving► Education & schooling (all ESF)Education & schooling (all ESF)► Facilities for schools, culture, health, Facilities for schools, culture, health,

information, social centres (ERDF)information, social centres (ERDF)► Mainly Hungary, Spain, Finland, SlovakiaMainly Hungary, Spain, Finland, Slovakia

See OSI See OSI Compendium of good practice Compendium of good practice www.romadecade.org/making_the_most_of_eu_funds_2008www.romadecade.org/making_the_most_of_eu_funds_2008

Many examples of EQUAL projectsMany examples of EQUAL projects

►Roma visionRoma vision, broadcasting, broadcasting► Bridge project (training), both HungaryBridge project (training), both Hungary►DivercidadeDivercidade project, Portugal project, Portugal► Living and working togetherLiving and working together, Austria, Austria►Cultural mediation projects, IRL, PortugalCultural mediation projects, IRL, Portugal►Centres in SloveniaCentres in Slovenia► Pavee Point, IRLPavee Point, IRL► EQUAL PolandEQUAL Poland► School assistants, FinlandSchool assistants, Finland

Many projects in adjacent Many projects in adjacent fundsfunds

►Social Exclusion Programme, 2000-6Social Exclusion Programme, 2000-6►Programme against discrimination, 2000-Programme against discrimination, 2000-

66►Culture programmeCulture programme►Health programmeHealth programme►LeonardoLeonardo programme programme►PHARE (accession states)PHARE (accession states)►CARDSCARDS►Democracy and Human Rights Democracy and Human Rights

programmeprogramme

Local authorities in projectsLocal authorities in projects►Date to Date to Poverty 3Poverty 3 programme (1989- programme (1989-

94)94)►Local Authorities (LAs) key deliverers Local Authorities (LAs) key deliverers

of education, training, health, of education, training, health, housing, water, sanitation, wastehousing, water, sanitation, waste

►CARDS has some high level LA CARDS has some high level LA involvementinvolvement

►But few projects But few projects initiatedinitiated by LAs. by LAs. Most by NGOs with LAs as partners. Most by NGOs with LAs as partners.

The best projectsThe best projects► Involve many partners, incl. LAs (multi-Involve many partners, incl. LAs (multi-

institutionality)institutionality)► Tackle many forms of exclusion (multi-Tackle many forms of exclusion (multi-

dimensionality)dimensionality)► Bottom up, empowering Roma-led groupsBottom up, empowering Roma-led groups►Connected to political systems, policies, Connected to political systems, policies,

institutionsinstitutions►Dealing with ‘hard’ political issuesDealing with ‘hard’ political issues► Innovation, imagination or new ways to Innovation, imagination or new ways to

tackle old, intractable problemstackle old, intractable problems► Scale, duration to be effective, leave a Scale, duration to be effective, leave a

legacylegacy

Problem areasProblem areas► Too many top-down, short-term, small-Too many top-down, short-term, small-

scale, inappropriate, under-prepared, scale, inappropriate, under-prepared, unresearched, isolated interventions, unresearched, isolated interventions, ineffectiveineffective

► Low levels documentation, evaluation, Low levels documentation, evaluation, dissemination, depends on individualsdissemination, depends on individuals

► Few leave a legacyFew leave a legacy► Few build capacity of Roma NGOs & groupsFew build capacity of Roma NGOs & groups► Focus on ‘soft’ issuesFocus on ‘soft’ issues► Learning not transferredLearning not transferredEvaluations consistent, repetitive on these issues, but Evaluations consistent, repetitive on these issues, but

little attention paid to them at programme levellittle attention paid to them at programme level

Structural funds experience Structural funds experience (EAPN)(EAPN)

► Partnership principle little observedPartnership principle little observed► Limited involvement of NGOs at key pointsLimited involvement of NGOs at key points► Structural funds little focussed on exclusionStructural funds little focussed on exclusion► ERDF little usedERDF little used► Failure or refusal to use:Failure or refusal to use:

Global grantsGlobal grants Technical assistanceTechnical assistance Capacity buildingCapacity building

► Bureaucratic accounting, driving out good Bureaucratic accounting, driving out good groupsgroups

See EAPN manual See EAPN manual www.eapn.eu

Programming 2014-2020Programming 2014-2020► Prospects for social inclusion diminished:Prospects for social inclusion diminished:

Loss of EQUAL programmeLoss of EQUAL programme Massification, governmentalization (PROGRESS)Massification, governmentalization (PROGRESS) Lack of Commission supervision of regulationsLack of Commission supervision of regulations Failure to resolve bureaucratic issues (Failure to resolve bureaucratic issues (Striking a Striking a

balancebalance))

► Barca report attempted to reform cohesion Barca report attempted to reform cohesion policypolicy Social inclusion as a top objectiveSocial inclusion as a top objective Planning by regions, not by countriesPlanning by regions, not by countries Take funds away from local elitesTake funds away from local elites Restore Commission supervisionRestore Commission supervision

Ways forwardWays forwardPoor programmes get poor projectsPoor programmes get poor projects

►We need improved design across SFsWe need improved design across SFs Reduce entry barriers for Roma projectsReduce entry barriers for Roma projects Longer, better preparatory phasesLonger, better preparatory phases Value quality, evaluation, dissemination moreValue quality, evaluation, dissemination more Value technical compliance lessValue technical compliance less Make Make policypolicy demands on applicants demands on applicants Set requirements for multi-dimensionality, Set requirements for multi-dimensionality,

multi institutionality, links to government etcmulti institutionality, links to government etc► Effective supervisory system, Commission to Effective supervisory system, Commission to

drive up quality, not endorse bad operational drive up quality, not endorse bad operational programmesprogrammes

Key elements (annexe)Key elements (annexe)Programme designProgramme design Project designProject designSocial inclusionSocial inclusion Bottom-up approachBottom-up approach

Targeting incl. RomaTargeting incl. Roma Multi-dimensionalityMulti-dimensionality

Partnership principlePartnership principle Multi-institutionalityMulti-institutionality

Access by NGOsAccess by NGOs Size, scale, durationSize, scale, duration

Global grantsGlobal grants Linked to policy, Linked to policy, institutionsinstitutions

Technical assistanceTechnical assistance Address the hard issuesAddress the hard issues

Capacity buildingCapacity building Policy focus and themesPolicy focus and themes

NGOs design to monitoringNGOs design to monitoring InnovationInnovation

Commission interest, supervisionCommission interest, supervision Evaluation, disseminationEvaluation, dissemination

Proportionate complianceProportionate compliance LegacyLegacy

ConclusionsConclusions► SFs still have potential for inclusionSFs still have potential for inclusion► Issue is not more LA involvement, but Issue is not more LA involvement, but

improved programme, project designimproved programme, project design►Now is time to prepare for 2014-2020Now is time to prepare for 2014-2020► Yes, role for more LAs as partnersYes, role for more LAs as partners► Yes, role for LAs as project leaders, Yes, role for LAs as project leaders,

working with Roma-led organizationsworking with Roma-led organizations►Need for these issues to be brought to Need for these issues to be brought to

heart of making of SF, cohesion policyheart of making of SF, cohesion policy► Thank you for your attentionThank you for your attention