Promoting the usa of ESI Funds for Roma inclusion

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A combination of approaches, thematic objectives
and investment priorities to address Roma inclusion
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We could consider that the higher the hierarchical importance given to Roma inclusion in the
adopted documents, together with the explicit mention to Roma/Roma communities (whether
‘explicit’ or ‘explicit but not exclusive’), the more relevance in terms of impact and results.
However, this should not be given for granted. There are a number of other factors that
could also contribute to having have a positive impact:
› › The existence of result indicators, including indicators disaggregated by ethnicity.
› › The scope of implementation (implementation at national level or in certain regions/localities)
› › The duration of the initiatives
› › The management model and in particular the body in charge of the implementation.
Î Î There is no single right or better approach, what is important is that the planning is
translated into actions that actually reach Roma/Roma communities.
In this sense, particular attention should be paid to those actions that do not target Roma
explicitly to avoid programmes disregarding them. The necessary guarantees should also
be taken as regards the ‘explicit but not exclusive’ approaches, notably when there is a
large number of target groups, to prevent the risk that Roma become blurred among the
many other groups. To this end, it is crucial to count on strong and continuous monitoring
processes7.
Î Î It is also important to bear in mind that there is still much scope to specifically target Roma
inclusion in the implementation phase even if the adopted OPs do not include specific
measures or do not explicitly target Roma/Roma communities. A wide range of options are
at the disposal of countries to this end. They include mentioning Roma/Roma communities
as potential target group in the call for proposals (as it has been the case in Czech Republic-
Employment OP) or in the priorities of the projects, establishing indicators related to Roma
as final beneficiaries…Projects targeting Roma population can also be approved within
general OPs (for example two projects targeting Roma youngsters are adopted within the
Spanish Youth Employment OP even if no specific measures are foreseen).
7. The two handbooks drafted within the framework of the ESF Learning Network ‘Reinforcing policy learning for Roma inclusion’ on ‘How to
mainstream Roma inclusion in general programmes, projects and interventions’ and ‘How to monitor and evaluate Roma-related initiatives
under ESI Funds’ provide ideas on how to make mainstream programmes, projects and interventions under ESI Funds inclusive of Roma and how
to monitor and evaluate the impact of Roma-related initiatives.