Empowerment – Page 2 – ERGO Network

Call for Applications

CALL FOR APPLICATIONS

Analysis of bottom-up approaches to Roma inclusion and funding programs

The European Roma Grassroots Organizations (ERGO) Network is contracting external consultants to prepare a study consisting of the following two parts:

Study on importance of bottom-up approaches to Roma inclusion
Analysis of current funding programs on Roma inclusion in Europe

ERGO Network brings together over 30 members from across Europe and supports organisations with a common perspective on Roma grassroots empowerment and equal citizenship to challenge stereotypes and combat stigmatization. We mobilize and connect organisations and individuals that share and express our values – active citizenship, shared responsibility, and passion – to strengthen and empower Roma civil society involvement in decision-making at local, national and European level and to address existing shortcomings of policies targeted at Roma.

Role of the consultant

Through the ”New solutions to old problems – exchange of new types of approaches in the field of Roma integration” project, funded by Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway through the EEA and Norway Grants Fund for Regional Cooperation, ERGO Network is contracting an external expert to

Analyze programs supporting Roma inclusion that use bottom-up and community development schemes and
Analyze existing top-down funding programs for Roma inclusion, their benefits, and pitfalls. Specifically, the consultant is expected to prepare two reports of approximately up to 25 pages each, in English, with conclusions and concrete recommendations for improvement of funding programs.

First drafts should be delivered by 31 July 2021 and final reports by 31 August 2021. Both studies can be conducted by same consultant.

Profile of the consultant

A consultant can be an individual, institution or organization.
Proven knowledge about Roma inclusion policies
Experience working with Roma civil society.
Excellent writing skills
Proven research and analytical skills
Ability to work independently.

Contract and budget

The independent consultant will be subcontracted by ERGO Network and has no rights vis-à-vis the EEA and Norway Grants for Regional Cooperation. He/She reports to ERGO Network. Each of the two reports will be renumerated with 2000 €, VAT and all costs and charges included.

Aims of the Study on importance of funding bottom-up approaches to Roma inclusion

To analyse challenges and advantages of top-down and bottom-up funding programs and approaches used by different donors in Europe.
To raise awareness among (Roma) civil society and donors on the importance of investing in local level initiatives that are participatory and led by Roma civil society.
To provide recommendations to private donors, governments, and international institutions on the design of funding programmes targeting Roma inclusion and empowerment, to further promote the bottom-up approach and community participation.

Aims of the Analysis of funding programs on Roma inclusion

To give an overview of current funding programs for Roma inclusion of institutional and private donors in Europe, and their type of approach (top-down or bottom-up)
To raise awareness of private donors on the importance of investing in Roma inclusion and empowerment.
To showcase examples of funding that could contribute to capacity building for a better use of funds.
To identify barriers and success stories of bottom-up approaches in addressing the needs of Roma
To provide recommendations to private donors, governments, and international institutions on the design of funding programmes targeting Roma inclusion and empowerment
To provide Roma and pro-Roma civil society organizations with tips and information on the how to reach donors.

The applicants should submit:

An updated CV
Recent history of published research and links to the publications
A proposal for the structure of the study/studies – possible content, research question and methodology

The application package should be submitted by 5 May 2021 to info@ergonetwork.org with the subject – name of the study you are applying for.

Launch event of Chachipen project

50th International Roma Day: Towards justice and building trust

On the occasion of 50^th International Roma Day, ERGO Network together with CEPS, the Central Council of German Sinti and Roma, the Federación de Asociaciones Gitanas de Cataluña (FAGIC) in Spain, the Asociatia Fast Forward and the ARESEL Network in Romania launched their joint EU funded project, Chachipen (“truth”) online on 29 March 2021.

The kick-off event brought together an important number of key stakeholders at European, regional and national level, including Vera Jourova, Vice President of the European Commission for Values and Transparency, Dunja Mijatovic, Commissioner for Human Rights, Council of Europe, Thomas Hammarberg, Member of the Swedish Parliament and former Chair of the Swedish Antigypsyism Commission, Ismael Cortes, Member of Parliament in Spain, Florin Manole, former Member of Parliament in Romania and prominent Roma and pro-Roma human rights experts and NGOs, including the European Roma Rights Centre, European Roma Institute for Arts and Culture, European Network against Racism, Phiren Amenca International Network and European and intergovernmental institutions such as the European Commission, Unit, Non-discrimination and Roma coordination, OSCE ODIHR Contact Point for Roma and Sinti Issues, Council of Europe’s Roma and Travellers Team, the UN Human Rights Office in Brussels and the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) Committee on the Genocide of the Roma.

The event reflected the objectives of the Chachipen project by taking stock of approaches to address antigypsyism and transitional justice also by learning from the experiences of Sweden and Germany with a view to pave the way for truth and reconciliation processes in Romania and Spain. The event also discussed the struggles of Roma and Sinti civil society in advocating for routh and reconciliation processes at national level and ways to ensure ownership, including by empowering and mobilising Roma and Sinti communities and civil society to engage in advocacy at national and EU level and building bridges with other racialised communities and groups.

This project is funded by the European Union’s Rights, Equality and Citizenship Programme (2014-2020). The content of the project’s outputs represents the views of the author only and is his/her sole responsibility. The European Commission does not accept any responsibility for use that may be made of the information it contains.

Antigypsyism politically recognised in the Netherlands

Antigypsyism politically recognised in the Netherlands

Together with my colleague Andreia Nicolic, who is chair of the Roma Utrecht Foundation & the Roma Advocacy Network Netherlands, we have been working for almost for 20 years as volunteer activists from the Roma grassroots level. In October 2020 a motion by Selçuk Öztürk on antigypsyism and how to combat this injustice has been adopted by the majority of the Dutch National Parliament.

Mr Öztürk is a Member of Parliament of the political party DENK, a party that focuses strongly on combatting racism and injustice. More than 75 years after the Roma Genocide/Roma Holocaust of the Second World War, antigypsyism finally has been officially recognized, hence we can take further steps to tackling it. This political recognition thanks to Mr Öztürk’s motion obligates the Dutch government to improve the legal position of Roma. We know from our advocacy’s perspective that we have to stay on top of this to make sure that improvements shall be put into practice. In addition, our community-led and advocacy role surely has been strengthened, so from now on we shall have more influence in decision-making processes. There is still a long way to go but this has been a first significant and crucial political step.

Also at local level in Utrecht a motion of DENK Utrecht (of the same political party) on antigypsyism and how to combat this has been adopted, thanks to Mahmut Sungur and Ismail El Abassi, who are the local representatives.

Grassroots activism is crucial to make change happen – together with our political friends we shall intensify our networks whilst continuing our strife against antigypsyism, statelessness and any other injustice, for now and for our future generations.

©Michelle Mila V. Burik Bihari, Advocacy Coordinator Roma Utrecht & Roma Advocacy Network Netherlands, March 2021

News from Slovo 21

News from Czech ERGO member Slovo 21

Invisible Power Coalition

Migrant and Roma women in the Czech Republic and other parts of Europe face economic and social inequalities and live in a position particularly vulnerable to violence and discrimination. Compared to most women in the Czech society, these women are often at higher risk of social exclusion, live under worse material conditions, and have a lower quality of life. The problems of these women are often overlooked, which is why the Invisible Power coalition, with the support of the German EVZ Foundation, was founded—to give these women space to be seen and heard. The coalition represents a collaborative effort of the Czech Women’s Lobby (CWL) and its member organizations Association for Integration and Migration (SIMI) and SLOVO 21, under which the Roma women’s group Manushe operates.

The Invisible Power focused on two levels of support for Roma and migrant women. The first was to involve these women in a network of women’s rights organizations and to strengthen mutual solidarity also between women from disadvantaged groups. Secondly, we wanted to raise public awareness of the situation these groups of women find themselves in. Another equally important goal was to strengthen the self-esteem of these women through self-expression, especially by means of storytelling during events organized for the general public, writing articles about their stories, and participating in public debates.

The project provided women without self-esteem with space for self-expression and made it possible for Roma and migrant women to be seen and heard at 4 public events, 5 thematic meetings, 3 networking meetings, and 1 conference, alongside other media outputs and networking meetings. A total of 34 migrant women and 148 Roma women took part in these activities.

The article is available here.

ROMA ORGANIZATIONS LAUNCH CAMPAIGN FOR CENSUS: ME SOM ROM, ME SOM ROMŇI, AMEN SAM ROMA! A SO TU?

The umbrella organization RomanoNet, in cooperation with other organizations (including Slovo 21, z.s.), has prepared an online campaign to reach out to Roma to declare their Roma nationality at this year’s Census of Population, Housing and Dwellings or to use Romani as their mother tongue.

The campaign responds to the low awareness of Roma men and women in connection with the Census 2021 and also refutes the myths that are spreading among the Roma themselves about the census.

The campaign is based on videos in which Romani men and women explain why, in their opinion, it is essential to state Romani nationality in the census form and Romani as their mother tongue. The videos are then placed on the website www.amensamroma.cz and are shared on social networks. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the campaign takes place exclusively in the online space.

(Article in Czech is available here )

NEW PROJECT ANDROMEDIA – IN MEDIA

The Romani culture and arts are a part of the national, European and world cultural and artistic space, and it keeps growing and developing constantly. There is a new generation of young educated artists and performers active in the area of music, dance, new media, arts, alternative arts, theatre and literature. Unfortunately, there is a substantial lack of interest and knowledge of critics who would be able to approach critically to Romani culture and arts.

The AndroMedia (in English “In Media”) project contributes to dealing with this problem and supports to development of artistic critical reviewing through interdisciplinary activities including several workshops, seminars, discussions with audience and experts, in both direct and online communication.

Project activities will help develop participants’ capacities in culture as they improve competencies of future critics – students of journalism and ethnomusicology, and Romani writers. The project also implements Audience Development Strategies and launches the Online Discussion Forum which will contribute to social dialogue.

Project is supported by EHP Fonds 2014 – 2021, Culture program. Project duration: 1.12.2020 – 30.4.2022.

STRENGTHENING THE CAPACITIES OF ROMA AND PRO-ROMA ADVOCACY ACTORS

Everyone should have the knowledge to influence and improve their lives in society. Only a society in which everyone has a voice, including minorities, can be considered democratic.

Based on the experience gained so far, we are coming up with a new project “Strengthening the capacities of Roma and pro-Roma actors in the field of advocacy”, which will focus on strengthening the competencies of employees of the organization Slovo 21, z.s. in the field of advocacy, so that the Roma are able to participate well in the integration process in 4 selected cities (Náchod, Budišov nad Budišovkou, Rokycany, Prague).

The employee expects 8 half-day theoretical trainings and 16 half-day practical workshops (2 trainings and 4 workshops in each locality) in the field of advocacy activities. The participants will then be permanently supported by experts in the form of tailor-made consultations.

We will establish cooperation with members of the local Roma community, who in cooperation with us will participate in solving the integration of Roma into the local level and other local Roma and pro-Roma non-profit organizations.

Project Market: New solutions to old Problems

Project Market – 21 and 22 April

In recent months, Roma and pro-Roma organizations in 10 countries have recommended good practices to each other. On 21 and 22 April, we will present 23 of these at an online project exchange. After this “project market”, every organisation will select and adapt at least one idea during the next year and a half, supporting each other on the way.

“New solutions to old problems – exchange of new type of approaches in the field of Roma integration” is funded by Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway through the EEA and Norway GrantsFund for Regional Cooperation.