Making the Most of the EU Funds for the Roma (MtM) Launched in 2009 by the Open Society Institute in Budapest. Launched in 2009 by the Open Society Institute in Budapest. Countries covered: Hungary and Bulgaria. Slovakia, the Check Republic and Romania joined soon after. Currently the initiative is expanding in Serbia, Montenegro and Macedonia. Countries covered: Hungary and Bulgaria. Slovakia, the Check Republic and Romania joined soon after. Currently the initiative is expanding in Serbia, Montenegro and Macedonia. Philosophy of the initiative: Something needed to be done to boost of the EU funds for the integration of the Roma. It seemed that even the EU SFs, which were the most natural instrument to use for the integration of the Roma were barely used for this purpose. Philosophy of the initiative: Something needed to be done to boost of the EU funds for the integration of the Roma. It seemed that even the EU SFs, which were the most natural instrument to use for the integration of the Roma were barely used for this purpose. Management: In Bulgaria the initiative is managed by the OSI-Sofia and includes 7 Roma partner organizations in each of the 6 NUTS-II planning regions with two partners in the most poorly developed North-West region with the highest proportion of Roma population. Management: In Bulgaria the initiative is managed by the OSI-Sofia and includes 7 Roma partner organizations in each of the 6 NUTS-II planning regions with two partners in the most poorly developed North-West region with the highest proportion of Roma population. Components: MtM has four main components: Components: MtM has four main components:

1.The first one is called Project Generation Facility (PGF). Under this component OSI-Sofia supports Roma organizations, other NGOs, municipalities, schools and businesses to develop projects for the integration of the Roma. Since the beginning of the initiative almost 400 applications for support have been received. To date 50 projects developed with the help of PGF consultants to the total amount of 10 million euro got funding. The bulk of the projects are in the field of education, but there are also projects for the development of social services and social enterprises, local development, employment and rehabilitation of buildings and other infrastructure. Under this component OSI-Sofia supports Roma organizations, other NGOs, municipalities, schools and businesses to develop projects for the integration of the Roma. Since the beginning of the initiative almost 400 applications for support have been received. To date 50 projects developed with the help of PGF consultants to the total amount of 10 million euro got funding. The bulk of the projects are in the field of education, but there are also projects for the development of social services and social enterprises, local development, employment and rehabilitation of buildings and other infrastructure.

2. Mechanism for mentoring MtM has also a mechanism for mentoring the funded projects in order to guide those who need support through the challenges of managing EU funded projects and involving the Roma in the planning and implementation. The mentoring mechanism is also a tool for collecting feedback about the success and failure of different project. It is a way to extract lessons from the MtM activities, which can be useful for future planning of how to best use the SFs. MtM has also a mechanism for mentoring the funded projects in order to guide those who need support through the challenges of managing EU funded projects and involving the Roma in the planning and implementation. The mentoring mechanism is also a tool for collecting feedback about the success and failure of different project. It is a way to extract lessons from the MtM activities, which can be useful for future planning of how to best use the SFs.

3. Supplementary funding MtM also provides supplementary funding for non- eligible costs to some of the supported projects or provides a kind of facility for supporting the beneficiaries’ cash flow in the form of recoverable grants. These grants can be regarded as interest free loans, which have to be recovered to OSI once the beneficiary gets reimbursed by the government. This facility was necessary due to the very difficult payment arrangements made by the Bulgarian government. i.e. small or no advance payments, red tape causing a lot of delays and late reimbursement. MtM also provides supplementary funding for non- eligible costs to some of the supported projects or provides a kind of facility for supporting the beneficiaries’ cash flow in the form of recoverable grants. These grants can be regarded as interest free loans, which have to be recovered to OSI once the beneficiary gets reimbursed by the government. This facility was necessary due to the very difficult payment arrangements made by the Bulgarian government. i.e. small or no advance payments, red tape causing a lot of delays and late reimbursement.

4. Advocacy activities Finally MtM is also involved with advocating for changing the EU SF rules in Bulgaria and at EU level mainly by simplifying procedures and for the prioritization of Roma integration. This means more funding for programmes benefiting the Roma and contributing to their integration. The next planning period for the EU SFs are a special focus of advocacy. Finally MtM is also involved with advocating for changing the EU SF rules in Bulgaria and at EU level mainly by simplifying procedures and for the prioritization of Roma integration. This means more funding for programmes benefiting the Roma and contributing to their integration. The next planning period for the EU SFs are a special focus of advocacy.

Project Cycle of the PGF

Summary on the quantitative progress during the respective reporting period of 1 March 2011 to 5 F 2012 Projects developed to be submitted for funding Projects submitted for funding Projects awarded funding Projects pending decision People involved in project design Roma involved in project design Trained people *Roma people trained Number of people who would benefit Number of Roma who would benefited Localities that benefited PGF support Type of locality benefiting PGF UrbanRural Total * Planned to be trained under 3 submitted employment projects – 400 Roma and 400 non Roma

Projects funding data (number of projects and amounts - 1 March 2011 to 5 May 2012) Decade Area Projects developed to be submitted for funding Projects submitted for funding Projects awarded funding Projects pending decision Rejected projects (not financed) Education 12 project (no potential for further development) 9 projects under development 26 projects ,08 euro 7 projects ,81 euro 26 projects ,08 euro Employment 15 projects ( 6 projects no potential for further development and 1 project under development) 1 projects euro 1 project ( LAG Lyaskovets- Strazhitza ) 1,993,673 euro and 5 projects – ,33 1 projects euro 1 projects ,72 euro Health care1 project 1 project euro Housing1 project ,47 euro 1 project ,47 euro Other-ECDs (Early Childhood Development) 11 projects ,21 euro 9 projects ,26 euro 1 projects ,89 euro 1 projects ,06 euro Total38 projects 40 projects ,76 euro 23 projects ,40 euro 28 projects ,97 euro 3 projects ,25 euro

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