1. SOCIAL INCLUSION IN EASTERN EUROPE AND CENTRAL ASIA TOWARDS MAINSTREAMING AND RESULTS SOCIAL INCLUSION IN EASTERN EUROPE AND CENTRAL ASIA TOWARDS MAINSTREAMING AND RESULTS BUDAPEST SEPTEMBER 25-26, 2007

2. Romania`s National Social Inclusion Program Community experience in delivering services at local level and making effective use of the EU fund Carmen Manu Director Ministry of Labour, Family and Equal Opportunities

3. 1. Central Level: Institutional mechanism of coordinating and monitoring the social inclusion policies ● Ministry of Labour, Family and Equal Opportunities (MLFEO) has the coordinating role of social inclusion policies, beginning with 2005 when the Joint Inclusion Memorandum was signed. ● Directorate for policies, strategies and social inclusion programs, organized within MLFEO has, as main tasks: ►Collecting quantitative and qualitative data in the area; ►Preparing monitoring and progress reports regarding the priorities established by JIM and National Action Plans; ►Elaborating sector monitoring indicators. ● National Commission for Social Inclusion, set up in 2006, as a component of Inter-ministerial Committee for social affairs, health and consumer protection ● Social Inclusion Units, organized within each central public authority;

4. 2. Local Level: Institutional mechanism of coordinating and monitoring the social inclusion policies ● County Commission for Social Inclusion, with members representing the deconcentrate public services of central authorities, the local authorities and NGO`s; ● Specialized unit within the directorate of labour and social protection, representing the MLFEO deconcentrate structures at county level and having the responsibility of a technical secretariat.

5. 3. Social Inclusion Documents ● Joint Inclusion Memorandum, signed in 2005; ● National Development Plan, 2004-2006 ● Progress National Report on JIM, 2006; ● National Strategic Report on Social Protection and Social Inclusion, 2006;

6. 4. Sectorial Strategies for vulnerable groups: ● National Strategy for social services` developement, 2006- 2013; ● National Strategy of social assistance for elderly persons (2005-2008); ● National Strategy for the protection, social integration and inclusion of the disabled persons, 2006-2013; ● Drug Fighting National Strategy,2005-2012; ●National Strategy regarding prevention and fight against the domestic violence,2005-2008; ● National Social Inclusion Strategy for young people leaving the child protection system (2006); ● National Strategy for Roma population, 2001-2010; ● National Strategy for combating the traffic of human being, 206-2010; ● National Social Inclusion Strategy for young people leaving the child protection system (2006-2008).

7. 5. National Action Plan for Social Inclusion The main priorities for the period 2006-2008: ● to increase the population` standard of living by stimulating and facilitating the employment and promoting inclusive policies; ● to facilitate the citizens` access, especially for the disadvantaged groups, to resources, to social rights and services; ● to improve the life conditions of Roma population.

8. 6. National Action Plan for Social Inclusion Financial resources to support the achievement of the social inclusion priorities ● State budget, local budgets; ● Multi-annual pre-accession PHARE Programming 2004- 2006” Economic and Social Cohesion”; ● Social European Fund – the Operational sectorial program -Development of Human Resources ● European Fund for Regional Development - the Operational Regional Program; ●Other international funds –World Bank, The European Commission Development Bank, etc.

9. 7.Development of Social Services Network Programs initiated by MLFEO and finacially sustained from the state budget ● Programs of National Interest (PNI), in order to encourage local communities to create social services, according to their needs and resources Beginning with 2006, there were adopted 9 PNI, addressed to disabled persons, elderly and victims of domestic violence (65,614 mil.LEI ); in child protection field, such PNI have been developed since 2003; ● The annual program of subsidies provided by the MLFEO to the NGO`s active in social services area, according to the law no 34/1998 ; the funds are delivered in order to cover part of the expenditure for personal care services.

10. 8. Development of Social Services Network Programs elaborated by MLFEO and sustained from EU funds, implemented by local communities : ● Phare Program 2001 “Social Services Investment Scheme” (14 mil.EUR, 120 local projects selected and implemented); ● Phare Program 2004” Development of a grant scheme for social services” (8,9 mil EUR, 92 local projects selected; implementation phase ); ● Phare Program 2006” Social Services” (7 mil EUR; selection phase) ● Phare 2005, 2006 “ Social Inclusion Measures” (8,4 mil EUR; development of active measures on labour market, addressing to young persons, disabled and poor people from rural areas also).

11. 9. Development of Social Services Network Programs elaborated by MLFEO, sustained by World Bank and implemented by local communities : ● Social Sector Development Program – Social Assistance Component 2004-2006 ( 3mil.USD, 70 local projects selected and implemented ) ● Social Inclusion Project ( 47,2 mil EURO), approved by law, in 2007.

12. 10. Social Inclusion Project Objective: ● To improve the living conditions and the social inclusion of the most disadvantaged and vulnerable groups. Structure : 4 components, managed by ● Romanian Social Development Fund (RSDF); ● Ministry of Labour, Family and Equal Opportunities; ● Ministry of Education and Research; ● National Agency for Roma.

13. 11. Social Inclusion Project Component 1 : Priority Intervention Programme The activity area of RSDF will be extended by financing community projects for infrastructure improvement and basic services addressed to Roma population and poor people.

14. 11. Social Inclusion Project Component 2 : Inclusive Early Education Programme Has in view the inclusion of children from Roma families in the current programs of the Ministry of Education and Research (MER). The main activities: ● rehabilitation of early education infrastructure within Roma communities; ● development of education curricula for the inclusive early education, provision of training for the MER, learning materials and technical assistance for the responsible entities with the elaboration of financial application; ● promotion of integrated services and alternative community – based solutions for early childhood education; ● monitoring and evaluation, education and communication activities.

15. 12. Social Inclusion Project Component 3 : Social Assistance ► Sub-component 1: Disabilities Program The main activities : ● development of social services, community projects, awarded on a competitive basis; ● training of the professional staff that will implement new standards of care; ● development of monitoring and evaluation system for National Authority for Persons with Handicap.

16. 13. Social Inclusion Project Component 3 : Social Assistance ► Sub-component 2: Youth at Risk Program The main activities : ● development of community services addressed to the young persons leaving the child protection system; ● elaboration of methodological guides; ● training of the staff from community services and MLFEO; ● public awareness campaign.

17. 14. Social Inclusion Project Component 3 : Social Assistance ► Sub-component 3: Victims of Domestic Violence The main activities : ● development of social services addressed to the victims of domestic violence, initiated by local communities; ● monitoring and evaluation activities and elaboration of specific methodologies; ● training of the social services, staff and MLFEO; ● public awareness campaign.

18. 15. Social Inclusion Project Component 4: Capacity building for Roma Social Inclusion The main activities : ● support for the monitoring system implementation that will be used to monitor the impact of Roma related public policies; ● develop and implement an information, education and communication campaign; ● training Roma groups in preparing projects for accessing EU funds; ● building capacity of NAR.

19. Thank you!