18 October 2006 UNDP ’ s Engagement with Minorities in Development Processes Romania Case Study on Roma Soknan Han Jung, UNDP RR/UN RC in Romania Florin Botonogu, Social Coordinator, UNDP Romania

HD of minorities is central to MDG & Poverty Reduction In Europe Roma is the largest ethnic minority (9-11 m); Roma is the largest ethnic minority (9-11 m); In Romania Register the biggest Roma population (2 m). Register the biggest Roma population (2 m). Roma’s poverty rate 4-10 times > non-Roma Roma’s poverty rate 4-10 times > non-Roma (69% living on < US$4.30/day); (69% living on < US$4.30/day); ROM CO Plays a key role in translating Nat’l Roma policies into practice; Plays a key role in translating Nat’l Roma policies into practice; Designs, provides funding, and implements Roma social inclusion projects; Designs, provides funding, and implements Roma social inclusion projects; Improves Roma access to info, justice, education, sanitation, empl. and housing. Improves Roma access to info, justice, education, sanitation, empl. and housing.

Roma policies – int’l level Action Plan on Improving the Situation of Roma and Sinti in the OSCE Area; Action Plan on Improving the Situation of Roma and Sinti in the OSCE Area; MDGs and JIM indicators – complementary tools to monitor national policies on Roma; MDGs and JIM indicators – complementary tools to monitor national policies on Roma; Decade of Roma Inclusion. Decade of Roma Inclusion.

Roma policies – national level  National Strategy to Improve the Status of Roma in Romania (2001);  Romanian Constitution provision on minority rights: Art. 6 "The State recognizes and guarantees the right of persons belonging to national minorities to preserve, develop and express their ethnic, cultural, linguistic and religious identity."

UN/UNDP programming framework CCA/UNDAF   CCA: Roma identified as beneficiaries of UN efforts to strengthen institutional capacity to help the vulnerable groups in Romania;   UNDAF ( ): rights-based approach - Roma main target group for UN programmes - Priority Area 2 Economic Growth, UNDAF Outcome: “By 2009, national economic growth is enhanced and poverty levels among vulnerable groups are reduced through sustained social inclusion and capacity promotion.”

UNDP approach  Addressing the very basic needs of Roma communities;  Excellent communication and working relations with central/local governments, Roma CSOs;  Strengthening Roma civil society by creating new NGOs at local level;  Permanent communication with Roma NGOs;  Integrated approach - addressing both Roma and non-Roma;  Direct involvement of Roma in all project stages;  Special legal advice provided for Roma to improve their access to labor market.

Challenges  Weak implementation capacities of local authorities especially in the countryside;  Lack of committed Roma NGOs at local level;  Multitude of Roma policies impede effective coordination among interested parties, leading to duplication of initiatives.

Best practices \s Impressive Roma participation in project implementation; UNDP’s expertise at regional/national levels (measuring results, collecting /analyzing data, creating tools to evaluate projects); Gender issues effectively mainstreamed in all interventions, (eg: Social Support Centers for Roma project); ROM CO Publications: - Impact Study on Roma Programmes in Romania; - Social Assessment of HIV/AIDS and Roma in Central and Eastern Europe.

Lessons learned and Recommendations  Better donor coordination;  Stronger media involvement;  More systematic local needs assessments;  Research funding to be provided in each area of the National Strategy;  Disaggregation and localization of MDG indicators needed;  Action plan for improving Roma labour market access.

UNDP Romania projects for Roma Implementation of the National Strategy for Improving the Roma Situation 2004/2005 (GoR); Implementation of the National Strategy for Improving the Roma Situation 2004/2005 (GoR); Social Support Center for Roma Communities (SIDA); Social Support Center for Roma Communities (SIDA); Assisting Communities Together (OSI). Assisting Communities Together (OSI).

Conclusions UNDP is viewed as an impartial and transparent agent of change. UNDP is viewed as an impartial and transparent agent of change. In two years UNDP emerged as influential player on Roma issues in Romania. In two years UNDP emerged as influential player on Roma issues in Romania.