Comprehensive Development Programme for Roma Settlements in Slovakia

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Comprehensive Development Programme for Roma
Settlements in Slovakia

• Andrea Lelovics
• Forum Regional Development Centre
• CELODIN TEP Project
• Timisoara, 16.01.2006

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The Programme

• Prepared and implemented by the Office of the
  Plenipotentiary of the Slovak Government for Roma
  Communities
• 2002-2005
• Full version on www.government.gov.sk/orgovanova
  under Dokumenty Komplexný rozvojový program
  rómskych osád

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Programme Purpose

• 1988 278 settlements 230 in Eastern Slovakia
  15,000 people in 1973 huts
• 1997 516 Roma settlements
• 2000 620 Roma settlements 127,429 inhabitants
  made of 23,781 families living in 14,534 houses
  (in average 8.8 inhabitants per house)
• ? Settlement ? Hut ?

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Programme Objectives I

• Pilot programme
• Comprehensive solution of situation in selected
  Roma settlements and thus also a sustainable
  increase of the quality of living of the
  inhabitants in selected villages
• Effective cooperation among Roma and non-Roma
  population of the selected villages
• Gradual development of the villages, decreasing
  emigration from the village, especially that of
  young people (both Roma and non-Roma)

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Programme Objectives II

• Solving the question of housing and developing an
  infrastructure
• Support of education
• Retraining and increase of employment
• Support of business in the selected villages
• Social field-workers

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Target Groups

• Citizens of villages with high concentration of
  Roma in Roma settlements
• Social exclusion exclusion from the life of
  village, and limited access to public services

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Programme Sources

• Social field-workers
• Community centers in settlements
• Preschool education
• Preparation classes in elementary schools
• Teacher assistants

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Key Programme Features

• Models
• Comprehensive approach
• Partnership

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Selection of Municipalities I

• Overall situation in the Roma settlement (size of
  settlement, number of inhabitants, standard of
  living, educational level, employment rate,
  tension between Roma and non-Roma population in
  the village)
• Extent of backwardness of the region where the
  village is situated
• The attitude of the mayor, local authorities, and
  the citizens of village to the solution of
  situation

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Selection of Municipalities II

• Activities of local or other non-governmental
  organizations in the village
• Previous help (if any) of government or
  non-governmental organizations, and its effect
• Existence of other programmes supported by state,
  self-government or NGO (community centers,
  educational centers, etc.)

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Options Offered for Municipalities

• Education
• Construction, completion and reconstruction of
  kindergartens and elementary schools
• House construction and technical infrastructure
• Business in village
• Community center
• Relationships between the Roma and non-Roma in
  the village

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How?

• Professional groups providing realization of the
  services
• No direct financing through the programme

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Preconditions I

• Professional and financial support active
  involvement of state administration on all levels
• Financial support and active involvement of the
  municipality management the mayor with the
  support of local council members
• Active involvement, moral support, and active
  participation of non-Roma population of villages

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Preconditions II

• Positive attitude of the Roma population of
  villages towards the entire programme (not only
  to certain parts)
• Effective combination of experience and knowledge
  acquired in past years especially by
  non-governmental organizations
• Moral support of programme on the part of the
  Government and the Slovak society
• Providing financing of the programme

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Risks I

• Too big programme, wide range of activities
  increases the chances for management errors
• Insufficient financial security for the programme
• Incorrect, ineffective interpretation of the
  programme towards society, and thus loosing its
  support
• Ineffective communication and harmonization of
  activities of individual parts of state
  administration

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Risks II

• Misunderstanding the objectives, and/or methods
  of the programme on the part of population in the
  villages
• Incorrect interpretation of the programme to the
  non-Roma citizens of villages
• Loosing the initial strong support and active
  involvement of the Roma during the project
  implementation
• Human factor and communication during the entire
  programme (already in preparation phase), and on
  all levels of programme implementation

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Implementation

• 3 years
• Approved in the annual central budget every year
• 13 municipalities
• Transfer of methods, NOT of finances
• No complex needs formulated in the
  municipalities

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Future?

• Case study of a methodical model
• Social Development Fund
• Community Social Workers

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Lessons Learned

• Need of community building and development for
  successful implementation
• Long-term planning
• Comprehensive needs assessment, planning and
  implementation in the local community

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• Source www.osf.sk