Eu member states

Information about the project/programme/measure/policy (as the case):

1. Title:	The Multiregional Operational Programme-Fight Against Discrimination - Acceder
2. Rationale:	The Spanish Roma community totals around 650,000 people (out of an approximate total of 42 million inhabitants). The situation facing the Spanish Roma has changed more over the last 30 years than it had in the more than five preceding centuries that they have been living in Spain. This is fundamentally due to an improvement in living conditions for Spanish citizens as a whole but even more so to the fact that Roma have benefited from the universalization of welfare state benefits. In order to attain this improvement in living conditions, however, it has also been necessary to set up positive mechanisms that guarantee the de facto access to rights that are legally recognised. It is no less obvious however; that the Roma community continues to suffer the greatest degree of rejection in Spanish society today and is also one of the most socially and economically excluded groups. Although in general the members of this community share a number of common characteristics allowing for reciprocal recognition, it should also be pointed out that this community is characterised by its heterogeneity and diversity as well. A significant number of Roma are currently experiencing serious difficulties to access employment and vocational training – a problem which is one of the main causes for their inequality and social exclusion. The decline of their traditional professions and activities (mobile trading, paper collection, etc.), together with their lack of qualification have contributed to their expulsion from the labour market. Prejudices and stereotypes that have led to stigmatisation of Roma by the majority of society have also contributed to this situation. The ACCEDER Programme has provided and provides a unique opportunity for the current generation of Roma youth to have access to the labour market and equal opportunities as any other non-Roma Spanish citizen. Active Employment Policies had shown to be inefficient for Roma people. They do not participate in the existing public programs and actions, which on the other hand do not prove to be very effective in putting together job offers and demands. Specific, targeted actions were needed to reduce the gap between labour market opportunities and Roma people’s will to work. During the years 1997-1998 a pilot project was run in Madrid. Results and methodology were recognised as examples of good practice and the Spanish Ministry of Employment and Social Affairs agreed to implement that same programme in other cities throughout Spain. The clear political will at national level linked it to the economic opportunity provided by the European Social Fund (ESF) and the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) under the Operational Programs. The actions developed under the Operational Multiregional Programme “Fight Against Discrimination” (O.P) “ACCEDER” aimed at increasing opportunities for the integration of the Roma community in Spain by having a positive action scheme for 6 years.
3. Objective(s):	Sensitising and awareness raising of young Roma (above 16 years old) and their families about the availability of guidance, training and job search processes; Providing guidance for defining the content of the individual employment pathways for training and job search; Labour market research focusing on economic sectors for which Roma may have adequate qualifications; contact with enterprises to build bridges between employment opportunities and unemployed Roma. Once the matching process is completed, follow up and provide assistance to the newly employed Roma and to the entrepreneurs, especially in the beginning of the process; Training actions are developed in order to improve the employability of Roma. Promotion of positive experiences of social intervention with the Roma community in relation to their labour insertion, along with exchange of good practices aimed at promoting labour insertion of Roma; Creation of an information system - Monitoring Centre on Roma Community Labour Insertion - which provides information on developments in the employment situation of Roma.
4. Target ethnic group(s):	The target group is the Spanish Roma population in working age from 16 to 65 years old. The Programme targeted involvement of 15,000 Roma in labour market. They are located through all Spain, thought the majority of them (up to 45%) live in Andalucía, the South of Spain.
5. Involvement of ethnic group in:
Scoping	-
Implementation	Roma workers were included within the ACCEDER teams and, as professionals, worked for the good implementation of the programme. The participation of Roma beneficiaries is done on a voluntarily bases, meaning participation is not linked to any social benefit.
Assessment	A tool for beneficiaries’ satisfaction is being developed nowadays under a process of Quality accreditation. Some localities have developed their own tools, but they have not been used by all the ACCEDER teams. This will happen in the near future. Intermediate external evaluation has been done, where questionnaires and interviews were done to Roma beneficiaries.
6. Main activities:	Given the fact that employment, together with education, housing and health are the main instruments for favouring the social inclusion of the Roma community, the Programme’s philosophy is based on the Roma labour market integration. In order to implement the Programme, 46 integrated employment centres were set up throughout Spain. These units are located in accessible places for the Roma community; they are fully equipped with the necessary tools. Each centre has a staff of 5 professionals in charge of the Programme implementation at local level (1 manager, 2 labour counsellors, 1 mediator working with employers and private companies and 1 intercultural mediator working with the Roma community). The achievement of the above-mentioned objectives relies on an integrated, multidimensional and individualized approach, which includes individual treatment as an essential tool in this methodology, beginning with an initial diagnosis of the employability conditions of each person and designing the appropriate measures and steps needed to improve their conditions to access employment. Actions are preferably aimed at the Roma community but not exclusively, this meaning that a maximum of 30% of non-Roma people are accepted in the programme. The Programme methodology based on the individual needs includes the following types of actions: Guidance, training and labour insertion: Seeking out the Roma community and raise awareness of their own need to look for work. Welcome and information actions consisting of an initial introduction to ACCEDER services and providing background information on the world of employment and training. Guidance, advisory and monitoring actions. This entails drawing up an individual diagnosis, tutoring, establishing individualised comprehensive pathways to employment and monitoring of the different stages through which they progress Referral actions and monitoring of mainstream training actions Actions implementing vocational pre-labour-training and training activities specifically tailored to the Roma population. Labour market study and mediation Actions focusing on analysis and search for employment. Undertake prospective labour market studies and collect job offers while offering a mediation scheme to companies with a view to closing the gap between supply and demand. Actions to support hiring, facilitating information and technical assistance Labour market accompaniment actions. Monitoring and support for those just starting to work in order to assure their permanence in the job. c) Fostering pro-active policies aimed at the Roma population Training for social intervention professionals and the organisation of reflection and debate forums. Awareness-raising actions contributing to the breakdown of stereotypes and improvement of the social image of the Roma population. Technical assistance for government administrations and social organisations in the design of plans and measures. Development of studies and research to gain greater insight into the Spanish Roma population. Creation of an information system – Monitoring Centre on Roma Community Labour Insertion – which provides information on developments in the employment situation of Roma.
7. Duration of the project:	From 2000 to 2006. Next programme will last from 2007-2013.
8. Main results:	A minimum of 2,500 labour contracts in the period 2000-2006. The interest for training has been increasing throughout the years of the Programme: in fact, 4 out of 10 Roma beneficiaries have demanded training. Roma women even show a greater interest: almost half of the Roma women beneficiaries are interested in training. The number of beneficiaries interested in training that finally have access to training is 7 out of 10.
9. Total budget and sources of funding:	57,420,490 € total cost. Out of this amount, 64% from ESF and the rest from public administrations (national, regional and local level) and private entities.
10. Assessment of effectiveness:	Quantitative figures 34,801 people have gone through individual employment itineraries. 24,785 labour contracts have been signed 10,610 persons have had access to those mentioned contracts, out of which, 7,144 are Roma people More than 500,000 hours of vocational training have been given throughout 550 courses where more than 5,500 Roma have participated. Gender balance has been achieved: 50.3% of job positions were filled by women. Qualitative Perspective Change of mentality (of the beneficiaries, of the employers and of the society as a whole) Increased living standards of the Roma population (access to mainstream services and liberation from the vicious circle of dependency) Guaranteed advance in equal opportunities and promotion of gender equality Facilitating Roma’s incorporation to regular resources Improvement of the image of the Roma community Synergies at territorial and institutional level Sustainability (financial support from more than 70 public administrations and private entities) Impact of complementary actions (such as the survey-research on “Roma community and employment” and the awareness-raising campaign “Get to know them before judging them”). The eradication of stereotypes and the improvement of the social perception of Roma. Design and elaboration of guidelines for labour insertion methodologies and tools adapted to the target group
11. Sustainability:	Financial: More than 100 departments from the public administration (state, regional and local) participate with financial support. These departments deal with social welfare policies, vocational training and employment. Their participation will facilitate the incorporation of such measures in the mainstream public policies. Social and Economic: Partnership with public administration at regional and local levels has allowed the Fundación Secretariado Gitano to take part in local the development of local development plans and to initiate adapted policies in line with the Programme’s goals. That is to say, that “Roma policies” are being incorporated into general public policies. On the other hand, social cohesion is promoted by negotiating between all agents and activating the involvement of all actors working within the same territory with a common project. Gender equality is also fostered. Roma women are identified as a group in need of special attention within the Programme action plan. Around 50% of Programme’s beneficiaries and of the total number of labour insertions are women. Specific actions aimed exclusively at Roma women are also developed. Cultural: The action plans are based on substantial knowledge of the Roma community and its situation with respect to the labour market, which is a precondition of a more efficient and quality intervention. Such intervention is developed by teams of Roma and non-Roma. Many Roma act as mediators within their community. The involvement of the Roma community itself is also promoted, strengthening its capacity for participation, and allowing for greater accessibility of the information to the community. The long term impact is achieved thanks to the fact that the programme lasts 6 years. This is a key aspect, both for the interest and commitment of the Roma community and for the commitment of public administrations that see results. The creation of an employer’s network also need of time for consolidation.
12. Difficulties and reasons of insuccess (if any):	When working with employers and develop the enterprise intermediation we want to offer employers with a potential worker not with a Roma person. We consider this a key aspect. Our mission is to provide work opportunities for Roma people; our strategy has to be to provide employers with workers that fully fulfil their expectations and requirements. At times, employers refuse to hire Roma beneficiaries. Mediation is the better way to solve these attitudes. When this is not enough, legal actions need to be taken. At times, also, there has been some reluctance from public administrations to make public their financial support (due to so called “public opinion against measures for the Roma community”). Payments of co-finance from public administrations have not always been done on time. Therefore, FSG, as an NGO has had no cash availability in certain moments. There has not been too much private co-finance and that would have been important, in order not to depend so much on public funding.
13. Transferability:	The practice itself is an example of mainstream, since it was a pilot programme in Madrid in 1998-1999 and since the year 2000 until 2006 and continuing nowadays, has been mainstream to 46 cities throughout Spain. Ideas for transferability: Twelve Keys for Success Integrated approach and equal balance between the social and the economic perspective. A comprehensive background of the Roma job seeker has to be taken into account when designing insertion itineraries. Involvement and empowerment of the Roma. It is not a Programme for the Roma community, but rather a Programme that involves each and everyone within the Roma Community. Long-term planning. It is a nine year Programme which allows for stronger impact. Targeted but non-segregated services. Focus actions are undertaken on target groups. These actions lead to normalization. 30% of the beneficiaries are non Roma. Flexibility and adaptation of mainstream services to Roma needs. The aim is to draw a bridge between Roma needs and the system; to reach a balance between target groups and mainstream services. Multicultural working teams. All working teams are mixed raced so that they may benefit from each other’s backgrounds. Strong partnership, close relationship with the entrepreneurs, and an appropriate system of public-private relationship. The aim is to cooperate with all possible stakeholders: public administrations, private companies, the media, policy makers, etc. Mobilisation of local and regional resources. All resources must be aligned towards reaching the same goal and create synergies among all resources. Individualised employment itineraries. The personal circumstances of each person go much further and beyond ethnicity. The itineraries must be drawn according to each individual, regardless of his or her ethnic origin. Nation-wide dimension of local level actions. There is a combination between the local and global approaches in favour of the Programme. Setting up of Monitoring Committees to disseminate information and to guarantee full transparency. Transparency and a permanent flow of information through monitoring committees are essential for the success of the Programme. Wide dissemination and visibility of the Programme’s actions and results. Visibility and open communication will raise public awareness on the subject. Lessons learned Actions must be carried out at local and national level: The establishment of Multiregional Programmes to Fight Discrimination which include actions addressed to those groups suffering discrimination and social exclusion. The nation-wide dimension when dealing with certain issues provides and favours greater cohesion and territorial balance. Leadership of the social initiative. NGO must be actively involved in the regional and national Operational Programmes (from planning and designing to implementation) and take on their new role as providers of public services. This leadership must be carried out by mature entities with proven experience. Tailor-made solutions for target groups guarantee and increase an impact of actions. Integrated and individualised approach of the implemented actions, comprising the entire individual employment itinerary. A strong partnership between public and private organisations favours the improvement of management systems, mutual learning and the exchange of experiences. Complementary actions: Awareness-raising and involvement of entrepreneurs, the media and other entities are essential to accomplish a renewed social perception of the Roma community and their labour insertion. An appropriate co-ordination and management system is a key element for success. Structural Funds, when used properly, may have a serious impact on socially excluded communities, while favouring their own social cohesion. The new objective European Territorial Cooperation should be the most suitable framework to develop trans-national actions based on thematic issues such as the social inclusion of the Roma and their labour insertion. Documents in English can be found on: http://www.gitanos.org/english/

MULTI-NATIONAL
Training and Support for Teachers and Education Centres Featuring Cultural Diversity
Organisations involved in the project/programme/measure/policy (as the case):

Initiating group/ Implementing organisation

Project co-ordinator Fundación Secretariado Gitano c/Antolina Merino, 10, 28025 Madrid (Spain) Tell: [phone] [e-mail] Mª Teresa Andrés – Responsible for Education [e-mail]

Profile of Partners

Rede Europeia Anti-Pobreza/ Portugal (REAPN) Rua de Costa Cabral, 2368, 4200-218 Porto Tell: 00351225420800 Fax: [phone] [e-mail] www.reapn.org Comité de Co-ordination Pour la Promotion et en Solidarité des Communautés en Difficulté: Migrants et Tsiganes 44 ch. Des Izards, 31200 Toulouse, France Tell: 00330562724850 Fax: [phone] [e-mail] www.ccpst.org/ats National Institute for Education P.O. Box 26, Pluhová 8, 83000Bratislava 3 , Slovakia Tell: 00421244372035/42 Fax: [phone] [e-mail] www.spu.sanet.sk