These handbooks, which provide an in-depth and technical analysis of two topics identified as among the most challenging ones, aim to serve as practical resources for Managing Authorities, Intermediate Bodies and other relevant stakeholders involved in the planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of ESI Funds. T
ogether with the
“Joint report on the use of Structural Funds for Roma inclusion” released in 2014, the handbooks are the key tools of the Network to achieve its goal of transferring the knowledge gained on the use of Structural Funds for Roma inclusion during the 2007-2013 programming period to the 2014-2020 period.
About the EURoma + Network
The European Social Fund (ESF) Learning Network
“Reinforcing policy learning for Roma inclusion”
(also referred to as ‘EURoma+ Network’ or ‘ESF Roma Inclusion Network’) has recently released practical handbooks focusing on two of the most challenging areas as regards European Structural and Investment (ESI) Funds:
- Monitoring and evaluation of Roma-related initiatives under European Structural and Investment Funds
- Mainstreaming Roma inclusion in general programmes, projects and interventions
During its two years of activity (February 2013-January 2015), the Network has worked to increase the impact and effectiveness of the Structural Funds for Roma inclusion by achieving, through transnational cooperation, higher political commitment for the planning process of the 2014-2020 programming period and ensuring that the lessons learnt during the 2007-2013 programming period are incorporated as policy decisions in the new programming period.
Led, and co-financed, by the Spanish ESF Managing Authority (Ministry of Employment and Social Security), the Network gathers the Heads of the ESF Managing Authorities and National Roma Contact Points from 8 Member States (Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Romania, Slovak Republic and Spain) together with European Commission representatives. The Network Technical Secretariat was hosted by the Fundación Secretariado Gitano (FSG).
The Network has reinforced and complemented, by supporting specifically the planning process of the 2014-2020 period, the EURoma Network, which since 2007 promotes a better use of Structural Funds to promote the effectiveness of the policies aimed at the inclusion of the Roma population.
If you want to know more about the Network activities, check
EUROMA +: Contribution to 2014-2020 ESI Funds planning process
About the handbooks
The handbooks provide an in-depth and technical analysis of two topics that were identified by members of the Network among the most challenging areas and in which further reflection and progress is needed and where exchange of information and mutual learning between participating countries could be beneficial. They aim to serve as a practical resource for Managing Authorities, Intermediate Bodies and other relevant stakeholders involved in the planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of ESI Funds with a view to helping them address the challenges they face in these areas.
These handbooks are, together with the “Joint report on the use of Structural Funds for Roma inclusion” released in 2014, the key tools of the Network to achieve its goal of transferring the knowledge gained on the use of Structural Funds (SF) for Roma inclusion during the 2007-2013 programming period to the 2014-2020 period. The
“
Joint report on the use of the Structural Funds for Roma inclusion based on country-by-country meetings”
constitutes a relevant tool for the process of exchange of information and mutual learning between Member States. It brings them the opportunity to learn about each others’ experiences during the 2007-2013 programming period and their plans for the 2014-2020 period, including the challenges faced and the strategies used to cope with them. It also makes proposals and recommendations for the 2014-2020 programming period both for the planning process and implementation, based on mutual learning and prior experience of the different countries as well as the lessons learnt during the 2007-2013 programming period (i.e. work done by the EURoma Network).
The handbooks have been elaborated building upon:
-
The analysis of the use made of EU Structural Funds for Roma inclusion during the 2007-2013 programming period, based on the experience of the EUROMA Network and the assessment made in the context of the EURoma + Network in the eight countries involved in the Network (and gathered in the “
Joint report on the use of Structural Funds for Roma inclusion
”) - The identification of the potential progress in the Regulations for the 2014-2020 programming period
- The analysis of relevant secondary sources.
In addition, they have been enriched with the ideas and debates of two transnational mutual learning workshops organised in the context of the activities of the Network:
-
Transnational Mutual Learning Workshop “
How to monitor and evaluate Roma-related initiatives under European Structural and Investment Funds
”, organised on 13-14 November 2014 in Madrid (Spain), which gathered representatives of the ESF Managing Authorities, Intermediate Bodies, National Roma Contact Points and other key actors in the process of monitoring and evaluation in the Network partner countries as well as at European/international level (i.e. Agency for Fundamental Rights and World Bank).
- Transnational Mutual Learning Workshop “How to mainstream Roma inclusion in general programmes, projects and interventions?” organised on 12-13 January 2015 in Madrid (Spain), which brought together representatives of the Managing Authorities, Intermediate Bodies, National Roma Contact Points and other relevant stakeholders from the Member States taking part in this Network.
Handbook on monitoring and evaluation of Roma-related initiatives under ESI Funds
This handbook focuses on how to improve monitoring and evaluation of Roma-related initiatives under European Structural and Investments Funds (ESI Funds).
It is divided into three sections:
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The first provides an overview of monitoring and evaluation practices in the 2007-2013 programming period and presents the challenges and opportunities for enhancing effective monitoring and evaluation of ESI Funds to promote Roma inclusion in the 2014-2020 programming period.
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The second suggests ways to improve monitoring and evaluation for Roma-related initiatives financed by ESI Funds, notably concerning information collection systems and the establishment of indicators.
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The third focuses on the key elements of the new Regulations that could help provide better information on ESI Funds invested in Roma inclusion throughout the policy cycle of the new ESI Funds.
Handbook on mainstreaming Roma inclusion in general programmes, projects and interventions under ESI Funds
This handbook analyses how to make mainstream programmes under the European Structural and Investment Funds (ESI Funds) inclusive of Roma, i.e. how Roma can better access and benefit from the projects and interventions carried out in the framework of the different Operational Programmes (OPs) even where the latter do not target them directly. This paper builds upon the premise that promoting the inclusion of the Roma in mainstream society should be the ultimate aim of all policies and, as a consequence, policies and projects should be inclusive of Roma.
It is divided into three sections:
- The first presents the targeted and mainstream approaches and reviews the approaches used to address Roma inclusion during the 2007-2013 Structural Funds programming period (mainly mainstream and targeted approaches);
- The second explains conditions and criteria for making mainstream programmes inclusive of Roma under the 2014-2020 programming period
- The third explains how to implement mainstream programmes through the different ESI Funds thematic objectives, investment priorities and mechanisms.
