Romania’s Roma Programmes

The National Agency for Roma, NRA, is a national government body which represents the Roma minority on a national level.

Its mission is to promote and participate in projects and programmes in order to improve Roma living conditions – a political criteria imposed on Romania in order for it to join the EU.

There are six strategic national programmes financed by the European Social Fund and the NRA is a beneficiary. Since 2008, €100 million has been spent on Roma projects in Romania.

The EU has contributed €22.8 million to six joint programmes since 2008. The Romanian government contribution to these six programmes is approximately €2.8 million to date.

The NRA has received € 808.634 (3.396.264,50 Lei) from the EU and the national government since 2008.

Two of the six programmes jointly funded by the EU and the Romanian government target school truancy among Roma:

Roma Children and Education: The Way to a Stabile Job – €4.3 million funding from Dec 2008 to Dec 2011.

School: A Chance for Anyone – a €2.2 million project to get more Roma children into mainstream education funded from Dec 2008 to Dec 2011

The other four programmes are social inclusion projects including:

Together for a Better Society – €4.2 million scheme designed to improve participation in the labour market funded from Dec 2008 to Sept 2011.

Participation of Vulnerable Groups in the Social Economy – €3.2 million funding from June 2009 to May 2012.

Together on the Labour Market – €4.2 million funding from Nov 2008 to Sept 2011.

Establishing a National Network of Local Roma Experts – €4.5 million funding from Dec 2008 to Dec 2011.

Source: NRA website