Socio-graphic mapping of the Roma Communities in Romania for a community-level monitoring of changes with regard to Roma integration (SocioRoMap)

A project financed by the Norwegian Financial Mechanism 2009-2014 in the framework of "Poverty Alleviation in Romania" (RO25)

Where does our society stand in improving the condition of Roma in Romania? How can we assess incremental changes or even major progress in the situation of Roma? How can we gather timely, systematic and reliable information that aid social policy, local and national level measures that focus on Roma inclusion and the alleviation of their socio-economic condition? Recognizing that evidence based social policies and informed use of resources are fundamental pillars of change, the project's overall objective is to contribute in combating the social exclusion of Roma in Romania by providing the tools and developing the capacities necessary for the alleviation of socio-economic inequalities between Roma and the majority population.

Why such data are needed? Despite existent data there is an information gap regarding the socio-economic and fundamental rights situation of the Romanian Roma communities. Relevant and reliable local level data on the status of the communities, their needs and priorities, the structure of the material and human capital is therefore critical for identifying priorities regarding policies and interventions and monitoring progress. How can one gather these crucial data? Since working networks capable of generating such data and using it within the Roma inclusion process are missing, the project aims at filling in this space in the otherwise extensive institutional infrastructure of Roma inclusion.

Having established that systematic data collection is crucial for monitoring the implementation and assessing the impact of public policies in the framework of the Strategy of the Government of Romania for the Inclusion of the Romanian citizens belonging to Roma Minority in the forthcoming period (until 2020); the project will form a network of locally based monitors (community focal points) that enables data collection at the local level based on a well-defined set of indicators. Thus, the project makes sure that data collection is not done on ad hoc basis, but on a much required sustainable structure. Moreover, the project ensures that data collection uses clear quality criteria, precise methodologies, and fidelity of data is monitored through periodical assessments. The network will serve as the basis for the monitoring system at national level but also producing comparable data on EU level, too.

The novelty of the project stems from its focus on the local level. Monitoring the status and the dynamics at municipal and community level (the levels at which actual interventions take place), would allow for objective capturing the outcomes of those interventions. Assessing outputs compared to inputs allows for the estimation of efficiency and capacity deficits that need to be addressed in order to achieve results and improve funding efficiency.

Practically, the project will establish and train a network of community focal points at local level, for gathering real-time, relevant and reliable data from Roma communities, in rural and urban areas and for monitoring changes; develop and test a set of indicators for monitoring progress of Roma inclusion at local level; improve the capacity for targeted interventions and results-based monitoring.

Promoter: Romanian Institute for Research on National Minorities

Partners:

• Research Centre on Inter-ethnic Relations
• Open Society Foundation

Project duration: 24 months

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