1. PROJECT SUPPORT PROGRAM: REF GRANTS

This Program provides grants for initiatives by governmental and non-governmental agencies in the Decade of Roma Inclusion countries. Applications are also considered from other countries with a substantial Roma population. The REF finances projects at all education levels, i.e. preschool, primary, general and vocational secondary and tertiary, and adult education, and for policy development.

Grant applications should be in line with REF’s mission and objectives and should aim at:

» Helping develop or reform education policies.
» Piloting and testing Roma educational interventions that can be scaled up and with the potential to influence policies.
» Scaling up successful pilots.
» Mobilizing additional donor financing for Roma education programs and projects.
» Building the institutional capacity of governments and the civil society.
» Conducting research and analysis on Roma education issues.
» Raising awareness and conducting advocacy campaigns.
» Promoting the cross-fertilization of experiences and cross-regional knowledge-sharing

2. POLICY DEVELOPMENT AND CAPACITY BUILDING PROGRAM

This Program supports studies, technical assistance, strategy development and learning activities to strengthen dialogue with governments and civil society on education reform and Roma inclusion.

Focus areas included:

» Strategic studies with strong policy relevance for the region and governments with which the REF is engaged in policy dialogue.

» Capacity building provided to local and central governments for directing more EU funds to support Roma communities and NGOs in the field of Roma education.

» Technical assistance and capacity building provided to civil society organizations to help access EU and other international donor funds.

» Capacity building provided to NGOs and local governments implementing REF projects.

The Strategic Studies Program in 2008, included such topics as:

» Educational Needs of Roma Children from the Republic of Moldova.

» Evaluation of REF-Financed Desegregation Programs in Bulgaria and Options for Scaling Up at the National Level.

» The Use of Conditional Cash Transfers to Increase Roma School Enrolment, Attendance and Results.

» Study of Affirmative Action for Roma in Universities, High Schools, and Vocational Schools in Romania.

» Study on Special Schools in Slovakia.

3. COMMUNICATION AND CROSS-COUNTRY LEARNING PROGRAM

Promoting the exchange of knowledge and experiences, and communicating information on policies and programs that support Roma inclusion in education systems represent one of the major pillars of REF’s activities. A comparative advantage of REF lies in its capacity to collect, collate and synthesize data and information from the field with the help of its international and local staff, its network of over 100 education experts, and through the more than 100 projects (grants) financed and monitored by the REF in 13 countries since 2005.

The REF has developed a series of communication tools, which includes the organization of conferences, workshops and seminars on specific themes; the publication of articles on selected topics; in addition to the elaboration of its web-site, Annual Reports, Magazine, Brochure and Monthly Briefs, all serving the purposes of cross-country learning.

4. REIMBURSABLE PROGRAM

This Program provides support to Roma NGOs in accessing EU Structural Funds and other associated funds. An advance is provided to organizations which have been awarded grants from EU sources, allowing them to start activities before actual financing from the respective government agencies or the EU becomes available. Since 2006, the REF has helped 21 NGOs in three countries, i.e. the Czech Republic, Hungary and Slovakia, to mobilize EUR 2.5 million of EU support with EUR 290,000 REF contribution. The Program has been set up as a pilot facility available for the EU member states, but will now be extended for non-EU members, principally in the Western Balkans. The REF is also lobbying the EU and the respective government agencies managing EU funds for procedures that allow NGOs easier access to these funds.

5. REF SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM

This is the largest scholarship program for tertiary level Roma students. The Program consists of five components:

1. Roma Memorial University Scholarship Program (RMUSP).
2. Law and Humanities Program (LHP).
3. Roma Health Scholarship Program (RHSP).
4. Interregional Scholarship Scheme.
5. Supplementary Scholarship Scheme.
6. Professional Development Fund.

The RMUSP, in operation since 2000, supports Roma students at the tertiary level in twelve Central, Eastern and South Eastern European countries (i.e. Albania, Bulgaria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Czech Republic, Hungary, Kosovo, Macedonia, Montenegro, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, and Turkey). Scholarship recipients are full-time students and study at state-accredited and well-established universities in their countries of residence. For 2001-2008, USD 2,154,000 was spent on the RMUSP.