Period: January 2025 – December 2027

Project no.: 101182543

Total budget: 6,2 milioane EUR

Lead partner: ERGO Network

Partners: Autonomia Foundation – Hungary,  Nevo Parudimos – Romania, Integro Association – Bulgaria, FAGIC – Spain, Romanonet – Czech Republic (grant-giving will include Slovakia).

Nevo Parudimos Association is implementing, as a partner, together with the ERGO network and four member organizations of the network, the “ROVA” project funded by the EU between January 2025 and December 2027. The initiative involves providing financial support and strengthening national capacities for 120 Roma organizations and 15 coalitions.

Local Roma civil society organizations are at the forefront of the fight for human rights in their communities. Their work against educational segregation, child poverty, and hate speech, or for more local democracy and solidarity benefits all disadvantaged groups and society at large: it will lead to more inclusive and equal communities that are based on EU values and fundamental rights.

However, local Roma civil society is up to many challenges. The problems they are addressing are so urgent and manyfold that there is neither time nor resources to strengthen their infrastructure and to become more resilient. Often, these organisations only consist of a handful of activists, who struggle to find volunteers; most Roma, struggling to make ends meet, do not have time for volunteering. Often activists have to leave the country for better income opportunities elsewhere. Donors are often wary of giving funds to organizations who do not have staff with higher educational qualifications.

The ROVA project aims to support Roma and pro-Roma civil society to become more effective and resourceful in their promotion of EU values. The project will support 120 local Roma and pro-Roma civil society organisations and 15 national Roma coalitions in Spain, Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Slovakia and across the EU through grants and a capacity-building program tailored to their needs.

This will equip them with the capacities and resources to better work towards issues such as:

  • Access to fundamental rights
  • Promotion of equality
  • Improved civic participation and democracy
  • Increased awareness of the human rights situation of the Roma
  • Better monitoring of the implementation of national Roma strategies
  • Improved dialogue between Roma and authorities.

Their work will help to promote, safeguard and raise awareness of rights and EU values at local, regional, national and transnational level.

Disclaimer

This communication only reflects the point of view of the author and the fund operator cannot be held responsible for the information provided.