Monitoring research concerning the implementation process of the objectives indicated by the Decade of Roma Inclusion Program in Hungary in the period of 2005-2009


The Open Society Institute Roma Initiative Office announced a call for applications to conduct a monitoring research concerning the implementation process of the objectives indicated by the Decade of Roma Inclusion Program (the Decade) in Hungary in the period of 2005-2009. The Kurt Lewin Foundation was given the opportunity to conduct the monitoring research.

 

This study wishes to present the findings of the research conducted between October 2009 and March 2010, thus providing a comprehensive, detailed review of the Program. The Decade is a form of international cooperation, aiming at the social inclusion of Roma and the improvement of their socio-economic situation, that builds upon the cooperation of governments, intergovernmental and nongovernmental organizations, as well as - primarily Romani - NGOs. During the research we were mostly interested in how the programs function, how successful and efficient they are, what impact they have, had and probably will have on the lives, future and opportunities of Hungarian Roma. Therefore, we found it important to collect information both on an organizational and a personal level from the experts responsible for managing the tasks of the Decade of Roma Inclusion as well as the participants of the programs.

 

In the study, we provide a brief summary of the situation of the Roma in Hungary based on the most recent researches available. Then we examine the programs in the framework of the Decade that aimed at the improvement of the situation. Afterwards, we outline expert opinions that surfaced during our questionnaire and focus group research on the results, efficiency and problems of the past years of the Decade. Following the perceptions of experts providing a general picture on the Decade, we examine the impact of certain specific programs which we come to understand through the analysis of our in-depth interview and case study research.