LGI Roma Public Administration Program in Czech
Republic
"Shifting the Role of Roma Clerks"
Masaryk University Brno, Faculty of Social Studies
Brief project description
The project is aimed to increase the capacity of Roma clerks-advisors in
local governments and of the staff in NGOs which carry the programmes aimed at
Roma community to participate effectively in the local decision-making process
and to represent their community while addressing issues related to the
management of multiethnic communities. Knowledge and skills of management of
local government, co-operation with the social partners, conflict reduction,
strategy building, project designing and implementing would be in focus.
Dept. of Social Policy and Social Work, Masaryk University and Dept. of
Sociology, Palacky University will guarantee the professional value of the
programme, evaluation, follow-up and dissemination of the experiences.
Dept. of Social Policy and Social Work, Masaryk University and Dept. of
Sociology, Palacky University belong to the leading Czech universities in the
field of applied social sciences. Both of them are accredited by the Czech
Ministry of Education to organise the educational programmes for adults. Both
departments implemented into curriculum several courses which are focused on
the problems of Roma Community. Both are involved within the activities of
NGOs which are focused at the problems of Roma community. Faculty of Social
Studies in Brno is carrying a long-term research project focused on evaluation
of the social problems of Roma community and of the activities aimed to solve
these problems.
Dept. of Sociology and Andragogy, Philosophical Faculty of Palacky
University in Olomouc organised in the last year with support of the
Government Office of the Czech republic the programme Educational Minimum for
Roma Advisors aimed at the group of 15 Roma advisors which never worked in
public administration and were lacking professional background. Evaluation
showed that the programme was extremely successful and stimulating.
The suggested project could efficiently start from achievements and
experiences of the former project addressed to Roma clerks and offer to the
participants new topics, more comprehensive programme as well as an
opportunity to acquire new knowledge which might influence their position in
local management.
Problem statement and demonstration of need
There is an ultimate need to support multiethnic society development in the
Czech Republic and in countries in CEE. The efficiency of the work of Roam
clerks is of crucial significance as they represent an important
"linkage-building element" between majority and Roma minority. In
some districts in the Czech Republic little room for conceptual and co-ordinating
role was provided to them and they overtake the roles of social workers or
perform the function of mediators between the local public administration and
Roma community. At local level, there is also a need to implement a problem
oriented projects which would support social position and well-being of Roma
minority as well as their common life with majority in local society. The
promotion of the position of Roma clerks improving not only their skills but
at the same time the better understanding of their role inside public local
administration represents the necessary conditions to develop the programmes
necessary to create local multi-ethnic society. Even several educational
project providing basic administrative skills exist the need persist to offer
a programme to the Roma clerks which would learn them how to build the
local-level strategy. Such a programme and training should be offered through
the project suggested. Another contribution of the project would be the
evaluation of their achievements and strengthening of the role of Roma clerks
in their local settings. Under the research project of the Faculty of Social
Studies in Brno we are going to follow-up the activities of the clerks one
year after the completing the project in order to evaluate the impacts of the
skills advancement.
Goals and Objectives
The project is aimed at the following objectives:
Core objectives
- To develop the skills of the selected Roma clerks as designers and
organisers of local projects
- To give them support and to shift their role and position in order they
would be perceived as efficiently co-operating partners in municipal
public policy
- To support creation and implementation of the Roma community aimed
projects at local level
Other objectives
- To evaluate the progress in skills and professional roles of the
participants
- To enable transmission and dissemination of skills to create the
projects among Roma clerks
- To built public consciousness in public administration at local level
about the progress in this field and to promote co-operative attitudes
Methodology
The main part of the project would be a ten days programme for the
previously selected Roma clerks. The contents has been redesigned according to
the pilot project which was realised in Hungary last year, and after
discussion with Roma clerks in the Czech Republic. It is focused on the topics
which were not accentuated in the past programmes organised for Roma clerks
but it is intended to build on the formerly realised programmes efficiently
offering "strategic level" skills (strategy and project designing).
In this respect the programme would emphasize the link between theory and
practice. The research programme-evaluation would represent a specific
additional activity.
Policy Studies, discussion papers, and teaching materials
Beside the programme two kinds of written materials would emerge from the
activities of the project. 1. Study materials - readers for each subject This
materials would be at disposal to the participants even after completing the
programme to facilitate their professional roles. 2. Evaluation studies a)
Evaluation of the selected projects which are being designed and run by Roma
clerks in their local settings b) Evaluation of the Roma clerks position and
role in local administration based on evaluation of the typical conflicts they
are solving. This studies would be at disposal to the city councils and would
also enable to disseminate positive experiences throughout public
administration and other bodies in locality.
Contact Person:
Tomáš Sirovátka,
Faculty of Social Studies
Masaryk University
Brno
fax + 42 05 41615 100
