Public Administration Training Program for Elected Roma
leaders
Contact: Petra Kovacs, researcher kovacsp@osi.hu
Summary
A program to train elected Roma leaders was launched by the LGI in 1999. A
series of pilot training was in Hungary in 1999. The aim of the program is to
provide training for locally elected Roma leaders who participate actively in
local governance, local decision-making and the implementation of local
policy-making practices. Often these leaders do not have adequate training and
expertise to exercise control over local policy-making, budgeting and
implementation.
Pilot project
The Pilot training program resulted in the elaboration of a methodology and
the training of more than 50 Roma leaders in Hungary. In early 2000 LGI and
partner organizations contacted various ministerial bodies and the Office of
National and Ethnic Minorities (NEKH) who expressed their interest in supporting
the Roma PA training program initiated by LGI for at least one more year.
Experiences and policy changing potential of the Pilot training may provide
other regional training programs with relevant lessons.
Regional developments
Since September 1999 LGI project managers contacted several partner
institutions in other countries of the region to adopt the training methodology
and implement similar training programs in their countries. LGI SC has approved
the proposal of the Forum Institute from Slovakia in December 1999. The project
has received support from the OSF Bratislava. The first training will take place
in summer 2000. A proposal to adopt the Roma PA training in Czech Republic is in
the pipeline from Massaryk University (Brno) Department of Social Policy. In
January 2000, LGI has started to develop a Roma PA training program for Ukraine.
We are working with the coordinator for minority issues at the Lviv Branch of
the IRF.
Included, please find a summary of activities and outcomes and follow-up:
Background research and needs assessment
In April 1999 a research identified more than 200 locally elected Roma
leaders in municipal councils with the assistance of Roma civil organizations
and networks. LGI and partners contacted these leaders with a need assessment
questionnaire.
Training design and methodology
Based on the findings of the needs assessment research (a summary of finding
is available) experts and trainers got together for a planning meeting to design
methodology and content of the training. Four subject area has been identified
as crucial: Public Administration Law, Municipal finance and Program budgeting,
Strategic Management and Conflict Resolution
Roma PA Summer University at ELTE
Between August 23 and September 3, 1999 a two-week-long Summer University has
been hosted by Faculty of Social Policy and Social Work, ELTE University.
Nineteen applicants have been selected out of sixty applicants on the basis of
their educational background and their experiences as municipal leaders. The
course ended with a comprehensive exam (written test and oral exam). Sixteen
participants passed the exam and received a Summer University Program
certificate from ELTE University. A follow up meeting and consultation for
participants of the Summer University program was held on January 28-29 in
Budapest. Participants could meet experts from Ministry of Internal Affaires,
County Public Administration Office of Pest County, Association of Local
Governments of Hungary and the trainers of the Summer Course.
Outcomes and results of the Summer University program
- During the follow-up meeting,
participants of Summer University decided to create a professional
association (“Roma.EU”, Association of Roma Municipal leaders). This
organization aims at
- organizing professional
training,
- providing technical assistance
for Roma Self-Governments
- lobbying within the National
Association of Municipalities
- providing EU bodies with
first-hand info on local policy issues related to Roma
- Éva Orsós, former President of
the Office of National and Ethnic Minorities (NEKH), an expert to and
advisor of the Roma PA training raised the idea to join to form a Roma board
of the National Association of Local Governments (TÖOSZ)
- The Hungarian National TV’s
Roma program prepared and broadcasted a 20 minute summary of the program.
The Hunagrian National TV has commissioned Romedia Foundation to prepare a
portrait film with one of the participants of the course, Jozsef Kosztics,
vice-major of Siklosnagyfalu.
Follow-up and future opportunities
- ToT program: trainers of the Summer University program will apply
for funds to relevant institutions to organize a ToT session for the best
students of the Summer University Program. The trainers could then become
regional advisors to Roma municipal leaders. According to the plan, trained
Roma leaders could be hired by the Office of National and Ethnic Minorities
as Advisors.
Regional trainings
These short trainings addressed primarily the needs of Roma elected leaders
at the beginning of their first mandate (less then two years of experience).
Trainings includes a brief introduction to practical questions of local
government management and finance. Major task of this training is to help
participants to develop adequate to municipal budget. The training is strongly
practice oriented.
Outcomes and follow-up
On the basis of experiences of regional training programs, trainers of the
program decided to develop a written guide to Roma Municipal leaders to prepare
program budgets for municipalities. The Office for National and Ethnic
Minorities have preliminary agreed to provide funds to develop and publish this
guide. The Guide will include a short introduction to municipal finance and
program-based budgeting as well as "sample program budgets" based on
special needs of local Roma communities (infrastructure, housing, labor market,
education etc). The guide will also help Roma leaders to identify external
sources to complement missing local funds.
