Presentation of Regional and National UNDP Studies on social vulnerability of Roma, Refugees and Displaced Persons
Having become an independent state in May 2006, Montenegro is currently at a
crucial phase of its development. While the recovery of economy generated visible growth in the past year, a great challenge of this country remains to gain a sustainable growth. Also, the vulnerable groups such as Roma, displaced persons and refugees do not benefit equally from the growth/development and they need better access to public services and development opportunities.
Supported by UNDP Regional Bureau for Europe and CIS in their creation, the regional and national At Risk studies focus primarily on, but not exclusively to, the issues of poverty, education, employment, health and housing, and the primary universe under the national study consists of: (i) all the households in Roma settlements or areas of compact Roma population; (ii) displaced persons/refugees); and (iii) domicile non-Roma communities living in close proximity to Roma and the displaced. To generate the data on all three targeted groups, the survey questionnaire used both household and individual modules.
Social inclusion (implying public services coverage, employment and development opportunities) is part of EU accession and EU social inclusion agenda. With their first MDG Report (based on the Montenegrin Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper) and other strategic documents such as the National Action Plan for The Decade of Roma Inclusion 2005 – 2015, the Strategy for Resolving the Issues of Refugees and Displaced Persons in Montenegro, the Montenegrin Government committed itself to working towards meeting the MDGs and to reaching the EU social inclusion agenda.
Sustainable social inclusion of vulnerable groups requires a strong and continued Government’s commitment supported by genuine and coordinated efforts of civil society and international community. But, in order to avoid dependency trap, the vulnerable groups also need strong support of all in employing their own efforts to escape poverty and social exclusion.
In this sense, UNDP Montenegro is starting a regional project entitled Roma Decreasing Vulnerability, with 550.000 Euros funding from Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA). Key partner on the project is the Montenegrin Ministry of Health, Labor and Social Welfare and partners are also Roma NGOs and Employment Agency of Montenegro.
The project is conceived in accordance with the National Action Plan for Roma and the other strategic documents; it is gender sensitive and is to cover some 50% of domicile Roma. The objective is the targeted Roma poverty reduction for 25-30% for their sustainable social inclusion, i.e. over 6.000 Roma should be out of absolute poverty that would decrease the national poverty rate for 1%.
Briefly, the project would achieve this through the following:
- Facilitated personal documents issuance for Roma. Estimation is that 25% domicile Roma lack personal documents that limits their access to public services and limits Roma to exercise their human rights.
- Support to Social Welfare Centers (in equipment, vehicles (3), upgrading staffs’ skills, etc.) to provide Roma with equal access to improved social security and support services and improve their quality of life.
- Roma employment – skills upgrading programs, small pilot soft loans for Roma small business, etc. (the highest share of the budget is dedicated to employment).
