Czech Republic

In the Czech Republic, ROMACT implementation started in 2015 with four municipalities:  Budišov nad Budišovkou, Litvínov, Rokycany and Vítkov.
 
Due to difficulties in the implementation of ROMACT in Rokycany, the process was stopped after 14 months.
 
Roma communities in Czech Republic
 
The population of Roma origin living in Czech Republic is estimated at 226 000 (Council of Europe, 2015) and represents 9% of the population of the country.
 
According to the Report on the Condition of the Roma Minority in the Czech Republic in 2015, half of the Roma in the Czech Republic are at risk of exclusion. In the municipalities in which ROMACT Programmewas implemented, Roma faced different issues: high unemployment rate, inadequate living conditions in segregated areas, mostly in “residential hotels”, school segregation and discrimination in general. 
 
ROMACT implementation
 
After the letters of agreement of implementation of ROMACT Programme were signed at each municipal level, Community Action Groups (CAG) were created in Budišov nad Budišovkou, Litvínov and Vítkov.  The local authorities also took upon themselves to appoint a ROMACT coordinator in 3 municipalities.

CAG meetings took place in all municipalities to assess needs related mainly to housing, employment and infrastructure.

Community priorities have been drafted in all municipalities and shared with the local authorities. Joint action plans were approved by mayors and City Councils in the three municipalities.  
 
In the Czech Republic, the implementation of the Action Plans first based itself on a significant number of trust building activities implemented in partnership with local authorities or NGOs, including community garbage collection, children playground renovation, etc.
 
Street rehabilitation, support to access to employment and creation of a pre-school club are examples of achievements reached thanks to the cooperation of all stakeholders involved.
 
The Czech ROMACT Team also supported and coached municipalities willing to improve Roma communities’ situation and their relationship with the majority. This support took the shape of trainings on community policing or social fieldwork with Roma. It also included trainings on project writing and access to funding for the local strategies.
 
ROMACT experts also provided support for specific project proposals such as a project of community school in Litvinov, submitted to the Roma Education Fund or a Community Work project submitted for ESF (European Social Fund) through (Community-Led Local Development) (CLLD) Opavsko in Budišov nad Bušovkou.
 
Most activities and projects were planned and implemented using ROMACT methodology in close cooperation with the Agency for social inclusion under the Social Coordinated Approach. At the end of 2017, ROMACT process was officially closed in Czech Republic and further implementation of its methodology left to the Agency for social inclusion.
 
Find out more about ROMACT achievements in Czech Republic