Dimitrovgrad

General Information
 
ROMACT Cycle: 
Closed
Mayor of the Municipality: 
Ivo Dimov
Contact Person within the Municipality: 
Galina Teneva - Chief Expert "Health and Social Activities"
Facilitators: 
Dora Petkova
Total population: 
53 557
Source: 
NSI
Roma living in the Municipality: 
3 750
Description of the Municipality: 

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Dimitrovgrad Municipality is located in Southern Bulgaria, in Haskovo Region. Dimitrovgrad municipality includes 27 settlements. The town of Dimitrovgrad is the administrative center of the municipality.
 
According to official data, the Roma population consists of 7% of the total population in the municipality.
Roma  live in separate neighborhoods, mainly in Dimitrovgrad, Merichleri, Chernogorovo and Yabalkovo.

Some of the main issues they face with are:
- illegal housing;
- massive migration to western European countries; 
- Lack of infrastructure in Roma neighborhoods;
- A huge number of people do not have health insurance.

The ROMACT Process

ROMACT started in July 2021 with the signature of the Letter of agreement. 

The Taskforce for Roma inclusion was created following Mayor's approval in December 2021.

The Municipal Action Plan for Roma inclusion was adopted by the Local Council in June 2022.

Trainings
ROMACT experts have provided the following trainings since the start of implementing the programme:

For the local authorities:
*Analysing the Municipal Plans for Roma Integration
* Including priorities and measures for Roma communities in the Integrated stratedies for territorial development
* Information on procedure BG05SFPR002-2.003: “Future for the children” in Bulgaria

Timeline Points

28 Jul 2021
Step 1- Becoming Committed- Signature of the letter of agreement
6 Dec 2021
Creation of the Municipal Taskforce for Roma Inclusion
15 Jun 2022
Step 3- Translating priorities into measures- Adoption of the Joint Action Plan by Local Council
31 Mar 2023
End of ROMACT process
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