OSF: Novinka

To date, the Roma Decade Matching Fund has supported a diverse range of initiatives covering education, gender, employment, cultural identity, diversity, and intercultural dialogue. Projects have taken the form of research, advocacy, capacity-building efforts, awareness-raising campaigns, art and photography exhibitions, documentaries, public debates, and seminars.

As 2010 is the European Year for Combating Poverty and Social Exclusion, this year the Decade Matching Fund calls for applications that align with the following objectives identified by the European Commission:

• Recognition of the fundamental right of persons experiencing poverty and social exclusion to live in dignity and to take an active part in society
• To promote their effective access to social and economic rights as well as to sufficient resources and quality services
• To promote public support and the idea of shared responsibility for social inclusion policies
• To further the idea that eradication of poverty and exclusion benefits the entire society and fosters social cohesion
• To challenge stigmatization and stereotypical assumptions about poverty, and prejudices against the socially excluded

Deadline

The fund will remain open for applications until July 31, 2010.

Eligibility

• Projects must have a clear Roma component and must align with the priorities of the European Year for Combating Poverty and Social Exclusion.
• Roma must be involved in the design and implementation of the project.
• The call is limited to countries participating in the Decade of Roma Inclusion: Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Czech Republic, Bulgaria, Croatia, Hungary, Macedonia, Montenegro, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, and Spain.
• Applicants can be nongovernmental organizations, local governments, national implementing bodies, or media partners.
• Matching funding from other sources must be confirmed at the time of application.

Financial Allocation

The Open Society Institute will provide up to 40 percent of the cost of an individual project, with a maximum allocation of USD 70,000.

To Apply

The application form is available on the Decade of Roma Inclusion website at:

http://www.romadecade.org/decade_matching_fund_2010 and http://www.romadecade.org/news/decade_matching_fund_2010

Completed application forms should be sent to OSI Roma Initiatives together with the full project proposal.

Proposals will be selected on merit and in line with the eligibility criteria. Grants will be made only after core funding has been approved.

Proposals should be sent to matchingfund@osi.hu.