In 2006, the Open Society Institute set up a matching fund for projects funded at the EU or national level under the umbrella of the European Year of Equal Opportunities for All 2007. The OSI Roma Decade Matching Fund is part of OSI’s support for the Decade of Roma Inclusion 2005–2015.

To date, the OSI Roma Decade Matching Fund has co-sponsored 11 projects in Belgium, Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, France, Hungary, Montenegro, and Romania. Grants from OSI have ranged from EUR 5,000 to EUR 50,000, and the total amount awarded so far is EUR 217,848. The total funding for individual projects has varied from EUR 40,000 to EUR 310,000. In addition to matching European Commission funding, OSI has matched funds with grants from national authorities, private foundations, television stations, private publishers and private corporations.

The projects were aimed at challenging negative attitudes toward Roma, advocacy, research and capacity building. Fields involved included education, gender, employment, the environment and Roma cultural identity. Examples of supported projects include a “Positive Action Policy Seminar” held in Brussels on November 29-30, 2007; an initiative by Bulgarian, Romanian, Slovak and French associations to develop a joint initiative for informal and non-formal education; weekly story-reading sessions for Roma mothers and their children in Hungary; and Roma cultural/artistic activities in Hungary and Romania.

Because of the positive response to the program, OSI will continue the Roma Decade Matching Fund in 2008, with particular focus on (but not exclusively linked to) the European Year of Intercultural Dialogue 2008.

Projects Eligible for OSI Matching Funding

• Projects that have a clear Roma component
• Roma must be involved in the design and implementation of the project
• Preference will be given to projects linked to the Decade of Roma Inclusion

Eligible Applicants

• nongovernmental organizations
• local governments
• national implementing bodies
• media partners

Financial Allocation

OSI will provide up to 30% of the cost of an individual project, with a maximum allocation of EUR 50,000.

To Apply

• Applications for matching funding should be sent to OSI 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 Kinga Rethy at the OSI Roma Initiatives Office: Krethy@osi.hu.