Launched in July 2005, the “USAID Support to Roma NGO & Business Community Program” aimed to work with both audiences directly. More than $260,000 was invested in this program, as part of the Roma Decade initiative. The activities were implemented by the Center for Institutional Development (CIRa) from Skopje in cooperation with World Learning/Macedonia.

Over a period of six months, close to 400 potential Roma businessmen were informed of the benefits of running registered businesses. Of those, 80 decided to register and have become legal entities. These businesses are now eligible for loans and other professional services.

Photo1: Coaching the participants during the PCM Training by CIRa trainer

In addition, 18 training modules were designed and delivered to 400 members of 22 Roma NGOs were trained in areas such as leadership development, advocacy and lobbying, project cycle management, and various technical-specific fields.

For the most active and committed participants at the Capacity Building Program, representing 11 Roma NGOs, CIRa organized a study tour in Slovakia, from December 11-17, 2005. The study tour was organized in partnership with Partners for Democratic Change Slovakia, and the participants had the opportunity to visit programs that work with Roma, to meet government officials as well as to learn from Partners’ extensive experience in managing programs for marginalized groups.

The Program provided micro grants to 14 NGOs participants in the program for implementing activities in four areas:

1. Increasing business activity among Roma population
2. Implementing concrete follow-up activities as result of the training programs
3. Increasing and expanding current activities implemented by the NGO
4. NGO strengthening through improving their technical infrastructure

The projects, in a scale of 25,000 to 150,000 MKD were selected on competitive bases and were implemented from November 1 till December 10, 2005.

Photo2: Roma Assistant Trainers assist during group work at the Gender Issues Training

CIRa, with a support from USAID, committed itself to strengthening of the capacities of the Roma nongovernmental sector, through organizing individual consultations with 12 NGOs, which took part in the Program for Support of Roma NGOs and Roma business community. Over 90 activists of Roma NGOs received trainings for development of project- proposals, business and strategic plans, as well as plans for self-financing and sustainability. Seven members of thegroup worked as assistant trainers, thus strengthening their trainers' skills and individual consultancy skills. Draft annual programs, self-financing and sustainability plans, the new financial and administrative procedures set up for NGO operations illustrate some of the results achieved with active participation of the ambitious group of young Roma assistant trainers.