Roma Education Fund

Unlocking Roma Economic Potential | REF Intensifies Employment Partnerships across Serbia

Posted on June 4, 2026 by admin3

Representatives of public institutions, employers, trade unions, and civil society gathered on June 3rd at the Belgrade City Assembly for a roundtable dedicated to one of the most important challenges facing the labour market: improving employment opportunities for jobseekers facing multiple barriers to labour market participation, including Roma women and men.

The event was organized by Roma Education Fund Serbia in cooperation with the Socio-Economic Council of the City of Belgrade, the National Employment Service, Belgrade Branch, and the Centre for Social Work, bringing together key stakeholders committed to creating a more inclusive and responsive labour market.

The roundtable was opened by Srđan Srbljanović, Assistant Minister for Human and Minority Rights and Social Dialogue, Igor Jovanović, Deputy President of the Belgrade City Assembly, Violeta Filip, Member of the Belgrade City Council, and Marijana Rakić, Public Relations Officer at Roma Education Fund.

Addressing participants, Srđan Srbljanović emphasized the importance of coordinated action among institutions, employers, and civil society in tackling barriers to employment.

“Access to the labour market remains challenging for certain vulnerable groups. The barriers they face may be economic, social, or educational in nature, but they can also stem from prejudice and discrimination. This is why it is essential for institutions, local governments, employment services, employers, trade unions, and civil society organizations to work together.”

Speaking about the role of the city in creating opportunities for all citizens, Igor Jovanović highlighted that sustainable development must go hand in hand with inclusion.

“Belgrade is a city that continues to grow and attract investment, but our success will not be measured solely by the number of investments or new developments. It will also be measured by how well we provide opportunities to those who need them the most.”

For REF, this discussion forms part of a broader effort to strengthen pathways between education, skills development, and employment. Through its strategic pillar Skills & Employment, the organization works to connect Roma communities, institutions, employers, and education providers around a shared objective: creating sustainable opportunities for economic participation and long-term prosperity for Roma communties. 

“For years, the Roma Education Fund has been actively building bridges between Roma communities, the education system, the labour market, and institutions. Today’s meeting is an opportunity to better understand the needs of employers and the labour market, while jointly contributing to the development of qualified professionals who are prepared to meet those needs,” said Marijana Rakić.

The discussion continued with a panel moderated by Marina Savković, Director of REF’s Skills and Employment Programs, featuring representatives of institutions and organizations that play a key role in shaping labour market opportunities and employment policies.

Panelists included Željka Zelenović Vuković, Head of the Employer Relations Department at the National Employment Service – Belgrade Branch, Svetlana Budimčević, Acting Director of the Serbian Employers’ Union, Dragan Todorović, President of the Confederation of Autonomous Trade Unions of Belgrade, and Nemanja Antonijević, Head of the Surčin Department of the Centre for Social Work.

The Belgrade roundtable also builds on a series of recent initiatives through which REF has intensified its activities across Serbia under the Skills & Employment pillar.

In May, REF and the Serbian Employers Association launched a strategic partnership aimed at strengthening Roma workforce participation through vocational training, workforce preparation, employment mediation, mentorship, and long-term job retention support. The partnership reflects a shared commitment to creating practical employer-driven pathways into the labour market while responding to growing workforce needs across the country. REF has also expanded cooperation with municipalities, employers, and employment services. In Kragujevac, recent employment initiatives demonstrated the value of coordinated action, connecting jobseekers, institutions, and employers while creating new opportunities for skills development and workforce integration.

Together, these efforts contribute to a larger vision. Across Serbia and the Western Balkans, employers face labour shortages, demographic decline, and increasing demand for skilled workers. At the same time, Roma communities represent one of the youngest and most underutilized sources of talent in the region.

REF believes that Roma inclusion is a strategic investment in economic growth, competitiveness, and resilience. Unlocking Roma economic potential requires more than individual projects. It requires systems that connect education, skills, employers, institutions, and communities in ways that create lasting opportunities.

The discussion in Belgrade represents another important step in REF’s efforts to strengthen Roma participation in the labour market. By bringing together decision-makers, employers, employment services, trade unions, and civil society organizations, the event reinforced a shared commitment to creating practical pathways that connect Roma talent with employment opportunities.

We extend our sincere thanks to all participants for their openness, expertise, and commitment to working together.

Angajăm expert achiziții publice | Intră în echipa REF Romania!

Posted on November 13, 2025 by admin3

Locație: București |
Durata contractului: minim 24 luni începând cu ianuarie 2026 |
Tip program: Full-time |
Tip job: Office |

DESPRE NOI

Fundația Roma Education Fund (REF) este o organizație internațională fondată în 2005 de către Banca Mondială și Open Society Foundations. În cei 20 de ani de activitate, rețeaua REF a investit peste 120 de milioane de euro în proiecte educaționale de calitate, programe de care au beneficiat peste 100.000 de romi de toate vârstele, din 16 țări.

În concordanță cu noua sa misiune strategică, echipele Fundației din cele patru țări în care activează – România, Slovacia, Serbia și Macedonia de Nord – colaborează strâns cu comunitățile rome pentru a atinge trei obiective strategice principale: (1) Dezvoltarea de modele educaționale complementare, menite să crească și să consolideze reziliența comunităților rome; (2) Crearea de programe de angajare eficiente pentru romi, adaptate la evoluția piețelor muncii; (3) Investiții țintite în educație și leadership, cu scopul de a dezvolta capitalul uman în rândul populației rome.

Mai multe informații despre noi: Roma Education Fund

RESPONSABILITĂȚI:

• Elaborează și actualizează planul de achiziții pentru proiectele alocate.
• Pregătește documentația de achiziție în conformitate cu legislația aplicabilă și cu cerințele finanțatorului.
• Gestionează procesul complet de achiziție: publicitate, colectare oferte, evaluarea acestora, desemnarea ofertantului câștigător.
• Asigură respectarea principiilor de transparență, tratament egal și proporționalitate în toate etapele achiziției.
• Monitorizează derularea procedurilor astfel încât să respecte termenele legale și calendarul activităților din proiect.
• Păstrează evidența documentelor de achiziție și asigură arhivarea corespunzătoare.
• Acordă suport echipei de proiect privind interpretarea regulilor de achiziții din ghidurile finanțatorilor.

CERINȚE

• Diplomă de licență (studii superioare finalizate);
• Experiența in administrarea și coordonarea, din punct de vedere al achizițiilor, de proiecte cu finantare POSDRU/POCU/PEO sau alte tipuri de finanțare nerambursabilă de cel putin 5 ani;

• O bună cunoaștere a limbii engleze (nivel B2)
• Abilități excelente de planificare și organizare;
• Comunicare eficientă scrisă și verbală;
• Abilitatea de a gestiona mai multe priorități simultan;
• Atenție la detalii și respectarea termenelor.
• Constituie un avantaj experiența anterioară în implementarea și monitorizarea cerințelor GDPR, precum și cunoștințele privind legislația națională și europeană în domeniul protecției date

CE OFERIM

• Salariu competitiv;
• Oportunități de dezvoltare profesională;
• Mediu de lucru plăcut și colaborativ;
• Implicare în proiecte cu impact social real          

APLICĂ ACUM!

Trimite CV-ul și o scrisoare de intenție de maximum 10 -20 rânduri la adresa recrutare@roma.education, până la data de 23 noiembrie 2025, menționând în subiectul e-mailului: „Aplicație Expert achiziții publice – Numele dvs.”

În scrisoarea de intenție, vă rugăm să răspundeți la urmatoarele intrebari:

• Cum se aliniază experiența dumneavoastră profesională cu cerințele acestui post?
• Cum crezi că experiența și valorile tale pot contribui la misiunea Roma Education Fund?
• Care consideri că este cea mai importantă contribuție pe care ai putea-o aduce în echipa REF?

NOTĂ: Fundația Roma Education Fund promovează principiile egalității de șanse și diversității în procesul de recrutare. Sunt încurajate să aplice toate persoanele care împărtășesc valorile noastre și care îndeplinesc cerințele postului, indiferent de etnie, gen sau statut social. În mod particular, sunt încurajate aplicațiile din partea persoanelor care se identifică drept romi, inclusiv ale femeilor rome și ale foștilor beneficiari ai programelor REF.

Important: Din cauza numărului mare de înscrieri, din păcate, REF nu are posibilitatea de a răspunde individual fiecărui candidat. Vă rugăm să rețineți că doar persoanele selectate pe lista scurtă vor fi contactate pentru un prim interviu și un test de evaluare.  Apreciem interesul tuturor celor care aleg să aplice și vă asigurăm că fiecare candidatură va fi analizată cu atenție.

Angajăm responsabil financiar | Intră în echipa REF Romania!

Posted on by admin3

Locație: București |
Durata contractului: minim 22 luni |
Tip program: Full-time |
Tip job: Office |

DESPRE NOI

Fundația Roma Education Fund (REF) este o organizație internațională fondată în 2005 de către Banca Mondială și Open Society Foundations. În cei 20 de ani de activitate, rețeaua REF a investit peste 120 de milioane de euro în proiecte educaționale de calitate, programe de care au beneficiat peste 100.000 de romi de toate vârstele, din 16 țări.

În concordanță cu noua sa misiune strategică, echipele Fundației din cele patru țări în care activează – România, Slovacia, Serbia și Macedonia de Nord – colaborează strâns cu comunitățile rome pentru a atinge trei obiective strategice principale: (1) Dezvoltarea de modele educaționale complementare, menite să crească și să consolideze reziliența comunităților rome; (2) Crearea de programe de angajare eficiente pentru romi, adaptate la evoluția piețelor muncii; (3) Investiții țintite în educație și leadership, cu scopul de a dezvolta capitalul uman în rândul populației rome.

Mai multe informații despre noi: Roma Education Fund

RESPONSABILITĂȚI:

• Asigură managementul financiar al proiectului, în conformitate cu contractul de finanțare și procedurile interne.
• Ține evidența și asigură încadrarea tuturor cheltuielilor în bugetul aprobat.
• Supervizează și monitorizează execuția bugetară și progresul financiar al proiectului.
• Pregătește și verifică cererile de rambursare, cererile de plată și cererile de prefinanțare, inclusiv clarificările aferente.
• Actualizează graficul de rambursare și întocmește notificările necesare privind modificarea acestuia.
• Asigură încărcarea în aplicația MySMIS/MySMIS2021 a tuturor documentelor financiare aferente proiectului.
• Întocmește rapoarte financiare către finanțator și către echipa de proiect.
• Colaborează cu echipa de implementare și cu Directorul Financiar pentru aplicarea unitară a procedurilor financiare.
• Asigură arhivarea corespunzătoare a tuturor documentelor financiare ale proiectului.
• Participă la întâlnirile de lucru ale echipei de proiect.

CERINȚE

• Diplomă de licență (studii superioare finalizate);
• Minimum 5 ani de experiență în administrarea și coordonarea din punct de vedere financiar al proiectelor cu finantare POSDRU/POCU/PEO sau alte tipuri de finanțare nerambursabilă

• O bună cunoaștere a limbii engleze (nivel B2)
• Abilități excelente de planificare și organizare;
• Comunicare eficientă scrisă și verbală;
• Abilitatea de a gestiona mai multe priorități simultan;
• Atenție la detalii și respectarea termenelor.

CE OFERIM

• Salariu competitiv;
• Oportunități de dezvoltare profesională;
• Mediu de lucru plăcut și colaborativ;
• Implicare în proiecte cu impact social real          

APLICĂ ACUM!

Trimite CV-ul și o scrisoare de intenție la adresa recrutare@roma.education până la data de 9 aprilie 2026, menționând în subiectul e-mailului: „Responsabil Financiar – Numele dvs.”

În scrisoarea de intenție, vă rugăm să răspundeți la urmatoarele intrebari:

• Cum se aliniază experiența dumneavoastră profesională cu cerințele acestui post?
• Cum crezi că experiența și valorile tale pot contribui la misiunea Roma Education Fund?
• Care consideri că este cea mai importantă contribuție pe care ai putea-o aduce în echipa REF?

NOTĂ: Fundația Roma Education Fund promovează principiile egalității de șanse și diversității în procesul de recrutare. Sunt încurajate să aplice toate persoanele care împărtășesc valorile noastre și care îndeplinesc cerințele postului, indiferent de etnie, gen sau statut social. În mod particular, sunt încurajate aplicațiile din partea persoanelor care se identifică drept romi, inclusiv ale femeilor rome și ale foștilor beneficiari ai programelor REF.

Important: Din cauza numărului mare de înscrieri, din păcate, REF nu are posibilitatea de a răspunde individual fiecărui candidat. Vă rugăm să rețineți că doar persoanele selectate pe lista scurtă vor fi contactate pentru un prim interviu și un test de evaluare.  Apreciem interesul tuturor celor care aleg să aplice și vă asigurăm că fiecare candidatură va fi analizată cu atenție.

Reframing the Future of Work

Posted on October 29, 2025 by admin1

By Marina Savković, team leader Skills and Employment Roma Education Fund

On 21 October 2025 in Sofia, the Future of Work Summit, organized by Capital / Economedia, brought together business leaders, HR experts, entrepreneurs and civil society representatives to discuss how artificial intelligence, automation and digital transformation are reshaping industries and jobs. Although technological change is accelerating, one message resonated throughout the event: the future of work must remain human-centred. Even under conditions of rapid technological disruption, it is people, their skills, resilience and capacity to learn, who determine whether economies grow or stagnate.

In this sense, the conversation on labour market participation was not separate from the discussions on AI. It was foundational. Bulgaria is already operating with a shrinking workforce, and technology alone cannot fill the emerging labour gaps. The key question is not only how to prepare the workforce for the jobs of tomorrow, but also who will be included in that workforce at all.

A Reality We Must Acknowledge

Bulgaria is among the countries most affected by demographic decline, with a persistent shortage of workers across sectors, reaching up to 30% less workers than needed. The only remaining labour reserves within the country are located among groups that have historically been excluded, Roma in particular, who are estimated to represent more than 10% of the Bulgarian population (Council of Europe, 2023).

According to the FRA Roma Survey 2024, paid employment among Roma in Bulgaria reaches approximately 62%, while employment in the general population is significantly higher. However, this employment is still not formal and stable in most of the cases. A national study from 2024 further shows that the NEET rate among Roma youth aged 15–29 is 53.6%, compared to around 19.3% among the general youth population. These figures reflect real people, real potential and structural barriers that continue to constrain Bulgaria’s economic growth.

During his keynote, Željko Jovanović, President of the Roma Foundation for Europe, underlined that the cost of labour exclusion of Roma in Bulgaria reaches nearly €2 billion annually. The question, he stressed, is not whether Roma can contribute to the economy — they already do — but how much more Bulgaria stands to gain once systemic barriers are removed. This is not a discussion about social spending. It is a discussion about strategic economic development.

Ciprian Necula, Executive President of the Roma Education Fund, reinforced this message by sharing concrete examples of Roma entering stable employment through training and mentoring models developed in cooperation with employers, state authorities and vocational institutions. He spoke about young people who, once offered structured guidance and targeted learning opportunities, successfully entered long-term employment; about households whose economic prospects changed when one member secured a contract; and about companies that benefitted from a steady and motivated workforce through ongoing collaboration with REF teams. These stories are proof that when training aligns with real job requirements and support continues beyond hiring, employment stabilises and careers begin to grow. They also demonstrate that REF is a credible partner for Bulgarian employers, capable of helping them build and retain their workforce.

A Direction We Can Choose

What stayed with me most from the Summit did not happen on stage, but in the conversations between sessions. Several employers expressed genuine interest in co-designing employment pathways together with the Roma Education Fund and the Roma Foundation for Europe. Their questions were practical and forward-looking: how to structure training, how mentoring can support retention, what timeframes match production cycles. The openness was sincere. Follow-up discussions are already underway.

This readiness matters. It marks a shift from seeing Roma employment as a social obligation to recognising it as a shared economic opportunity rooted in real labour market demand.

The Path Forward

The Future of Work Summit reminded us that the future of work is not something that simply happens to us. It is something we shape—through the decisions we make about who has access to technology, to work, to learning, to economic security and to dignity.

Roma are not peripheral to this story. They are one of the few remaining sources of labour force expansion in Bulgaria, and a vital one — if we choose to invest wisely and collaboratively.

The opportunity is real, measurable and within reach. And what I witnessed in Sofia this October — in discussions, in hallways, and in conversations full of intention — gives me genuine reason to believe that we are closer to real progress than ever before.

Roma are the Growth Engine the Western Balkans Can’t Afford to Ignore

Posted on October 13, 2025 by admin1

By Marina Savković, Team Leader for Skills & Employment, Roma Education Fund

The World Bank has sounded the alarm and the Western Balkans should be paying attention. Growth is running on borrowed time. With half the region’s talent sitting on the sidelines, prosperity is hitting a demographic wall. The numbers are blunt: a looming shortfall of 190,000 workers, and entire groups (women, young people, older adults) still missing from the labour market. The takeaway couldn’t be clearer: getting Roma into work isn’t just social policy, it’s smart economics.

At the Roma Education Fund, we’re ready to scale up that activation, not as an add-on, but as a core driver of regional growth. Education is the foundation, employment the bridge. Bring them together, and Roma inclusion can shift from the margins to the mainstream. The only question now is whether policymakers will seize the moment or keep hitting snooze on the region’s wake-up call.

Roma Inclusion as a Growth Accelerator – Why labour markets must no longer ignore us

The World Bank’s new report Jobs Critical to Sustaining Growth in the Western Balkans delivers a serious message: the region is heading into a labour crunch. Over the next five years, the Western Balkans could face a shortfall of more than 190,000 workers if current demographic and labour market trends persist. Meanwhile, unemployment across the region stays above 10 percent, and labour force participation hovers below 55 percent — with women, youth, and older adults as the most under-represented groups.

These figures are not abstract. They validate what REF and many practitioners have observed on the ground for years: excluding any large group from education and employment is a growth risk. If the Western Balkans wants to compete, it must start seeing Roma as an essential strategy for workforce expansion and resilience.

How the World Bank’s Findings Echo REF’s New Mission?

The Bank’s Jobs Critical to Sustaining Growth in the Western Balkans report identifies the same structural challenges that REF has been addressing for years and points to solutions that lie at the heart of our programs.

First, the World Bank underlines a paradox: even with high unemployment, employers can’t find the workers they need. The problem isn’t a lack of people, it’s barriers in skills, access, and inclusion. These are exactly the barriers REF’s education and employability work seeks to dismantle.

Second, it emphasizes the need to activate underrepresented groups, particularly women, youth, and older adults. These groups often face multiple barriers to entering the labor market. Roma youth, positioned at the intersection of these vulnerabilities — young, marginalized, and often excluded on ethnic grounds — are among those most affected, and most in need of targeted activation.

Third, the report warns of a sharp demographic decline, projecting that the working-age population in the Western Balkans could shrink by nearly 20 percent by 2050. This trend makes the activation of all available human capital — including Roma communities — not only desirable, but indispensable.

Finally, the Bank calls for structural reforms to boost participation and productivity: greater investment in foundational education and health, stronger labour-market inclusion, digital and green skills development, and business environments that attract private capital.

In essence, the World Bank is underscoring exactly what REF has long advocated: that bridging the gap between marginalized communities and the core economy is not charity, but smart economic policy and a precondition for sustainable growth.

How REF’s Approach Responds and What We Propose for Scaling?

Over the past two decades, REF has built robust educational and support systems for Roma children and youth: scholarships, inclusive pedagogy, mentoring, public advocacy, and capacity strengthening in partner schools. That foundation is essential but not sufficient. Education must lead to sustainable livelihoods.

That is why REF now pivots toward employability and activation. Our Skills & Employment strategic program is designed to offer relevant, market‐oriented training in sectors where growth and demand are emerging: digital, green economy, technical trades, service industries. We are building stronger linkages between trainees and employers, embedding mentorship, internships, and job placement support.

In doing so, we anchor our strategy in local realities: capturing sectoral data, consulting with employers, adjusting training curricula to evolving needs, and monitoring which interventions result in sustainable employment. We aim for measurable outcomes not only “number of workshops held,” but number of Roma youth placed in real, dignified jobs.

By aligning public policies, employer initiatives, and community action, Roma employability can move from the margins into the mainstream. Together — governments, businesses, and organizations like REF — we can turn inclusion into one of the Western Balkans’ strongest competitive advantages.