A training session on Roma Responsive Budgeting (RRB) at local level was jointly organised by JP EU-CoE ROMACTED II Team in Serbia and Roma Integration Office/ Regional Cooperation Council (RCC). Participants, around 50 of them, were representatives from the 14 partner Cities and Municipalities, ROMACTED Facilitators, Municipal Contact Points and staff from partner local self-government finance units.

During the opening session, Ms Marina Vasić, ROMACTED2 Regional Programme Manager, greeted participants and presented the RRB component of the second phase of the ROMACTED Programme and the purpose and goals of the training session. Following Ms Vasić, Ms Olena Papuga, State Secretary at the Ministry of Human and Minority Rights and Social Dialogue, welcomed participants and introduced them with the work of the Ministry in the relevant areas; and Ms Aleksandra Bojadjieva from the RCC presented the work of the organisation and the results achieved in the development of RRB concept at regional and national level.

Thematic Consultant Mr Tibor Domonkos delivered two very detailed and comprehensive sessions with a focus on programme budgeting and the advantages of such concept. This was also an opportunity for LSG staff to learn more about the state of play in different LSGs and to collect innovative ideas and ways of Roma inclusion at local level.

The component of RRB is among the three elements of Phase II which will contribute to enhancing Human Rights Approach (HRA) in Roma communities, in Serbia and other programme Beneficiaries in the region.