The international cooperation within the POLIS Project involves multiple organizations from throughout the Europe linked in two separate transnational partnerships. The first is called Network for the Roma and binds People in Need (Czech Republic), The Institute for Public Administration (Slovak Republic) and Ergon Kek (Greece). The second, titled Roma Employment Challenges, ties People in Need with the Milan Šimečka Foundation (Slovak Republic). All these bodies coordinate programs sharing common goals and implemented by networks of their national partners which are called Developmental Partnerships (DPs). The POLIS Project led by People in Need is precisely such a DP for the Czech Republic. The common objective of the DPs involved in the transnational partnerships is the development and implementation of successful practices and instruments for the social integration of Roma. The DPs aim to identify the best practices in their countries and support the transfer of knowledge and experience to their international partners via regular meetings.

The Slovak DP led by the Milan Šimečka Foundation comprises non-governmental organizations that have unique experience working with Roma population. Generally, they run community-oriented activities and link services provided to clients with public policy. All partners represent some specific area of interest and develop different strategies for the implementation of their missions, with strong preference for alternative and innovative methods. More information on the partnership of People in Need with the Milan Šimečka Foundation can be found here.

The Institute for Public Administration is decisively the most important institution working in the domain of lifelong training of civil service and local government staff in the Slovak Republic. The IVS has also implemented several training projects for local Roma leaders through its network of Regional Training Centres during past ten years.

The Greek partners Ergon Kek have a long experience with supporting Roma, with special emphasis on their entrance into the primary labour market. This experience stems also from the ESF projects they have so far implemented, including vocational training programs, and various projects which were part of ENVIROM – LIFE, Leonardo and INTEGRA project frameworks. DI.KA.DI. – ROM, the Greek DP coordinated by Ergon Kek, comprises a number of municipalities with large concentrations of Roma, vocational training centers, NGOs and relevant public institutions, and its main task is to facilitate the access of Roma into the labour market.

The webpage of the transnational cooperation among People in Need, The Institute for Public Administration and Ergon Kek can be found here.