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MAKE IT HAPPEN WITH REDI

About us

Roma Economic Development Initiative is an ecosystem builder focusing on developing tools to increase vulnerable communities’ economic empowerment. We initially built a non-profit in Romania (2016) and set-up a financial institution in Luxembourg (2018), a recycling company in North Macedonia (2020), set-up several business clubs in the region (2017-2020). We trained several tens of young Roma to work in banks in the region. In the process, we reached out to more than 2500 entrepreneurs active in vulnerable communities and offered close to 35000 hours of business development support, consulting, and advocacy.

Led by a team of young Roma Professionals from different European countries, REDI aims to provide access to affordable finance for Roma entrepreneurs in Central, Eastern Europe, and the Balkans and provide technical assistance for the selected pool of entrepreneurs to increase their expertise and skills. REDI is the first-ever institution dedicated to facilitating funding for start-ups and businesses among Europe’s most vulnerable group – the Roma people, leveraging on the ground presence and institutional relationship. We believe that enabling entrepreneurs to develop a business will lead to long-term employment and boosting job opportunities in the communities.

Our team comprises well-educated and experienced professionals with 15+ years of experience in economics, public policy, law, human rights, youth policy, anti-discrimination, community development, granting, loan programs, capacity building, and economic empowerment in poor communities.

Our main accomplishment is establishing the first-ever Roma financial institution (the REDI Fund) capable of developing a strong partnership with the European Commission, Council of Europe Bank, European Investment Bank, and other public impact investors. We aim to use this vehicle to distribute funds allocated to Roma communities and Roma beneficiaries.

 

Targets and tools

In cooperation with the REDI Fund, REDI NGOs are active in 3 main directions:

Community outreach by REDI, through its network of business facilitators, identifies potential eligible entrepreneurs, pre-assessing their business potential and referring them to different partner MFIs


Building a network of Roma lending specialist (i.e. loan officer, credit risk officers) focused on assessing Roma entrepreneurs loan requests



Supporting the development of Roma business clubs as hubs of resources sharing for Roma entrepreneurs active in a specific region, aiming to develop a pan-European network of inter-connected clubs to create the basis for REDI-run Social Enterprises

In the past several years, REDI has developed and adapted a mix of tools to support entrepreneurs:

•    Developing a comprehensive mapping of entrepreneurs in vulnerable communities with a focus on Roma entrepreneurs and conduct a market assessment of their constraints and needs;
•    Personalized business development services and capacity building delivered via REDI field officers and partner institutions;
•    Access to finance via Roma loan officers placed in partner microfinance institutions who would receive funding via REDI FUND;
•    Organizing Roma entrepreneurs in Roma business clubs which would enable them to network, exchange practices, and information, and advocate for better conditions to carry-out business;
•    Developing the network of business facilitators capable of providing information to entrepreneurs in local communities.

Developing innovative projects with social impact in Roma communities

REDI is using an innovative approach and tools for the economic growth of Roma communities. We provide Roma entrepreneurs with capacity building activities to use digital tools for development opportunities. We help the Roma in the recycling sector to establish green companies as support instruments for their communities.

Our incredibly diverse team allows us to draw from various experiences (automotive industry, banking, legal, non-profit) and come up with novel ways to support our target group and partner organizations. We are a fast-paced, flexible and deliberate ecosystem builder.

Diversity and Inclusion

 Since the direct target group and primary beneficiaries of REDI’s activities are the Roma, we strive to design and implement the organization’s projects and programs to promote Roma’s inclusion, economic empowerment, facilitating access to finance for Roma entrepreneurs, and Roma communities. The economic growth in Roma communities will contribute to their inclusion in society by creating more job opportunities, business initiatives, and investments.

REDI is an organization that strongly believes in and promotes the principle of diversity. In all our activities, we target people from minority groups and disadvantaged socio-economic backgrounds. We put great efforts to empower the Roma women and young people economically.