Civil society monitoring report on the implementation of the national strategic framework for Roma equality, inclusion, and participation in Poland

The main strengths of the NRSF include its continuity as a dedicated national strategy for Roma inclusion, ensuring financial commitment and policy focus on key areas such as education, housing, and employment. Additionally, the increasing involvement of Roma organisations in advocacy and service provision has strengthened Roma-led civil society efforts in monitoring and implementing some of the NRSF's aims. The NRSF also benefits from structured annual reporting and monitoring mechanisms at the voivodeship level. However, the main weaknesses remain substantial. The NRSF fails to explicitly recognise antigypsyism as a systemic issue and does not integrate targeted measures to combat discrimination, which impacts areas of direct engagement. Roma participation remains superficial and, to some extent, tokenistic without an active voice in the decision-making process. Additionally, the NRSF lacks adaptability, having remained unchanged since 2020 despite major geopolitical events like the Ukrainian refugee crisis. Structural barriers, such as annual project-based funding and a top-down governance approach, hinder its long-term impact.