Since its founding in 1990, Autonómia Foundation has worked to contribute and support the emergence of the non-profit sector in Hungary, as the country has transitioned into a democratic state. As an independent private foundation, Autonómia supports local initiatives that mobilise local communities’ resources, with a particular focus on the Roma community, Hungary’s largest ethnic minority group, which makes up 5% of the country’s overall population and experiences some of the highest unemployment rates.

Autonómia Foundation’s work aims to shape a civil society in Hungary, to promote environmental sustainability that identifies problems in impoverished areas that have gone unnoticed by existing environmental programmes, and to combat poverty.

Autonómia Foundation’s work has included:

• Organising seven Roma Entrepreneur Training courses
• Participating in Pakiv - a joint initiative with Romani CRISS (Romania) and the Freudenberg Stiftung (Germany), which sought to facilitate the development of new mechanisms in CEE countries to help generate income and jobs among the Roma community
• Facilitating a regional development programme to help improve the living conditions of Roma communities in a poverty stricken area through employment, education, training, and community development
• Implementing Investment for the Future, a matched savings programme for low income Roma people

Currently, Autonómia Foundation is focusing on an Individual Development Account (IDA) housing programme, piloting a financial education and lending programme, encouraging socially integrated corporate social responsibility strategies, and assisting programmes to further Roma integration.