News

OSF welcomes Kálmán Mizsei

Kálmán Mizsei has taken up a full-time position based in OSF-Budapest as Co-Chair of OSF’s Roma Policy Board and as Chair of Making the Most of EU Structural Funds for Roma (MtM).

Before joining OSF in this capacity, Kálmán served as the Special Representative of the European Union for the Republic of Moldova, leading the EU’s effort to assist in resolving the Transnistrian conflict.  His brief also included democracy and human rights. 

Many of you know Kálmán from his previous position (2001-06) as Assistant Administrator and Director, Regional Bureau for Europe and the CIS, at the United Nations Development Programme.  His fundraising efforts led to a big increase in program resources for the region.  While he spearheaded numerous key program initiatives during that time related to Ukraine, Moldova and Kosovo, of particular relevance to Roma work was the initiative on data gathering on Roma in Central and Southeastern Europe, resulting in the report .  This report was the most significant regional compilation of data on socio-economic conditions of Roma ever produced. 

Prior to his tenure at UNDP, Kálmán had a number of different roles in the private and public sector. 

In addition to his role in OSF, Kálmán will continue teaching at CEU as a Visiting Professor. 

 

The other Co-Chair of the Roma Policy Board is Robert Kushen, Executive Director of the European Roma Rights Center and Chair of the Sub-Board that oversees the Roma Initiatives Office.