Toolkit: Working on Integration at Local Level
The toolkit is designed as an aid to organisations working with migrant communities to support their integration, primarily at local and regional levels. It provides guidance on the principles which should underpin projects and aim to achieve integration as “a dynamic, two-way process of mutual accommodation by all immigrants and residents of EU countries" (1st EU Common Basic Principle on Integration).
The toolkit showcases promising practices in migrant integration to inform organisations that are looking for examples of good practice in this area of work. In so doing, this toolkit explains the ways in which migrant integration fits into the bigger picture of social policy and politics operating at the level of the European Union, the Member States, and the concerns of regional and local authorities. The toolkit also aims to influence other countries’ approaches and, crucially, the EU approach, impacting on constructive integration policies nationally and locally.
The toolkit draws on the work of migrant support organisations in six European countries.
Year(s): 2011
Target group(s): Organisations working with migrant communities to support their integration, primarily at local and regional levels
Website: http://www.airm-bg.org/Toolkit_EN_low%20final.pdf
Methodology
How can the Toolkit be used?
If you believe that integration is a process of “mutual accommodation” that involves both the immigrant and host communities, then this toolkit can be used to clarify the practical principles, critical to all aspects of your activities.
It ought to aid in answering questions about:
- The objectives that migrant integration projects should be pursuing.
- The range of activities and actions that will move you towards fulfilling these objectives.
- How the work of the project can be kept under review to ensure that you are moving towards your objectives.
- How to communicate the outcomes of your work to wider audiences.
Type of product
Online resource
Brief description of the product / outcome / method
Structure of the Toolkit:
Section 1 starts by highlighting why integration is important for organisations working with migrant communities. This section explains what is meant by the term ‘integration’. It incorporates a table showing the relevance of the “15 Principles for framing a positive approach to migration policy” to be considered when implementing local level integration projects. This section also reviews the EU’s proposals on integration objectives, and how EU integration policies’ impact can be measured. It further reveals the tensions that exist between integration and other areas of EU policy.
Section 2 provides concrete examples of integration projects by looking into the experiences of the partners’ projects in Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Italy, Sweden and the United Kingdom.
Section 3 goes into the heart of the matter and gives guidance on how to plan integration projects. It outlines the issues a ‘good’ migrant integration project should focus on and provides six ways to plan integration projects for outcomes that support the rights of migrants. The toolkit ends with a brief summary conclusion.
Impact on target groups / Transferability potential
The toolkit provides insight into current challenges relating to migrant integration, policies, and the realities of implementation. Hoping to support organisations working with migrant communities and to support their integration activities at local and regional levels, it provides guidance, especially relating to the European Network Against Racism’s (ENAR) 15 principles. The overall aim is to provide good practice on a range of different activities and actions related to migrant integration, to aid in devising strategies for those pursuing integration projects and to improve communication strategies in order to reach wide audiences to promote a positive understanding of migrant integration.
Promoter of the initiative
Name of organization / individual: Association for Integration of Refugees and Migrants (Bulgarian partner)
Country: United Kingdom
Website: http://www.airm-bg.org/maineng.htm
Contacts: zaharieva@airm-bg.org ; airm@airm-bg.org