Empowering reintegration: building stronger support for migrants

19/12/2024

The Strengthening Capacities for Return and Reintegration Counselling (SRC) Project aims to enhance the capacity of EU and non-EU civil society organizations (CSOs) to provide sustainable and accurate return and reintegration counselling services for migrants in Europe.

By leveraging the expertise of the European Reintegration Support Organisations (ERSO), the project focuses on:

Developing a systematic referral mechanism to connect CSOs with government authorities overseeing return processes.
Facilitating knowledge exchange and mutual learning through discussions on best practices, challenges, and lessons learned across EU Member States and partner countries.

Through these efforts, SRC empowers CSOs to deliver impactful reintegration support for migrants and fosters stronger collaboration between stakeholders.

UPCOMING EVENTS

Explore upcoming opportunities to engage with experts, exchange knowledge, and visit key sites that showcase impactful practices in return and reintegration counselling. Stay informed and be part of the conversation!

WEBINARS

Previous webinars:

On August 2nd, representatives from Caritas Austria and Micado Migration hosted a webinar to present their national return and reintegration programs. To receive the presentations and recordings via email, please click here.
On September 12th, Stockholm Stadsmission shared insights into their AMIF-funded project, Who Am I Tomorrow, which focuses on supporting rejected asylum seekers through social and legal counselling as well as discussion groups. These knowledge-sharing events bring together ERSO members, EU and NON-EU civil society organizations, and international partners. Their goal is to inform participants about the approach to return and reintegration counselling and to encourage collaboration between organizations. To receive the presentations and recordings via email, please click here.

Stay tuned for updates on the agenda and registration !

STUDY VISITS

Our study visits offer participants hands-on opportunities to explore successful reintegration practices.

Albania / 2–6 December 2024
Explore Albania’s reintegration landscape with a focus on collaboration between local CSOs and the national government. Workshops and site visits will provide practical insights. The report of this visit will is available below.
Denmark / 28–30 January 2025
The Danish Refugee Council (DRC) looks forward to welcoming SRC participants to Denmark in January. The objective of the visit is to gain insights into how DRC operates in the Danish return landscape, with a particular focus on counselling practices and collaboration with government stakeholders. For several years, DRC has cooperated with the Danish authorities, with specific funding allocated to legal and return counselling, as well as reintegration programs. The program will include presentations from government stakeholders, insights on DRC’s work with return counselling and dedicated time for discussion and information sharing among participants on relevant topics. Additionally, participants will visit key sites, including a return center for rejected asylum seekers. > Register here to participate

Key Insights from Study Visit to Caritas Albania

In December 2024, Caritas Albania, in partnership with Caritas International Belgium, organized a study visit to Albania as part of the Strengthening Capacities for Return and Reintegration Counselling (SRC) project. The visit aimed to explore how Caritas Albania collaborates with local and national institutions to implement reintegration programs for returnees, particularly vulnerable groups like unaccompanied minors (UAMs).

The SRC project team during their visit to Albania. - © Caritas International

Participants visited key locations such as Shkodra and Kapshtica, observing the partnership between Caritas Albania and local institutions in delivering essential services, including shelter, healthcare, and professional training. The Peace Village initiative in Shkodra was highlighted as an effective model for supporting returnees. Additionally, the visit included a tour of the UNHCR border project and reception center in Kapshtica, showcasing Caritas Albania’s work with vulnerable migrants.

Despite these positive efforts, the visit revealed challenges in sustaining long-term support for returnees due to reliance on project-based funding and insufficient government investment in social services. These gaps hinder the scalability of reintegration programs, which remain vulnerable to shifts in donor priorities.

A key takeaway from the visit was the importance of continuous care and communication before, during, and after return. As the director of Caritas Albania stated, “CSOs are the dignified opposition of the government,” highlighting the critical role that civil society organizations play in advocating for vulnerable populations and ensuring their rights are upheld.

> READ THE FULL REPORT HERE

STAY INFORMED

For further inquiries or any questions about the SRC project or events, feel free to reach out.
Contact Annabel, reintegration counselor, by mail (a.vandamme@caritasint.be) or phone (+ 32 471 21 15 87)