Capitalize on Migrant Capacities
Short title
Start date - End date
Brief description of the initiative
This project has maximized the development impact of migration by addressing the problem of brain waste and de-skilling of prospective migrants and returnees. The project also strengthened the links and the dialogue between Algerian migrants in Italy and France and migrant associations and local authorities in Algeria in the field of migration issues. The project achieved these goals by providing coherent pre-departure orientation, by encouraging highly skilled Algerian migrants in France and Italy to contribute to the socio-economic development of Algeria and by facilitating the professional reintegration of returnees and prospective migrants.
Results and lessons learned
Two important events have already taken place: 1st local event took place on 7th and 8th July, with a seminar on migration and development and professional orientation fair in Algiers, in the community of Douéra, organised by the local partner, FACM (Algerian Forum for Citizenship and Modernity). 2nd local event took place on 22nd of June 2010 with the Seminar “Algerian immigration in Europe: opportunities and recognition of skills in France and Italy” promoted by Lecce Municipality.
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Other partners
Main objectives
The overall objective was to strengthen local economic development in Algeria by avoiding brain waste and deskilling of prospective migrants, returnees and Algerian emigrants.
Country
Main activities
1) International conference in Sicily, the conference will involve 50 participants from local authorities, migrant associations and the private sector
2) 2-day "Career and Pre-Departure Orientation Days" in two Algerian towns: Kouba and Batna. Targeting mainly young people and other potential migrants, on day one 150 Algerian prospect migrants will receive information on job opportunities and the labour market situation in Algeria, France and Italy; on day two a comprehensive pre-departure orientation seminar will take place for 30 participants.
3) Organisation of a seminar on Algerian immigration in Europe: opportunities and recognition of skills in France and Italy.
4) Organisation of 3 training sessions in three different locations (Kouba, Batna and Oran) in Algeria animated by experts and high skilled expatriates. The sessions aim to develop prospective migrants and returnees' capacities in project management and business start-up skills.
5) Re-granting scheme to select the 6 best entrepreneurial business projects.
6) Organisation of a final conference in France.
Main beneficiaries
Northern Algeria including the cities of Kouba, Batna and Oran, targeting 400 prospective migrants, returnees, migrant association and Local Authorities.
Project Pictures
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Project Documents
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This project will maximize the development impact of migration by addressing the problem of brain waste and de-skilling of prospective migrants and returnees. The project will also strengthen the links and the dialogue between Algerian migrants in Italy and France and migrant associations and local authorities in Algeria in the field of migration issues.
The project will achieve these goals by providing coherent pre-departure orientation, by encouraging highly skilled Algerian migrants in France and Italy to contribute to the socio-economic development of Algeria and by facilitating the professional reintegration of returnees and prospective migrants. -
The Association of Local Democracy Agencies (ALDA) is an International non-governmental organization working actively to foster human rights and local democracy. Founded in 1999 as a small initiative of the Council of Europe's Congress of Local and Regional Authorities to coordinate a network of Local Democracy Agencies (LDAs) already in existence since 1993, ALDA is today, one of the biggest and most important NGOs connecting the local authorities and civil society involved in European Active Citizenship Programme, ALDA has over than 160 members from local and regional authorities to smaller non-governmental organisations dealing with human rights, local democracy and active citizenship.
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“Algerian immigration in Europe: opportunities and recognition of skills in France and Italy”
On 22nd of June 2010 ALDA participated to the Seminar “Algerian immigration in Europe: opportunities and recognition of skills in France and Italy” promoted by Lecce Municipality in the framework of the project Capitalize migrants capacities granted by the Ec-Un Joint Migration & Development Initiative (JM&DI).
The project aims to increase the development impact of migration by addressing the problem of brain drain and de-skilling of prospective migrants and returnees in order to transform it in brain gain.
To strengthen links and the dialogue among Algerian migrants in Italy and France and migrant associations and local authorities in Algeria in the field of migration issues is another objective. The project will achieve these goals by providing coherent pre-departure orientation through the organization of two career days in Algeria, by encouraging highly skilled Algerian emigrants in France and Italy to contribute to the socio-economic development of Algeria and by facilitating the professional reintegration of returnees and prospective migrants through training sessions followed up by a re-granting scheme, which will award the 4 best business projects.
A conclusive international conference aiming to strengthen dialogue and enhance cooperation in the field of migration will conclude the projects involving Lecce Municipality, Sicily Region, FACM, ALDA, IPRES Institute and Kouba as partners.
The Seminar “Algerian immigration in Europe: opportunities and recognition of skills in France and Italy” took place in the Italian city of Lecce and involved local authorities and civil society organizations.
Mr Giuseppe Naccarelli, Head of International relations of Municipality of Lecce, opened the Seminar followed by the Councillor Mr Alfarano delegated to international affairs underlying the opportunities that this kind of initiative gives to the civil society.
Followed Mr Jlenia Destito, responsible for international affairs and migration research department at IPRES institute introduced the topic of the migration policies at European level explaining the involvement of IPRES institute in analysis and research on migration issues especially at Mediterranean and local level.
After the description of the project aims and objectives to the audience, speakers from migrants communities in Lecce took the floor going through the role of immigrants and the opportunities in Salento area for Algerians. Participants opened a debate on the dialogue with the local authorities and the integration at local level. Mr Augugliaro representing Sicily Region described policies applied by his region and the vademecum for foreigners, a publication edited in different languages to support migrants in finding a job, start a business activity and understand Italian economic legislation.
The second part of the seminar has been dedicated to the recognition of skills in Italy and France. This session has given the opportunity to participants to better understand the Italian recognition of skill process as the procedures applied in France.The seminar highlighted the necessity to improved services for migrants present on the territory even if they report a positive situation concerning integration at local level and the request for more information from who intends migrate abroad. -
The Seminar “Algerian immigration in Europe: opportunities and recognition of skills in France and Italy” took place in the Italian city of Lecce and involved local authorities and civil society organizations.
Mr Giuseppe Naccarelli, Head of International relations of Municipality of Lecce, opened the Seminar followed by the Councillor Mr Alfarano delegated to international affairs underlying the opportunities that this kind of initiative gives to the civil society.
Followed Mr Jlenia Destito, responsible for international affairs and migration research department at IPRES institute introduced the topic of the migration policies at European level explaining the involvement of IPRES institute in analysis and research on migration issues especially at Mediterranean and local level.
After the description of the project aims and objectives to the audience, speakers from migrants communities in Lecce took the floor going through the role of immigrants and the opportunities in Salento area for Algerians. Participants opened a debate on the dialogue with the local authorities and the integration at local level. Mr Augugliaro representing Sicily Region described policies applied by his region and the vademecum for foreigners, a publication edited in different languages to support migrants in finding a job, start a business activity and understand Italian economic legislation.
The second part of the seminar has been dedicated to the recognition of skills in Italy and France. This session has given the opportunity to participants to better understand the Italian recognition of skill process as the procedures applied in France.The seminar highlighted the necessity to improved services for migrants present on the territory even if they report a positive situation concerningintegration at local level and the request for more information from who intends migrate abroad. -
In the framework of the project Capitalize Migrant Capacities - Algeria, our local partner in Algeria, FACM, organised in July their first activity: Orientation Days on Micro-Credit in Douéra, Oran, and Batna. 30 people from each city had the chance to discover how micro-credit works and see concrete examples of small businesses in open fairs. FACM also organised a debate on the importance of considering migration in the local and national development policies, that will provide basis for the follow-up of the project. Download here the reports (in FR) of the these activities."
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On April 27 2011, in presence of Ms Antonella Valmorbida, Director of the Association of Local Democracy Agencies, the Algerian partner of the poject FACM organized the ceremony during which they handed in certificates to seventeen trainees and confirmed ten grants to ten former training participants.
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On April 29 of 2011 ALDA and IPRES organized in Bari the last event of the project, which focused on youth policy in Italy and Algeria, in order to develop youth participation at the local level. It was an exchange of best practices between Italy and Algeria concerning the fight against youth migration. The event was held in Bari at the University of Law and Political Science, in collaboration with the University of Bari and Puglia Europe Direct. This activity was designed to bring together local authorities and civil society in Algeria and Italy, particularly in the Puglia region, to discuss national and local policies to fight against the migration of young people which affects both Southern Italy and Algeria.
The project was also designed to give the participants an opportunity to discuss Italian migration flows across Europe and Mediterranean Sea and to provide more information on socio-economic Algeria’s context, national development policies and to link the community of migrants abroad and plans for development in the country. Students, including Algerian immigrant students, received funding from the University for their participation at the event.