R.e.M.: Return of Migrants (Senegal / Ghana / Italy)

Short title

R.e.M.: Return of Migrants (Senegal / Ghana / Italy)

Start date - End date

Sat, 12/31/2005 to Tue, 09/30/2008

Brief description of the initiative

Implementation and follow up of 6 projects in Senegal and Ghana which involve migrants previously living in Veneto, who are now contributing to the local economic development of their home territories.

Results and lessons learned

Implementation and follow up of 6 projects in Senegal and Ghana which involve migrants previously living in Veneto, who are now contributing to the local economic development of their home territories. In most cases projects have a positive impact in local employment, since they create occupation and promote an "non-emigration" attitude in their communities.

Key success or innovative factors:

A main lesson learned from the project initiative is the need to precisely identify the beneficiaries and consider target groups when finalizing the accounting and management tools to be set up for the implementation of the project.

The involvement of migrants associations has been pivotal for an effective communication on the project opportunity and to promote loyalty among the community of beneficiaries.
The main challenge was to highlight the entrepreneurial attitude in migrants who were previously not entrepreneurs and support them starting up their own business in the homeland. This has been overcome through the deep analysis of the project ideas with forecast studies on the feasibility of the proposals.

Status

Complete

Key success or innovative factors

The support of migrants' associations in the communication process has been crucial.
The implementation of similar initiatives in the future will probably need the contribution of a double source of funding: a) from the sending Countries, as a policy to re-attract human capital and reduce brain-drain and b) from the EU or IGO's, through dedicated programmes to support the return of legal migrants to third countries, which are not available at the moment.
The project could be replicated with similar procedures in other countries, if some conditions will be respected, mainly: a) the socio-economic stability of the country b) favourable business environment c) security and financial stability.

The initiative could also be replicated in a different context if the conditions mentioned above will be respected and an important return attitude in migrants will be highlighted

Project number

83

Budget

200.000 Euro

Donors

(Budget allocated by the Region). Beneficiaries were requested to co-finance with 50% cash or in-kind contribution Donors: Migration Dept.,Regional Budget

Partner country(ies)

Italy
Ghana

Main thematic areas

Local Authorities

Focus area

Migrant Capacities

First name

-

Last name

-

Position

-

Email

-

Other partners

Veneto Lavoro, the Regional Labour Agencies of the Veneto Region

Main objectives

Since economic reasons are considered as the main pushing factor in migrations, “Re.M.” aims at fostering the link between migrants, their human capital, and co-development strategies in sending countries, through the implementation of pilot initiatives.

Country

Senegal

Main activities

  • Background analysis on the "return attitude" on legal migrants resident in Veneto. Involvement of Migrants Associations and Diaspora Organizations, interviews carried out with most represented nationalities (about 40)
  • Training activities carried out in the field of project management, business start-up, and trade, addressed to the community of migrants willing to plan a return path to the Country of origin with a business idea.
  • Opening of a public Call for Proposals where target Countries' nationals (Senegal, Ghana, and Serbia) were admitted to present project ideas
  • Selection of the most sustainable project ideas, start.up of the projects and allocation of the resources on defined budget lines
  • Coordination of the pilot projects activities with counseling support; facilitation of the return paths together with he contribution of the migrants Associations and project partners in the field.
  • Definition of best practices and lessons learned in pilot projects for the definition of effective procedures to be applied to future experiences.

Main beneficiaries

Associations of Migrants, NGO's and Diaspora Organizations registered at the Public Registry of Migrants Associations of the Veneto Region (for pilot actions)

Information and communication level: the entire community of migrants living in Veneto, presently ca. 470,000 legal residents

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