Networks and mobility: a case for complementary pathways

Complementary pathways have gained much prominence in recent global and European policy discussions as an innovative and new tool to broaden and scale up third-country solutions for refugees. Indeed, the need for ramping up access to durable solutions for refugees is pressing in the face of ever longer-lasting conflicts and far too low resettlement numbers. While complementary pathways are commonly considered as new legal pathways that need to be developed for refugees, thereby perpetuating the narrative of refugees needing support while neglecting their human and social capital, various examples show that refugees do possess and use existing pathways and seek individual solutions outside of the refugee regime - if their resources and networks allow them to do so. Based on various examples, this policy brief, therefore, argues that facilitating movement for forced migrants based on their human and social capital could become the key added value of complementary pathways

Leveraging networks to overcome displacement: urban internally displaced persons in the Democratice Republic of the Congo

In the quest for sustainable solutions to record global displacement, promoting displaced persons’ self-reliance and supporting them alongside host communities in regions of displacement have become buzzwords in global and European policy discussions. But despite such pledges, TRAFIG research in Bukavu, eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) finds that internally displaced persons (IDPs) in urban settings are largely ignored and unassisted by the state and international humanitarian and development interventions - and are proactively seeking their own solutions. The lack of institutionalised assistance means that IDPs mostly depend on the solidarity of others to be or become self-reliant. In this context, networks are a particularly important source of support and include assistance with locating housing and finding a job in Bukavu and with maintaining and harvesting crops in communities of origin. However, even with the benefits that these connections can bring, IDPs face serious challenges related to their displacement and contend with multiple types of limbo, making it difficult for many to truly overcome situations of protracted displacement. Findings thus point to the need for policies and practices that support urban IDPs in the DRC by helping them nurture and leverage their networks to unlock opportunities

Strengthening policy responses to protracted displacement: TRAFIG policy handbook

Displacement is undoubtedly one of the greatest challenges facing the world today. At the end of 2020, more than 82 million people across the globe were categorised as forcibly displaced, whether remaining within their countries of origin or having crossed an international border. If this group were a country, it would rank 20th in the world in terms of population, right after Germany. An increasing number of refugees - 16 million in 2020, or 4 million more than in 2016 - find themselves in a long-term situation of vulnerability, dependency, and legal insecurity, lacking, or actively denied, opportunities to rebuild their lives. Such situations are termed 'protracted displacement'. While not captured in these statistics, internally displaced persons (IDPs) may also find themselves in situations of protracted displacement. While the protracted nature of many conflicts is a critical contributing factor, there is considerable room for improvement in policies and practices to more effectively address protracted displacement. This is where the EU-funded Transnational Figurations of Displacement (TRAFIG) research project has aimed to contribute. Undertaking more than 2,700 interviews with displaced persons, policymakers, and practitioners in 11 countries across the Middle East, East Africa, and Europe, the TRAFIG project investigated the reasons why people end up in protracted displacement situations and what coping strategies they use, thus identifying possible courses of action for policymakers. This handbook shares 10 takeaways for strengthening policy responses to protracted displacement that have emerged from this endeavour, with empirical examples and policy recommendations, as well as a non-exhaustive list of promising practices for inspiration. These 10 points centre on the TRAFIG project goal of identifying solutions that are better tailored to the needs and capacities of displaced persons

Creating a way out of the maze: supporting sustainable futures for displaced persons

As displacement continues to rise globally, more and more people are 'stuck' in situations of protracted displacement, where they find themselves in a long-term situation of vulnerability, dependency and legal insecurity, lacking or actively denied opportunities to rebuild their lives. While the protracted nature of many conflicts is a critical contributing factor, there is considerable room for improvement in policies and practices to more effectively address protracted displacement - and an urgent need to strengthen responses. The complicated 'maze' of international, national and local laws, policies and practices often backfires, exacerbating precarity and preventing many displaced persons from finding sustainable solutions for themselves and from contributing to receiving communities. It is not only the widening gap between the scale of displacement and the solutions offered but also the diversity of individual profiles and experiences that underscores the urgent need to expand the range of solutions so that more displaced persons can find long-term prospects. A paradigm shift that places people at the heart of solutions, meaning that countries enable displaced persons to make use of their own capacities, would open new doors for people to become 'self-reliant'. Such an approach is not only vital for addressing existing protracted situations - but it can also help prevent those more recently displaced from finding themselves in protracted situations in the future. The lessons below highlight critical entry points for European stakeholders seeking solutions for (protracted) displacement

Making space: encouraging interactions between recent migrants and long-term residents in smaller communities

Whole-COMM research in small- and medium-sized towns and rural areas in nine European countries revealed that recent migrants (those arriving since 2014) and long-term residents tended to have few meaningful relations or interactions with each other. Everyday encounters often remained limited to necessary exchanges and did not extend to deeper contact that would enable the building of long-lasting relations. Based on this finding, this policy brief offers suggestions on how to increase the possibilities for encounters between recent migrants and long-term residents, with the ultimate aim of improving integration experiences and social cohesion. It recommends that local governments provide resources to make getting together possible and collaborate with civil society, philanthropy, and migrant-owned businesses to organize events that foster intergroup interaction. It also suggests that local governments redesign public spaces and initiatives, or create new ones, that are codesigned or informed by residents, including migrants, to ensure that they are of interest and accessible to the wider community.The EU-funded Whole-COMM research project investigated attitudes, social relations between post-2014 migrants and long-term residents, and migrant integration experiences in small- and medium-sized towns and rural areas

Moving on: how easing mobility restrictions within Europe can help forced migrations rebuild their lives

Free movement within the Schengen area is a cornerstone of European integration - and indeed an essential part of the European way of life. However, this freedom of movement is limited for forcibly displaced people residing within the European Union (EU). European asylum systems are designed to suppress mobility, which actually prevents many asylum seekers from finding a 'durable solution'. In contrast, enabling legal mobility within and across EU countries, when paired with access to labour markets and ensuring the right to family life, can open new opportunities for forced migrants to settle into receiving communities and truly rebuild their lives. Based on TRAFIG research in Greece and Italy, this policy brief illustrates why mobility is important for displaced people and how it is being hampered by policies and practices. It then suggests strategic ways that policymakers can tap into the potential of mobility to provide additional solutions to protracted displacement in Europe

Starting up and starting over: how networking can enable refugee entrepreneurs to regain livelihoods in East Africa

Establishing a secure livelihood is a key element that enables refugees to rebuild their lives and overcome protracted dis placement situations. Not only can a steady source of income help refugees afford housing, food and other basic necessities, it can also facilitate their integration by connecting them with others in the community. While some seek jobs in existing organisations or businesses in the formal or informal economy, others create their own enterprises from scratch. This policy brief shares TRAFIG findings from two key refugee-hosting countries in Africa, Ethiopia and Tanzania, and illustrates how refugees are using connectivity to create livelihood opportunities, with a focus on those engaging in entrepreneurial activities. It also puts forth ideas for those seeking to scale up access to entrepreneurship for displaced persons

Serving Immigrant Families Through Two-generation Programs: Identifying Family Needs and Responsive Program Approaches

This report shares key facts about immigrant parents with young children and examines 11 programs that have successfully served immigrant and refugee families using a two-generation approach. Readers will learn about the difficulties these programs face, what they are doing well, and what policymakers and community stakeholders need to know to support this vulnerable -- and growing -- demographic

Comparative paper: attitudes, intergroup relations, and migrant integration experiences

Small- and medium-sized towns and rural areas (SMsTRAs) are increasingly involved in migrant integration, but there is less understanding of integration dynamics in these contexts as compared to larger destinations. This working paper highlights key factors that are shaping attitudes and social relations between post-2014 migrants and long-term residents, and consequently migrant integration experiences, in SMsTRAs. It is based on data collected by the Whole-COMM research project through participant observation, interviews, and focus groups in 42 migrant-receiving localities across 9 countries. A significant trend that emerged across all countries studied was a lack of intergroup interactions and meaningful relations. Still, work, school, and civil society-run activities provided spaces where migrants could improve their language skills, expand their social networks, and make connections to better work and housing opportunities, all of which improved their integration experiences. Places for encounter, especially those providing some type of structure or moderation, were critical for fostering interactions between post-2014 migrants and long-term residents. Civil society actors (including migrant-led organizations) were important sources of support, serving as a bridge to local communities and at times filled critical gaps in integration services, while engaged local authorities also supported positive integration experiences. Yet, across the board, building meaningful intergroup relationships was often difficult – especially beyond volunteers – even where there was a positive attitude towards migrants.This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement No 10100471