The “Skills for Reintegration” project works with targeted pilot measures in The Gambia, Niger, Kyrgyzstan and Mexico. The project supports migrants and displaced people in making the decision to return to their home country voluntarily and reintegrate into society there. It is part of the overall approach by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) on Migration for Development and is operating in The Gambia as part of the Returning to New Opportunities Programme.

To prepare for voluntary return, migrants need vocational and personal counselling and needs oriented vocational training. This can help enhance their employability and reduce the risk of poverty. If migrants cannot return to their country of origin, professional qualifications can facilitate their integration in the host country.

The services offered are available to returnees, migrants and the population of the host communities. As 85 per cent of displaced people throughout the world seek refuge in developing countries, the focus is on South-South migration.

The pilot measures are designed and implemented by international non-governmental organisations (NGOs), in collaboration with bilateral or regional GIZ projects or by the project itself. They focus on the needs of the target groups and on those of the labour markets to ensure that demand-driven services are provided. 

Results

• In The Gambia, 2 training courses in the fields of small solar home systems and rural mechanics have been developed and were launched in September 2019. Currently, 37 people are participating in these state-certified training courses and 22 teachers have already been trained for this purpose. The GTTI site in Mansa Konko has been renovated and the equipment of the administrative and training facilities has been improved.
• In Niger, training courses have been held for 20 teachers and a total of 99 people have completed state-certified vocational education and training in seven different fields. Of these graduates, 95 percent have already entered the labour market directly.
• In Kyrgyzstan, an information centre has been set up for returning migrant workers. Reintegration models have been developed through the recognition of certificates and skills acquired abroad. A total of 24 returnees received a state-accredited certificate for the professions of chef, stucco, painter and plasterer. In addition, returning migrant workers with entrepreneurial ambitions received advice, were connected with business associations and participated in business training courses. 120 returnees have taken part in entrepreneurial trainings and 51 of them have already successfully set up their own business. An app has been developed to help improve job placement. So far, over 120 companies and around 2000 returning migrants are using the service.
• In Mexico, the network for (re)integration currently comprises 28 NGOs.156 people from 76 institutions of civil society, government, the private sector, academia and international organisations participated in four dialogue formats. Topics were local strategies for handling migration, new state programmes for migration and the integration of migrants into the labour market. NGOs and state institutions work together to meet the needs of returnees, migrants and forcibly displaced people.