FORAS, meaning “opportunities” in Arabic, is a project that aims at strengthening the sustainable reintegration of migrants returning from Morocco to eight target countries of origin (Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, Democratic Republic of Congo, Guinea, Mali, Senegal and Togo)   through enhanced pre-departure support in the framework of IOM’s Assisted Voluntary Return and Reintegration (AVRR) programme in Morocco.

The main pre-departure activities include:

• Orientation and counselling sessions to provide AVRR beneficiaries with accurate and up-to-date information about opportunities and challenges associated with the reintegration process in the eight target countries of origin and the available pre-departure training opportunities in Morocco,
• Pre-departure trainings to strengthen AVRR beneficiaries’ technical and motivational skills in view of their sustainable reintegration upon return.

Between September 2017 and December 2019, FORAS enriched IOM’s AVRR programme in Morocco by equipping beneficiaries with knowledge, skills, confidence and motivation to plan for their sustainable reintegration, with the support from IOM offices in relevant countries of origin (CoO). 1,589 beneficiaries attended orientation and counselling sessions and 886 of these attended at least one pre-departure training before their return.

A second phase of the project will ensure the continuity of the innovative project between April 2020 and April 2022.