The EU-IOM Knowledge Management Hub (KMH) has just released the first issue of the Sustainable Reintegration Knowledge Papers Series. Click here to read it.

This new Knowledge Papers series aims at focusing on aspects of migrant reintegration that have been largely under-researched, not implemented to their full potential, or that have consistently been identified in reintegration programmes’ evaluations as gaps or opportunities. The Knowledge Papers series complements other knowledge products developed by the KMH, such as the Good, promising and innovative practices factsheets, the Knowledge Bites series and the research studies under the KMH’s Research Fund.

The first Knowledge Paper focuses on the use of microcredit schemes in migrant reintegration contexts. It aims at providing reintegration practitioners and other stakeholders, who are considering including a microcredit component in their programmes, with best practices and recommendations collected from reintegration activities in different countries. 

Drawing from the experiences gained through several reintegration initiatives as well as interviews with experts and practitioners, this paper argues that microcredit can constitute a relevant and powerful complement to reintegration assistance.

However, it is not always an adequate instrument and it cannot be recommended as a general solution for returnees. Particular attention must be paid to the additional debt burden it puts on returnees. At the same time, microcredit has the potential to be a useful tool that allows returnees to strengthen and/or expand their business activities and thus increasing their and their relatives’ economic stability and well-being. 

The development and production of this paper is supported by the KMH, which was established in September 2017 under the Pilot Action on Voluntary Return and Sustainable, Community-based Reintegration, funded by the European Union.

Please feel free to share further with colleagues and counterparts who might be interested to learn about the Sustainable Reintegration Knowledge Papers Series and the release of the first report.

Do not hesitate to get in touch with us for more information.