SURE Project Brazil

VOLUNTARY RETURN AND SUSTAINABLE REINTEGRATION: WHAT IS IT?

The Assisted Voluntary Return and Reintegration is an indispensable part of a comprehensive approach to migration management. It aims to promote a sustainable return and reintegration for migrants who are unable or unwilling to remain in the host country and wish to return voluntarily to their countries of origin. Regarding reintegration in the country of origin, IOM’s integral approach defines sustainable reintegration as follows: “Reintegration can be considered sustainable when returnees have reached levels of economic self-sufficiency, social stability within their communities, and psychosocial well-being that allow them to cope with (re)migration drivers. Having achieved sustainable reintegration, returnees are able to make further migration decisions a matter of choice, rather than necessity” (IOM,2017).

JOINT COMPLEMENTARY MECHANISM FOR SUSTAINABLE REINTEGRATION IN BRAZIL: WHAT IS IT?

This project aims to contribute to a more informed and sustainable reintegration process in Brazil, through a complementary joint reintegration model. This mechanism reinforces the support provided by existing Assisted Voluntary Return and Reintegration programmes implemented in Portugal, Belgium and Ireland. Strengthening the connection between pre-departure and post-arrival counselling, the project sets up a referral and coordination mechanism that promotes a more sustainable reintegration for returning migrants

in Brazil. The mechanism is based on returning migrants’ needs – identified in host countries during the pre-departure counselling phase – as
well as the referrals made to local actors with relevant support programmes in Brazil. The project focuses on the three main Brazilian States to which migrants have returned to in the past years, namely: Goiás, Minas Gerais and São Paulo. This project contributes to achieving the 21st objective of the Global Compact for Migration, encouraging governments to cooperate so as to facilitate a safe and dignified return (…), as well as a sustainable reintegration. The project is funded by the Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund (AMIF) and is co-funded by the Portuguese Immigration and Borders Service (SEF).

IOM PORTUGAL 

• Mapping local state actors and non-state actors and initiatives potentially useful for migrants returning to Goiás, Minas Gerais and São Paulo.
• Creating a reintegration support network with local actors identified through the mapping exercise.
• Organizing a training of trainers for local actors part of the support network, with a focus on the psychosocial impact of the return process.

IN PORTUGAL, IRELAND AND BELGIUM

• Organizing awareness sessions for AVRR counsellors on the importance of sharing; information identified by the project with returning migrants, early on during the predeparture counselling phase – using the project’s brochure, website, or MigApp.
• Sharing the information gathered during the project’s mapping exercise when providing pre-departure counselling -using the project’s brochure, MigApp, or the project’s website – and refer migrants to local actors in Brazil whenever possible and relevant.

JOINT ACTIVITIES

• Creating a coordination and referral mechanism between host countries and local actorsin Brazil, tailored to migrants’ specific needs.
• Creating a working group bringing together experts from Brazil, Portugal, Belgium and Ireland to discuss and analyze the mechanism implemented in this project, share reintegrate good practices, as well as recommendations for future initiatives.

MONITORING AND EVALUATION

• Returning migrants’ feedback on the relevance of the information received in the host country and the effectiveness of referrals made to local actors in the country of origin (when referrals were made).
• Local actors’ feedback in Brazil regarding the training of trainers and the awareness sessions.

This project contributes to achieving the 17th target of the SUSTAINABLE
DEVELOPMENT GOALS.

The project is funded by the Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund (AMIF) and is co-funded by the Portuguese Immigration and Borders Service (SEF).