In Loco

Integration in Local Communities: Institutional Engagement, Rural Inclusion, and Refugee-led Action Research

About

The EU-funded project IN LOCO is based on the need to create networks of key stakeholders to ensure that policies have their roots in data, needs, risks, and opportunities systematically observed ‘on the ground’.

The American University in Bulgaria (AUBG) will lead the upskilling of refugee co-researchers, through Prof. Felix Díaz, who is an expert on qualitative research with refugee communities, as well as their training on the same subject (emancipatory research approach). Prof. Felix Diaz has strong expertise in qualitative research involving refugees and asylum seekers across the Balkans.

About the project

The main aim of IN LOCO is to create a model for multi-stakeholder engagement through the establishment of Local and Rural Task Forces. These task forces are composed of members from public institutions, NGOs, Civil Society Organizations, academic institutions, migrant associations, diaspora communities, and other stakeholders that influence integration efforts at the local level.

Their capacities are combined to co-design and implement Local and Rural Action Plans that:

Ensure synergy between all initiatives aimed at migrant reception and inclusion

Improve the quality of existing services and interventions

Deploy new resources and initiatives to respond to problems and weaknesses not yet adequately addressed

Explore initiatives for the settlement of migrant persons and families in rural areas

Ensure the sustainability of piloted projects beyond the scope of the project
The work of the Local/Rural Task Forces will involve a highly participatory approach and will follow a methodology of continuous feedback between action-evaluation-reflection-action. Underpinning the work of the Local/Rural Task Forces will be field research, conducted by a team of researchers composed of 40 trained refugees, who will conduct at least 200 interviews with asylum seekers and refugees both in the project implementation territories and in other European territories.
These insights will guide the development of the action plans to ensure they are needs-based and form a foundation for the establishment of a refugee-led association called New Europeans Welcome (NEW) that will be a driver of advocacy and lobbying efforts towards EU policymakers.

Objectives:

To improve the approach to local integration in 12 Implementation Territories

To improve the overall efficiency and efficacy of strategies for rural inclusion of migrants.

To improve understanding of migrant-defined best practices in integration through refugee-led research
SECOND TREE – Greece, Coordinator

RENNES METROPOLE – France, Partner

COMUNE DI RAVENNA – Italy, Partner

INSTITUTIA PREFECTULUI-JUDETUL - Constanta Romania, Partner

COMUNE DI PRATO – Italy, Partner

ASOCIACIÓN PARTICIPA PARA LA INCLUSIÓN SOCIAL – Spain, Partner

MUNICIPALITY OF IOANNINA – Greece, Partner

ASOCIATIA SERVICIUL IEZUITILOR PENTRU REFUGIATII DIN – Romania, Partner

GLOCAL FACTORY SOCIETA COOPERATIVA SOCIALE – Italy, Partner

FH KARNTEN - GEMEINNUETZIGE GmbH – Austria, Partner

COLLECTIF D'ECHANGES POUR LA TECHNOLOGIE APPROP – Belgium, Partner

FUNDACAO MARIA ROSA DE MELLO E FARO DE CARVALH – Portugal, Partner

LUNDS KOMMUN – Sweden, Partner

MUNICIPIO DE BRAGA – Portugal, Partner

AMERICAN UNIVERSITY IN BULGARIA – Bulgaria, Partner

UNIVERSITY COLLEGE DUBLIN, NATIONAL UNIVERSITY OF IRELAND, Partner

KÄRNTNER GEMEINDEBUND – Austria, Partner

COMUNE DI VERONA – Italy, Associated

REFUGEES WELCOME ITALIA ONLUS – Italy, Associated

DIPUTACION PROVINCIAL DE A CORUNA – Spain, Associated

UNIVERSITA DEGLI STUDI DI PARMA – Italy, Associated

REGIONE EMILIA ROMAGNA – Italy, Associated

LUND UNIVERSITY – Sweden, Associated

COMUNE DI SOAVE – Italy, Associated

COMUNIDADE INTERMUNICIPAL DO CAVADO – Portugal, Associated