Managing Migration and Diversity through Local Government Capacity Building Erasmus Project

Project Title

Managing Migration and Diversity through Local Government Capacity Building

Project Key Action

This project related with these key action: Cooperation for innovation and the exchange of good practices

Project Action Type

This project related with this action type : Strategic Partnerships for adult education

Project Call Year

This project’s Call Year is 2016

Project Topics

This project is related with these Project Topics: Migrants’ issues; Integration of refugees; Inclusion – equity

Project Summary

In contemporary globalization, migrations to Europe have accelerated in speed and scale. Between 2010 and 2013, around 1.4 million non-EU nationals, excluding asylum seekers and refugees, immigrated into the EU each year using regular means. Europe is experiencing one of the most significant influxes of migrants and refugees in its history. More than a million migrants and refugees crossed into Europe in 2015, compared with just 280,000 the year before. More than a million migrants and refugees have gone to Europe in 2015, compared with just 280,000 a year ago. The migration brings diversity. Both are key factors in one of the most fundamental transformations of society ever. The EC formulated recommendations regarding managing diversity and migration and some of them emphases the role of local governance in this process. Beside this the Capacity building of Local Governments is one of the recommendations for actual problems overcoming. There is no doubt that migration and especially refugee flows reach Europe totally unprepared. Those who are expected to be the first contact points al local level for managing migrations and diversity cope with unusual and unknown problems. The aim of the MAMIDI project was to strengthen the professional capacities of the public administration to be better prepare for the changes arising from the current challenges facing the EU. The professional capacities have been strengthened by two main tools. The first was the preparation and pilot implementation of the training in management of migration and diversity for local government and institutions dealing with migration and diversity. The second was to prepare a handbook on management of migration and diversity for local governments. The multidisciplinary training design has enabled participants who were trained to analyze and evaluate migration and diversity from multiple angles and to work on these topics in different environments. This proposal has also manifested itself in the structure of several training areas and provided a unique combination of expertise within a single course. The sociology-oriented area focuses in particular on the analysis of migration and integration processes and on the societal implications of these processes. The policy area focuses mainly on public policies and wider political implications of migration and diversity. The multidisciplinary nature of the project required the participation of transnational teams that were able to bring expertise and various experiences and approaches to problem solving. In the MAMIDI project, the transnational partnership benefited from real experience, as three partners – TREBAG, Hungary, IDEC, Greece and PROVEST, Turkey already have a direct experience in migration and diversity. Therefore, the training and pilot courses prepared, the development of the Migration and Diversity Management Manual as well as the practical trainings of trainers that have been implemented in Greece have ensured a very current and appropriate course content and guidebook that can be used in the day-to-day work of workers who come into contact with migration and diversity. The project has made it possible to increase the level of readiness of the target group of the MAMIDI project, which was created in addition to local self-government representatives and employees, and those who expect direct contact with migrants or will have an impact on migrant management and diversity at local self-government (e.g. the municipality staff, the staff of budgetary and contributory organizations that are created by municipalities, client centres staff, staff of district offices, trade business departments, land registry department, land and forest department, the environment department, departments for construction, housing and education, the labour office, office of social affairs and family, tax offices, customs offices, offices of the public health, staff of organizations established by municipalities and higher territorial units as educational and health facilities) also all those who come into contact with migrants respectively tackle diversity, such as NGO staff as well as trainers and students preparing for the public administration. As the project focused on building the capacity of organizations in the area of migration and diversity management, the direct impact on these immediate target groups was significant. The MAMIDI partnership consisted of 5 partners (NGOs, universities, small and medium-sized enterprises, educational and consulting institutions) from four countries (Greece, Hungary, Slovakia and Turkey). The Turkish partner, after 14 months, had to withdraw from the project as a result of the political changes that took place in Turkey in the summer of 2017. The duration of the project was 27 months. The project has trained more than 400 people (compared to the planned 75 persons) using the methodology of e-learning as well as face to face education.

EU Grant (Eur)

Funding of the project from EU: 197994 Eur

Project Coordinator

ASTRA – ZDRUZENIE PRE INOVACIE A ROZVOJ & Country: SK

Project Partners

• Provest Danismanlik Limited Sirketi
• AINTEK SYMVOULOI EPICHEIRISEON EFARMOGES YPSILIS TECHNOLOGIAS EKPAIDEFSI ANONYMI ETAIREIA
• TECHNICKA UNIVERZITA V KOSICIACH
• TREBAG SZELLEMI TULAJDON- ES PROJEKTMENEDZSER KORLATOLT FELELOSSEGU TARSASAG