All-in-one 4 HER Fast-track integration of highly educated refugees

Good Practice Criteria

Inclusivity & Participation

Does the practice ensure that its services are accessible and responsive to diverse groups?

The practice is a good example of the use of a participatory and inclusive approach to ensure the provision of accessible and responsive services to diverse groups. Its variety of communications channels and the availability of easy-to-read documents on its website serve to strengthen its accessibility. The project is open to all highly educated newcomers in Flanders, regardless of gender, ethnicity or race. The needs and capacities of participants were analysed during the research phase in order to arrange services accordingly, and the methodology on coaching and networking has been adjusted to take into account particular needs of the target group.

Inspiring tools:

Platform, Welcome app, flyers and brochures are available on the à website, as well as checklists and roadmaps for studying and working in Flanders. The website is in English, Dutch and Arabic.

Good practice checklist

✓ Adopt a participatory, gender mainstreaming, age sensitive, inclusive approach and secure equal opportunities for beneficiaries.

✓ Make sure to provide precise and accessible information on how to access services in different languages, formats and through different communication channels.

✓ Ensure that equality and diversity are an essential part of how services are delivered, taking into consideration different needs and capacities.

✓ Make reasonable adjustments to service delivery in order to take into account particular needs of the target group.

Does the practice involve the active participation of the receiving society?

The practice is promising in its involvement of the active participation of the receiving society. Using volunteer mentoring as an integration tool, it supports the two-way nature of integration and provides the receiving society with opportunities to actively take part. A mentor pool has been created, comprising both natives and those with migrant background with experience of the same employment paths. As a part of the project, volunteer mentoring from the receiving society is used as a tool for integration.

Good practice checklist

✓ Consider integration as a two-way process, and aim for change on the side of the receiving society.

✓ Foresee an active role for the receiving society in the design and implementation stages of the practice, and involve actions that encourage native communities and beneficiaries to work together.

Does the practice consult its beneficiaries and involve them in the design, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of the action?

The practice mostly consults beneficiaries, involving them in the action as much as possible. Beneficiaries were involved in project design and provided with different feedback mechanisms by which to express their opinions on service quality. The project started with research among beneficiaries and involved them in workshops for the development of the project model. Additionally, some members of project management team have a migrant background. All beneficiaries were asked to give feedback via email, phone calls and on the digital platform, and structured interviews were further conducted with some.

Good practice checklist

✓ Organise consultation activities with migrant beneficiaries in order to co-create actions where possible and secure their feedback on the design and evaluation of the action.

✓ Provide appropriate feedback mechanisms by which beneficiaries can safely express their opinions on service quality.

− Use flexible and interculturally-adapted formats and compensate participants for their contribution.

Relevance & Complementarity

Are the objectives of the practice relevant to the needs of the migrants?

The objectives of the practice are relevant to the needs of its target group: the project aims to reduce the employment gap HERs face by developing a fast-track integration model in Flanders. It stands to be a successful example of conducting preliminary research to identify the needs of beneficiaries and of the job market, in order to analyse employment gaps and contribute to the systematic improvement of integration services. The talent portfolios of HERs were developed based on the needs of the job market.

Good practice checklist

✓ Identify and analyse the needs of the relevant migrants and prioritise methods which directly ask them about their needs.

✓ Identify and analyse gaps in integration support and design actions to fill these gaps.

✓ Aim for systemic improvement, satisfying the needs of the majority of target groups in the target area.

Is the practice relevant to the empowerment of migrants, the strengthening of their autonomy and the support of their long-term integration?

The practice stands to be a promising example of empowering beneficiaries and supporting their long-term integration. Designing actions to strengthen the capacity of beneficiaries and contribute to their engagement with the community through economic empowerment, the practice aims to fill gaps in information provision and overcome inequalities that pose obstacles to long-term integration. The practice provides career coaching by which beneficiaries define their career path, mentoring by which they progress along this path, and networking activities which make the path more sustainable. All this promotes their long-term integration in the labour market. The project website also provides relevant resources to minimise information gaps about labour market integration, which is an important milestone in long-term integration. Employment gaps, overqualification and other challenges form the basis of the actions of the practice.

Good practice checklist

✓ Devise actions with the overarching goal of providing positive feedback and making migrants more confident, autonomous and independent.

✓ Contribute to migrants’ engagement with the community for the common good.

✓ Include (or create the preconditions for) actions that facilitate long-term integration.

✓ Address discrimination and information gaps as obstacles to long-term integration.

Does the practice align with the priorities, strategic goals and policies of other relevant stakeholders, and contribute to the wider integration framework?

The practice presents an example in analysing gaps in integration support and employing strategies at the regional level. It also aims to contribute to the strengthening of the capacities of relevant institutions and actors working on labour market integration. The model was defined in line with the strategies of the regional employment agency and the civic integration agency. It is being developed based on action research, including relevant tripartite actors – Flemish government organisations, employers and HERs – and using best practices from other European countries and regions. A handbook with guidelines for policy implementation was developed as an output of the project. The goal of this is to present widespread national measures in the framework of European policies, and to facilitate practical action for closer cooperation between partners acting at different stages of the asylum seeker and refugee labour market integration chain.

Inspiring tools:

A handbook with recommendations for policy implementation.

Good practice checklist

✓ Ensure that all actions are in line with international and European human rights standards.

✓ Employ regional/local, national and EU/international level integration-related guidelines and tools.

− Make sure that the services offered contribute to the strengthening of the capacities of relevant institutions to support future development.

Effectiveness

Is the practice adequately planned and based on a comprehensive design?

The practice has a comprehensive project plan based on research and testing. The project website is exemplary in terms of presenting a detailed project plan, activities, challenges, roadmaps and project management structure. The development of the All-in-one 4 HER faster integration model was based on action research and iterative testing with the target group and actors. A communication and dissemination plan was developed and approved by the funder (European Social Fund).

Good practice checklist

✓ Aim for actions that achieve observable outcomes among the target group or contribute to changes during the implementation of the action.

✓ Make sure that the objectives and planned results of the activity are feasible and clear.

✓ Develop a communications strategy during the design phase of the action and pay attention to communication with host communities and local authorities.

− Ensure the practice is based on indicators that are measurable, achievable, and relevant.

− Develop a staff management plan to identify team members with the right skills to work with beneficiaries, and their needs for training and further qualification.

Does the practice regularly monitor implementation and evaluate its results?

The practice conducted regular evaluations during the testing period and has been successful in achieving its intended results . The formulation of an advisory board to advise on potential obstacles is also exemplary. Evaluation is carried out during the iterative testing phase through feedback from beneficiaries and stakeholders.

Inspiring tools:

Main outputs are the All-in-one for HER Platform; the Welcome app; and a à Handbook for system improvement

Good practice checklist

✓ Ensure regular monitoring of action implementation and compare actual performance to goals set during the design phase.

✓ Anticipate obstacles that might occur and plan alternative scenarios during the design phase of the action.

✓ Ensure achievement of intended outputs / outcomes.

− Determine whether practice outcomes are considered successful by beneficiaries, the host and practitioner communities, funders, and policymakers.

− Assess whether interventions contribute to long-term sustainable change.

Sustainability

Is the practice prepared to sustain its positive effects after completion?

Overall, the practitioners aim to sustain the positive effects of the practice after its completion. The aim is to continue employing the model with different stakeholders with digital outputs. Development of a business plan is a good example of a step towards sustaining the positive effects of the practice, and project managers have also taken many other actions to do so including reducing costs and finding new follow-up funding/financing mechanisms.

Good practice checklist

✓ During the design phase, anticipate opportunities to continue the intervention after completion.

✓ Prepare and apply a well-defined sustainability plan to ensure the continuation of positive effects / outcomes.

− Devote resources to building capacities during the implementation phase, in order to ensure that the necessary human resources, expertise and infrastructure are in place to sustain the services upon completion of the action.

Partnership & Collaboration

Does the practice establish communication and coordination with other relevant actors to foster the integration of migrants? (e.g., migrants, civil society, public authorities, businesses)

The practice has established communication and coordination with other relevant actors, such as NGOs, government organisations, and employers. Stakeholders have been included using the Helix model, and 4 kinds of users/contributors were defined: supporting organisations, volunteer mentors, employers, and refugees/migrants.

Good practice checklist

✓ Ensure the involvement and participation of key stakeholders in the development phase and create strategies to involve them in the action.

✓ Include multi-stakeholder consultation with professionals, institutions, and citizens, in order to promote the meaningful participation of refuges and migrants and support a joint sense of ownership of decisions and actions.

Does the practice contribute to discussion on the improvement of integration support policies?

The practice contributes to discussion on improvement of integration support policies through its outputs and specific actions. It is a promising example in working with relevant partners through its advisory board. The handbook with recommendations for policy implementation aims to facilitate practical action for closer cooperation between partners acting at different stages along the asylum seeker and refugee labour market integration chain. Through this, the goal is to contribute to the discussion on integration in Flanders. The project is actively supported by leading Flemish government organisations, several labour market initiatives, and a large network of HERs

Good practice checklist

✓ Seize opportunities to contribute to the development of comprehensive integration strategies involving EU-level/national/regional/local authorities, service providers and civil society.

✓ Work with relevant partners to jointly review operations, practices, services, and integration outcomes.