Enhancing the Potential of Migration for Socio-Economic Development in Armenia and Georgia

  • Start Date
    2023
  • End Date
    2024
  • Project Status
    Active
  • Project Type
    Community Development
  • Budget Amount (USD)
    400000.00
  • Coverage
    Regional
  • Year
    2022
  • IDF Region
    Europe
  • Prima ID
    GE10P0527
  • Projects ID
    CD.0085
  • Benefiting Member States
    Armenia Georgia
Persistent poor socio-economic conditions in the South Caucasus, most recently exacerbated by the outbreak of COVID-19, and the perception that improved living conditions might be attainable through foreign employment, have triggered many in the region to leave their communities of origin and migrate from rural to urban areas, or abroad. Over the years, however, many also opted to return to their countries, often facing difficulties in their reintegration experiences, due to isolation and scarcity of economic means. Within this regional scenario, this initiative aims to contribute to harnessing the potential of returned migrants for social stability and economic well-being of local communities in the South Caucasus, building upon lessons learned with communities in Georgia, and expanding on these thematically and geographically to Armenia. Rooted in IOM’s Integrated Approach to Reintegration, this initiative aims, in the long term, to support policies that consider the individual, community, and structural level of return and reintegration; it does so by ensuring, in the medium term that returned migrants make use of improved opportunities for sustainable reintegration and participation in local development, focusing on facilitating access to information and guaranteeing participation in initiatives that support individual employability and social inclusion. It does also so by facilitating dialogue across the two countries involved, exchange of good practices and, support to enhance a whole-of-government approach reintegration policies and practices at national and regional level.