Return and Reintegration

Nigerian migrants arrive home through charter flights facilitated by the International Organization for Migration (IOM), with support from the European Union, the Government of the Netherlands, ECOWAS, and other partners, as part of initiatives like COMPASS and the Migrant Protection and Reintegration Programme. Such initiatives provide safe and dignified return options to Nigerians from countless countries such as Libya, Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso. This operation is part of IOM's comprehensive efforts to support migrants who find themselves in vulnerable situations. These activities are conducted in close coordination with Nigerian Government authorities and officials, including from the National Commission for Refugees, Migrants, and Internally Displaced Persons (NCFRMI), the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), and more. They highlight IOM's commitment to protecting the rights of migrants and promoting safer and more regulated migration pathways in collaboration with our valued donors and stakeholders.

The Office National de la Migration (ONM) sign marks the entrance to the Centre de Ressources Frontalières (CRF) in Belladère. Managed by ONM with support from IOM, the center plays a critical role in assisting deported migrants upon arrival, providing a safe space for initial support.

Beneficiaries receiving seed capital for their entrepreneurship.

The EU-IOM Knowledge Management Hub (KMH) was established in September 2017 under the European Union-funded Pilot Action on Voluntary Return and Sustainable, Community-Based Reintegration. It aims to strengthen learning across return and reintegration programmes, and support the development and harmonization of approaches, processes and tools on these topics. Among its overarching objectives it aims to showcase the importance of adopting an integrated approach to reintegration and support its implementation by highlighting its holistic and multifactorial nature. Through an audio-visual production activity run in eleven countries, materials aim to promote a more balanced narrative on return and reintegration by focusing on realistic and fact-based storytelling approaches, and to highlight opportunities and areas of improvements by resorting to the voices of the actors involved, from beneficiaries to high-level stakeholders.

Photos of by IOM Georgia taken during different activities in previous years.

A compilation of visibility products for IOM's 70th Anniversary. For queries, contact avteam@iom.int

Documentation of IOM programmatic works in Nigeria in the time of COVID-19 pandemic. (Please find more information in the individual photos and videos)

The French photojournalist of Iranian origin Reza Deghati led a three-day photography training workshop in Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire. The training was aimed at migrants returning to their country after experiencing difficult journeys abroad. Six young photographers also participated in the training. After learning the technical aspects of photography, the participants put their new skills into practice by attending reintegration and recreation activities organized by IOM for returnees and community members. This training is the first in a series to be organized by IOM across West Africa in 2020. It was organized in the framework of the Joint EU-IOM Initiative for the Protection and Reintegration of Migrants in the Sahel and Lake Chad regions. Launched in December 2016 with funding from the EU Emergency Trust Fund for Africa (EUTF), the EU-IOM Joint Initiative for the Protection and Reintegration of Migrants is the first comprehensive programme to save lives, protect and assist migrants along major migration routes in Africa.

In Côte d'Ivoire, returning migrants and community members were trained on a rice farming project through the EU-IOM Joint Initiative. The objective of this project is to contribute to the sustainable reintegration of returnees by creating community-based projects contributing to the development of the community of Yobouekro. Launched in December 2016 with funding from the EU Emergency Trust Fund for Africa (EUTF), the EU-IOM Joint Initiative for the Protection and Reintegration of Migrants is the first global programme to save lives, to protect and assist migrants along key migration routes in Africa.

The Central-East region is the most affected community by irregular migration in Burkina Faso. In 2018, 56 per cent of migrants assisted to voluntary return to Burkina Faso by IOM came from this region. As part of its awareness raising activities, IOM trained 25 community actors from the Central-Eastern Region of Burkina Faso trained by the International Organization for Migration (IOM) in community mobilization techniques. The goal is to empower these voices to effectively raise awareness among young people about the dangers of irregular migration. Migration of young “able-bodies” from the region is more often due to a precarious economic situation, plus social and cultural motivations. Therefore, it is crucial to adopt participatory approach to raising awareness. Community mobilization responds to this need by enabling community members to take ownership of the theme, and by building their capacities to organizing community dialogue sessions to change attitudes and behaviours.

In the context of reintegration activities 355 returning migrants have received vocational training and have been accompanied in the creation of micro-enterprises or in the search for a job or work experience. More than 2,300 blocked migrants have voluntarily returned to Burkina Faso under the EU-IOM Joint Initiative for the Protection and Reintegration of Migrants (in October 2019). Launched in December 2016 with funding from the EU Trust Fund for Africa (EUTF), the EU-IOM Joint Initiative for the Protection and Reintegration of Migrants is the first global programme to save lives, protect and assist migrants along key migration routes in Africa.

A food and goods distribution to returned migrants in Burkina Faso. More than 2,300 stranded migrants have voluntarily returned to Burkina Faso in the framework of the EU-IOM Joint Initiative for Migrant Protection and Reintegration (as of October 2019). As part of their reintegration, they receive in-kind support such as food and non-food items to help them rebuild their lives and meet their immediate needs.

Returned migrants participate in a cash-for-work activity in Garango, in Eastern Burkina Faso. When migrants return home, they often lack money to care for their basic needs. IOM organizes cash-for-work activities as a first step towards the sustainable reintegration of migrants. These activities contribute to strengthening social cohesion between returned migrants and community members, while offering returned migrants the financial boost they need to restart their lives.

In Burkina Faso, The International Organization for Migration (IOM), in collaboration with the Government of Burkina Faso, and with funding from the European Union, is supporting the establishment of livestock farmer groups in Burkina Faso. In Centre-East and Centre-South of Burkina Faso, the two main regions of origin for migrants leaving this country, IOM has provided about 500 sheep, rams, oxen and donkeys to 99 Burkinabè who returned from Libya and Algeria in 2018 to ensure their socio-economic reintegration in the country. To support their sustainable reintegration, the returnees received – in addition to this in-kind assistance – training in business management, cooperative operation and livestock farming techniques. The training sessions, provided throughout the year by the technical partners of the National Employment Agency (ANPE) and the Regional Directorates of Animal and Fisheries Resources, have enabled them to acquire the necessary skills to ensure the sustainability of their activities. In 2018, 1249 Burkinabé migrants received reintegration assistance under the EU-IOM Joint Initiative for Migrant Protection and Reintegration. Funded by the European Union, this project aims to contribute to the strengthening of migration governance, protection, assisted voluntary return and sustainable reintegration of returning migrants.

In Côte d’Ivoire, 30 returned migrants signed up for a community chicken farming project along with 20 community members as part of the EU-IOM Joint Initiative. Launched in December 2016 with funding from the EU Emergency Trust Fund for Africa (EUTF), the EU-IOM Joint Initiative for Migrant Protection and Reintegration is the first comprehensive programme to save lives, protect and assist migrants along key migration routes in Africa.

In 2015, Celestin and Bleoulou, returned to Cote d’Ivoire with IOM’s support through the EU-IOM Joint Initiative, and opened a cybercafé as part of their reintegration. Today, with the revenues generated, they opened a hair salon and are planning on opening a second cybercafé. Launched in December 2016 with funding from the EU Emergency Trust Fund for Africa (EUTF), the EU-IOM Joint Initiative for Migrant Protection and Reintegration is the first comprehensive programme to save lives, protect and assist migrants along key migration routes in Africa.

Joint visit of a reintegration project in Cote d’Ivoire by IOM and the EU Delegation in Cote d’Ivoire in the framework of the EU-IOM Joint Initiative for Migrant Protection and Reintegration. Launched in December 2016 with funding from the EU Emergency Trust Fund for Africa (EUTF), the EU-IOM Joint Initiative for Migrant Protection and Reintegration is the first comprehensive programme to save lives, protect and assist migrants along key migration routes in Africa.

Football match organized in Daloa, a Western City in Cote d’Ivoire as part of awareness raising activities on the risks and dangers of irregular migration organized in the framework of the EU-IOM Joint Initiative for Migrant Protection and Reintegration. Launched in December 2016 with funding from the EU Emergency Trust Fund for Africa (EUTF), the EU-IOM Joint Initiative for Migrant Protection and Reintegration is the first comprehensive programme to save lives, protect and assist migrants along key migration routes in Africa.

On 23 March 2019, a joint monitoring mission led by the Ministry of Interior of Jubaland State Government with participants from various line ministries and MOIFAR was conducted in Kismayo to monitor three Midnimo projects (2 schools and 1 market shed). The monitoring team first visited Gulwade Primary and Secondary School where five latrines as well as three rooms were constructed in December 2017 used as common facility: an examiner›s room, kitchen, and storage. The team also visited Aqoon Bile Primary School, which was constructed in February 2018 and opened in March 2018. Prior to the construction of this school, Aqoon School had two campuses in different locations. One was right outside the school which was comprised of two structures made of wooden poles and sticks, and a teacher’s office made of corrugated iron. This campus was built on private land and students indicated that they felt that this campus was Previous Aqoon Bile Primary and Secondary School © IOM 2019/Rikka TUPAZ Newly constructed Aqoon Bile Primary and Secondary School © IOM 2019/Rikka TUPAZ temporary and not secure. The other school was located near the coast. Students indicated that they are now very happy in the newly constructed school, which is a permanent structure on land allocated by the Jubaland Government. Within a year of its opening, school attendance rose from 295 (113 girls, 182 boys) to 641 students (197 girls, 444 boys). This increase is primarily due to returns from Dadaab refugee camp

The EU-IOM Joint Initiative in Mauritania plans to raise awareness of HIV/AIDS among 1000 people. The project's target populations are migrants, community leaders and beneficiaries of the Assisted Voluntary Return and Reintegration programme.

At 16, Mariam suffered a marriage arranged by her family following the death of her father. "When I left home, newly married, I was only a child who was afraid." Mariam left her country, Sierra Leone, to follow her husband who wanted to leave for Mauritania. After 16 years, she decided to go back in Sierra Leone with her two daughters.

Lost in Mauritania, a small group of unaccompanied minors returned to their home country ‘Sierra Leone’. IOM country offices in Mauritania and Sierra Leone collaborated under a family-tracing program to locate the children’s’ families whereabouts. After a long journey by plane, by boat and by bus the children were able to rejoin their families accompanied by IOM workers. Their return was possible thanks to the efforts of diplomats and consulates from the both countries.

Yukpa Community from Venezuela within the framework of the current population migration and the binational dialogues of the people

IOM Mauritania has followed and assisted several women with their reintegration projects. They received psychosocial, sometimes medical assistance, and help to develop an income-generating activity. After some very difficult events in their lives, they are now independent and can provide for themselves and their families.With dignity, they have found a place in society.

IOM Guinea activities

Sri Lankan returnees returned from different west African countries give testimonials on their experience after their return to Sri Lanka. These returnees received the reintegration assistance under the Global Assistance for Irregular Migrants (GAIM) project

Chris is thirteen years old. He left Liberia because of poverty and Ebola. He saw on the BBC that the trip to the Mediterranean was very dangerous and he did not want to die there. When we started looking for his family, we did not have much more than some incoherent information. Then, thanks to the support of the ICRC, we could contact his grandfather back in Liberia. After sometime, he told us that Chris’s mother was still in Mauritania, but in another city. We could find her and Chris’s little brother.

A collection of portraits of migrants from everywhere IOM works to help make migration humane.

IOM holds intercultural classes for students of schools covered by the programme.

Filipino, Labour Exploitation, Labour Migration, Repatriations, Syria Crisis, crisis, labour policy, migrant worker

Today, they have returned to El Salvador to restart their interrupted lives thanks to the Assisted Voluntary Return Programme, (P.A.R.T.I.R. III, by its Spanish acronym) funded by the Italian government and the European Union and carried out by IOM offices in Rome and San Salvador. In possession of a tourist visa, the four Salvadorans migrated to Italy for different reasons, but with the same idea: find a job in the European country and send remittances to help their families back home.

A joint IOM Chadian assessment team that travelled to a remote area on the Chad-Nigeria border has discovered a group of over 800 destitute Chadian returnees from Nigeria, including a large number of unaccompanied children aged between 6 and 14. The assessment by IOM and the CNAR (National Agency for Refugees and IDPs), was undertaken at the request of the Chadian government following reports of Chadian nationals fleeing violence in Nigeria.

After South Sudan declared independence from the North in July 2011, the Sudanese government set a deadline for all southerners wishing to return to the south to do so before April 8th, 2012, or seek to regularize their stay in the north. IOM stepped in to help transport returnees, and provide emergency medical assistance, shelter, water and sanitation, as well as lighting and non-food emergency relief items in transit sites.

Arrival of Filipino Returnees from Syria