ICMPD hosted the first training on Reintegration for Migration Policy Makers and Programme Professionals in Baghdad, for senior officials from the Federal Government of Iraq and the Kurdistan Regional Government. Under the Danish-funded Capacity Partnerships and Access to Information for Sustainable Reintegration of Returnees in Iraq (CAIR-II) Project, the training was hosted on 24-28 November at the Migration Training Centre at the Ministry of Migration and Displaced (MoMD).
The courses trained migration professionals on basic concepts of reintegration; case management and referrals; effective reintegration; and monitoring and evaluating reintegration programmes. Each session addresses important elements of reintegration tailored to Iraq’s specific context.
In a post-conflict environment, reintegration is one of the core themes of ICMPD’s work in Iraq. Many stakeholders have made considerable progress to improve reintegration of returning migrants and internally displaced persons. Given the right support, stakeholders view the development potential of returnees as assets for the country.
Reintegration is also a core priority, aiming to close IDP camps and reintegrate people. Thus, capacity-building is among the core elements to increase institutional capacities of both federal and regional governments through holistic, needs-based, and systematic programmes. Having actively engaged in Iraq since 2010 on a range of issues, ICMPD’s approach to reintegration focusses on national capacities beyond the traditional. In establishing sustainable national training systems integrated in ministerial structures, ICMPD follows a three-pronged approach:
- Developing high-quality, context-specific courses on reintegration
- Upgrading training facilities
- Training of Trainers for local officials
The approach is further strengthened with ICMPD’s Migration Capacity Partnerships Training Institute for the Mediterranean, licenced by the Malta Further and Higher Education Authority, adding value to the work in Iraq by ensuring that training facilities, courses, and trainers are top-quality.
ICMPD’s work on reintegration in Iraq has unified into a single framework, the Nordic Cooperation on Return and Reintegration in Iraq (NORAQ), in which projects support government and NGO partners to enhance their migration governance; in particular, improving reintegration support to returnees. This ensures complementarity and sustainability and presents a unified approach towards supporting the government.
