THE ROLE OF LOCAL AUTHORITIES IN MANAGING MIGRATION – SKILLS AND MIGRATION AS VECTORS FOR LOCAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

SEVENTH PLENARY SESSION OF THE EURO-MEDITERRANEAN REGIONAL AND LOCAL ASSEMBLY (ARLEM)

ANASTASIA FETSI EUROPEAN TRAINING FOUNDATION NICOSIA, 19 JANUARY 2016

1. The skills dimension of legal migration – the role of regional authorities

2. Migration not only a threat but also an opportunity – an element of integrated local development agenda

3. Harnessing the potential of migrants for local development

4. Some good practices on the involvement of local authorities

5. Challenges and pre-conditions for the effective involvement of local authorities

Presentation outline

Local and regional authorities are in the front line in dealing with migrants (in all phases in both countries of origin and destination)

They are reference point for all migrant-related services – involving local PES, NGOs, private sector, sectors associations, etc

Migrants bring both challenges and opportunities for local development

Integration and/or reintegration of migrants could be considered from the perspective of local development agenda • Identifying specific local needs for labour and skills for local development (e.g.

Examples of ETF work)

• Developing regular skills anticipation and matching actions for local economy

• Implementing pilot projects to address integration/ reintegration needs through developing partnerships at local level

Local authorities have a role to play in skills dimension of migration

Local level

Understanding the diversity of migrants (age, gender, skill levels, entry status) and their different needs, and developing specific policy measures accordingly

Providing socio-cultural orientation and language training as first essentials of integration

Detecting/ recording people’s skills and qualifications (formally, non-formally or informally acquired)

Providing guidance and counselling to understand suitable education and training and/or career/job options

Providing access to education/ training opportunities and apprenticeships, in line with the needs of local economy

Providing information on job opportunities and support to the labour market integration/ reintegration of migrants in local economy

Providing entrepreneurship support for business start-ups and financing micro projects involving migrants

How to tap the potential of migrants for local development agenda?

Some good practices on the involvement of local authorities

GEORGIA: MISMES 21National Association of Local

Authorities involved in 4 regions of Georgia to provide

return support, included capacity-building, NGO involvement to provide

training, and local associations involved in

training of trainers MOLDOVA: MISMES 46, 58Local municipalities involved

in providing integrated services to returnees, local

communities and NGOs involved in targeted

entrepreneurship and skills development programmes for

returnees

ARMENIA: MISMES 15Migrant Resource Centres in four

regions, operated in the premises of local State

Employment Agency, providing services for all migrants, and

many post-return programmes implemented by local NGOs

TUNISIA: MISMES 9Creation of three Migration Resource Centres located within regional offices of local public employment services in

Sfax, Le Kef and Tunis, one-stop-shop services for all migrants and linking services to local contexts

FACE-MAROC (Global Inventory)

Business creation through diaspora mobilisation who are resident in Europe – with the involvement of the Moroccan association of international

entrepreneurs and regions with high migration outflows

CHALLENGES

Limited autonomy of local authorities

Scarce financial and human resources

Weak capacity of local actors and institutions

Lack of local instruments to build on success stories

Challenges and pre-conditions for the involvement of local authorities

PRE-CONDITIONS

Legal frameworks for more autonomy and decentralisation

Closer links to reality on the ground (local enterprises, schools, etc.)

Multi-level governance: partnerships with all relevant actors

Capacity building for local authorities and financial/human resources

Developing a holistic and integrated approach to migration and making migrants part of the local development agenda

Recognising migration cycle and designing policy measures to help migrants before, during and after migration

Giving specific attention to employers’ involvement, migrant qualifications and expectations management on both sides in the delivery of migrant services

Promoting ‘skills partnerships’ between the local authorities of the origin and destination countries and providing actions in line with the needs of local economies

Local authorities are also reference point for ‘coordinating role’ in partnerships with other local actors, ie private sector, NGOs, local associations, etc.

Partnerships between local authorities of countries of origin and destination are absolute necessity for the better management of migration

Migration is here to stay - how can we make the best of it?