There are a number of structural and circumstantial challenges that can prevent the socio-economic reintegration of labour migrants and refugees. Some are inherent to the migration or displacement experience. A prolonged stay abroad often creates challenges for returnees to find employment opportunities, primarily due to the loss of contact with prior networks in their home country. Other factors relate to the capacity of the country to facilitate the reintegration process. Often countries that are producing large migrant or refugee populations are unable to support their effective reintegration, principally due to the lack of institutional capacity, as well as human and financial resources. When back home, returnees may not have access to up to date information about employment services and current labour market situation. As a result, many returnees are concentrated in low-skilled informal employment or under-regulated sectors.

Due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, many labour migrants have lost their jobs in the country of destination and had to return to their country of origin, in some instances forcibly. The unexpected returns forced migrants to face situations where opportunities to access decent jobs may even be more limited due to lockdown and other restriction measures, as well as challenging economic situation in general, thus creating enormous difficulties for returnees in meeting basic needs for themselves and their families.

In some cases, returning migrant workers are coming back to countries already experiencing high unemployment and economic hardship. The pressure on job markets in areas of return with resident workers might increase competition and tension among communities. If access to jobs and livelihoods are unavailable in the place of return, then returnees tend to migrate towards urban areas in search of employment opportunities. The absence of sustainable reintegration increase the likelihood of these populations falling into poverty and/ or engaging into secondary migration or displacement is heightened. Returnees can play an important role in facilitating the transfer of qualifications and skills to origin countries as they bring back skills, experience and entrepreneurship abilities which can help countries  to rebuild better. Providing operational support through income-generating opportunities for both returnees and communities in areas of return might help the overall reintegration process.

This course will explore the linkage between return migration and development while explaining why some return migrants succeed in reintegrating back home whereas others do not.

The course is designed for officials and practitioners committed to facilitating the reintegration of return migrants. More specifically:

• Public authorities at national and local level;
• workers’ and employers’ representatives;
• NGOs and CSOs dealing with migration and development;
• migrant associations;
• international cooperation agencies and organizations.

The course addresses the social and professional reintegration of return migrants by strengthening the capacity of policy level stakeholders design and facilitate evidence- based return migration policies. More specifically, you will be able to:

• Access innovative and comparative data on returnees’ conditions back home;
• Combine a top down and a bottom-up approach to return migration and reintegration;
• Benefit from increased awareness of the need to develop adequate mechanisms sustaining the reintegration of returnees while redefining current policy priorities as applied to return;
• Understand the factors, public policies, as well as the pre- and post-return conditions shaping migrants’ patterns of reintegration in their country of origin;
• Explaining why return may or may not have a positive impact on the development of migrants’ country of origin;
• Acquire analytical tools and instruments (e.g. indicators) allowing adequate policies to be adopted with a view to supporting migrants’ reintegration;
• Promote the integration of return migration issues in national and regional development strategies.

• Module 1: Concepts and définition
• Module 2: Linkages between migration and development
• Module 3: Why return and reintegration policies are necessary?
• Module 4: General principles in designing and implementing return and reintegration programmes
• Module 5: Issues and challenges in return and reintegration
• Module 6: Good practices

The course consists of a number of online modules offered through the ITCILO e-Campus online platform to be completed over a period of six weeks, from 25 October to 3 December 2021, for an estimated 60 learning hours. The course is broken down into three phases:

• Flexible learning: (asynchronous) self-guided online learning on e-campus, forum of discussion facilitated by experts and assessment throughout the different phases of the course.
• “Real time” learning (synchronous): Live interactive sessions and engaging video presentations by highly experienced trainers, blended with individual and collaborative group exercises, peer-to-peer assessment and online technical forums on e-campus.
• End of course assignment: Individual assignment applying the teachings acquired during the course.

Participants who successfully complete all assessments and the final assignment will receive a Certificate of Achievement.

The Turin Centre is known for its innovative learning tools and methodologies.

• Course facilitators are subject matter experts and specialists;
• Training delivery includes online and tutor based learning opportunities;
• Participants exchange knowledge and ideas on existing good practices.

This course qualifies for the ITCILO Diploma for Labour Migration Experts and Practitioners. Take the Academy on Labour Migration, three courses out of all eligible courses within a five year period, and complete a capstone project to become part of a global cadre of practitioners and experts with a recognised set of skills in labour migration policy.

Course learning materials and tuition will be offered online in English. The following requirements are therefore essential to participate in this course:

• The ability to use and access a computer with internet;
• working knowledge of written English or Spanish;
• the availability to dedicate per week between 5-10 hours to the course.

The cost of participation is 980 EUR, and is payable in advance by the participant or his or her sponsoring organization.

Applicants should complete the online nomination form no later than 20 September 2023, supported by a nomination letter from the sponsoring institution indicating how the participant will be financed. The form can be found at https://oarf2.itcilo.org/DST/A9716205/en