Have Your Say on Integration and Inclusion Policy Engagement and Dialogue

<< Background >>This proposal aimed to bring together youth workers from six African diaspora led organisations, five of which have previously worked on an Erasmus+ capacity development project for youth workers to address the lack of services to young African diaspora. The partners engaged youth workers in analysing and campaigning on integration and inclusion policies in six European countries (Austria, Cyprus, Ireland, Slovenia, Spain and Sweden) and engage in dialogue on the European integration and inclusion policy with members of European Parliament and relevant European Commission department at a conference in Brussels in a framework of linking policy to practice. Integration and inclusion policies in all the participating countries were analysed , audience sought with relevant government agencies and representatives from international organisations to advocate for policy reviews and streamline.<< Objectives >>We wanted to achieve access to the policy framework on integration and inclusion in each partner country as a campaign and advocacy tool for each of the six organisations to work on with their relevant governments to improve accessibility to services for the African diaspora on education, employment, health and housing in that country. Initiate a mechanism for dialogue at some member states level and in Brussels to develop and share some ideas for anintegration strategy such making it possible for diaspora to have access to education, employment, health and housing fortheir basic needs..2. Taking steps to promote a common understanding from some states of the barriers to integration and of effective stepsto address them – within and beyond education, employment, health and housing – through data collection, research,monitoring initiatives, and dissemination.3. Engaging some member states, the MEPs, the European Commission and NGOs, learning from each other, sharingideas on good practice, and enabling diaspora to contribute to decision-making, as an essential element to facilitateeffective integration and inclusion of diaspora and migrants in Europe, especially the second and subsequent generationof the diaspora<< Implementation >>1. We held a Kick-start meeting in Dublin, Ireland to discuss the project activities, agree on a workplan of the project, partner organisations tasks and responsibilities and scheduling of activities2. Hosted national seminars in each of the six countries to review and discuss integration and inclusion policy and the realities faced by African diaspora in these countries targeting national politicians and government departments working on integration and inclusion.3. Held online meetings with key stakeholders and activities to advocate for the European policy on integration and inclusion, but also to make national policies a reality for African diaspora communities through best practices.4. Held a conference in Brussels on EU integration and Inclusion policy, but also feeding in the challenges faced in national implementation of integration strategies with MEPs, EU institutions and civil society organisations.<< Results >>1. Initiated a mechanism for dialogue at some member states level and in Brussels to develop and share some ideas for an integration strategy, making it possible for the diaspora to have access to education, employment, health and housing for their basic needs.2. Took steps to promote a common understanding from some states of the barriers to integration and of effective steps to address them – within and beyond education, employment, health and housing – through data collection, research, monitoring initiatives, and dissemination.3. Engaged some member states, the MEPs, the European Commission and NGOs, learning from each other, sharing ideas on good practice, and enabling the diaspora to contribute to decision-making, policies advocacy as an essential element to facilitate and effective integration and inclusion of the diaspora and migrants in Europe, especially the second and subsequent generations .This project has shaped the capacity of youth workers to review the integration and inclusion policy framework. The process has helped to find ways to make policies work for the interest of everyone living in these countries.