Refugee Integration Tool

Summary

The Migration Policy Group has developed a tool to evaluate refugee integration policies in collaboration with UNHCR Budapest

Description

Building on its experience designing the Migrant Integration Policy Index (MIPEX) and participating in international debates on integration indicators, MPG has researched and designed a tool to evaluate integration policies according to the needs and situation of beneficiaries of international protection.

MPG has led consultations with stakeholders, provided a Guide on how to use the tool to plug into EU support, and advised on how to implement a future pilot project with governments and civil society in Central Europe.

Informing and improving policy

Through a set of over 200 indicators, authorities and stakeholders will collaborate to gather the evidence needed to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of integration policies for beneficiaries of international protection.

The tool will investigate how to:

• Set priorities to improve the state of refugee integration
  
• Build national capacity to gather data and evaluate policies 
  
• Build relationships to mainstream refugees into the relevant public policies and services  
  
• Plug into greater national and EU support for mutual learning and policy improvement

Covering all areas of a refugee’s life

The integration evaluation tool comprises four sets of indicators on:

1. General considerations
   
2. Legal integration
   
3. Socio-economic integration 
   
4. Socio-cultural integration

It covers every aspect of the daily life of recognised and resettled refugees, beneficiaries of subsidiary protection, and asylum seekers. It captures their particular needs, vulnerabilities, but also their unique opportunities for integration.

It asks questions like:

• Do their jobs meet their skills and qualifications?
• What can refugees do if they can’t travel home to get documents?
• Are they placed in housing and towns that helps them participate in society?
• Do education authorities know about the special needs of vulnerable pupils like unaccompanied minors?
• Do all beneficiaries of international protection have access to an effective nationality?

It links up the different types of indicators needed to evaluate the implementation and impact of policy, while highlighting the special needs and opportunities for beneficiaries of international protection.

Data collection

At the national level UNHCR now plans to involve a broad range of actors with expertise in different areas, such as naturalisation, employment, health, and others, to provide input on the related indicators. Data collection will be followed by a peer review of the results. The entire process will be internet-based and simple to work with.

Using the data

At its final stage the process will provide a valid database on refugee integration to help all stakeholders evaluate the efficiency and impact of integration policies and to analyse strengths and weaknesses within countries.
Across the region, it will be possible to exchange best practices and to learn from each other. This “joined-up approach” will provide a rich evidence-base for integration policymaking and cooperation for national and international organisations working with refugees.

The User’s Guide

The User’s Guide, entitled 'EU support for integration: what about beneficiaries of international protection? A User's Guide to EU Standards, Funds and Cooperation' is a 53-page guide, written by MPG Policy Analyst, Thomas Huddleston, critically analysing EU standards, financial instruments and methods of cooperation in the field of integration. It gives 30 recommendations to all levels, from the European Commission, national governments and municipalities down to refugee organisations themselves.