Migration for Development in the Western Balkans (MIDWEB) (2011 - 2013)

Geographical Coverage: Hungary, Western Balkans, selected EU Member States

Duration: 1 Feb 2011 - 31 Jan 2013

Donor: IPA 2009 Multi-Beneficiary Programme 2

http://www.migrantservicecenters.org

Status: Completed

Summary: The project aimed to strengthen and increase the capacity of the existing network of Migrant Service Centres in the Western Balkans in order to ensure efficient dissemination of information about legal channels for migration among potential labour migrants and sought to provide opportunities for return of skills and human capital and their utilization in the development of the Western Balkans (WB) to the mutual benefit of migrants and countries of origin.

Key Results:

1. A regional four-day workshop on Providing Information Service to Migrants for MSC counsellors from all project locations (focused on issues of providing quality information service, migration terminology and migration trends in the region, sourcing and providing information in an individual and group setting (Training of Trainers for pre-departure orientation), application of international migration law in counselling cases, with particular focus on human trafficking and people smuggling, and basic employability skills, such as CV writing and interview techniques)
2. Opening of 22 new Migrant Service Centres in the region, bringing the total number to 62
3. Revision of 40 Destination Guides, and creation of Fact Sheets on Recognition of Qualifications, Study Abroad, and Pre-Departure Orientation Seminar Curricula for main destination countries
4. Training manual and related training materials for the enhancement of CV/Interviewing skills for labour migrants
5. Set of glossaries of three professional sectors (welding, production/manufacturing and construction) in three languages (English, Italian and German) aiming at enhancing the day-to-day communication of potential labour migrants
6. Database on labour market data and shortage occupations for the Western Balkans and a selected number of EU key migration destination countries (completed by the Vienna Institute of Economic Studies (wiiw) in partnership with IOM)
7. In the framework of the Temporary and Virtual Return (TVR) Component, 69 temporary return assignments and 11 virtual returns were carried out in education, private sector development, law, infrastructure and agriculture
8. International conference on "Fostering Partnerships for Return of Skills and Human Capital to the Western Balkans" took place in Budapest on October 19th – 20th 2011 
9. The roundtable on "Best practices in professional and socio-economic reintegration of skilled migrants" was held in Skopje, on June 7th 2012
10. In order to strengthen consular cooperation between consular authorities of the EU and administrations in the Western Balkans, Consular Exchange Meetings bringing together MSC staff, national governmental stakeholders and consular officials from EU Member States embassies and consulates took place in all project locations
11. Six labour migration training courses for consular staff were delivered
12. The regional seminar on "Skills Transfer Programmes and their Contribution to Development" was held on 13-14 November 2012 in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina