Funding programme

The Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund (AMIF) provides funding for actions in the field of asylum, legal migration and integration, return and countering irregular migration.

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Call overview

This call aims to help develop and implement local integration strategies as well as increasing the effectiveness of migrants’ inclusion at regional and local level.

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Background

Ensuring effective integration and inclusion of third-country nationals is a necessary social and economic investment in the EU. It makes European societies more cohesive, resilient and prosperous. Integration and inclusion can and should be a win-win process, benefiting the entire society. In the Action plan on integration and inclusion 2021-20273 (the Action plan), the European Commission has set out strategic guidance and more than sixty concrete actions to promote integration and inclusion of third-country nationals and EU citizens with a migrant background. The Action plan covers all the different stages and phases of the integration process: pre-departure measures, reception and early integration, medium- and long-term integration, which, all together, help build inclusive and cohesive societies.

For the purpose of this call for proposals, “migrants” should be understood as third-country nationals, including beneficiaries of international and temporary protection and applicants for international protection.

Read more in the call document.

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Themes and priorities

Integration happens in every village, city and region, where migrants live, work, go to school, and where they are members of clubs and associations. Although integration policies are often decided by the central government, the local level plays a key role. It starts from welcoming and guiding newcomers when they first arrive in their new country and continues in accompanying them through the various stages of integration. Consequently, the role of local and regional authorities in the integration process is crucial, especially those authorities that are in the frontline of hosting and welcoming refugees and displaced persons.

In line with the Action Plan on Integration and Inclusion, the support provided under this priority will include local and migrant communities in the design and implementation of integration policies at the local level, facilitating integration of migrants in host communities thanks to volunteering projects, mentoring and other type pairing system like so called “buddy schemes”.

Read more in the call document, page 12.

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Objectives

The objective of the topic is to help develop and implement local integration strategies as well as increasing the effectiveness of migrants’ inclusion at regional and local level

Proposals that include the design of concrete good practices and their dissemination through transnational cooperation between relevant stakeholders in the development and implementation of local integration strategies will be considered particularly relevant.

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Activities that can be funded

Proposals should include one or more of the following activities (non-exhaustive list):

• design and implementation of local integration strategies with concrete objectives (e.g. speeding up access to services, help with finding employment etc.);
• trainings, including language learning and vocational training, workshops and mutual learning activities on good practice on specific integration topics;
• volunteering, “buddying” and mentoring activities with concrete objectives (e.g. help with education/studies, language learning, finding employment or launching self-employment activities etc.);
• training of cultural mediators or interpreters who will accompany migrants through the integration process;
• creation of know-how and best practices on integration with concrete objectives that will be upscaled and disseminated through specific activities (to be elaborated in the proposals);
• creation of rural partnerships that will work on concrete outcomes (to be defined in the proposals) to ensure inclusion and integration of migrants in rural areas.

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Expected impact

Proposals should focus on contributing to the achievement of one or several of the following outcomes:

• faster inclusion of migrants, making it more effective and with less administrative burden;
• improved engagement and participation of migrants involved in the project at the local level;
• scalable/replicable good practices and a methodology for the development and implementation of local integration initiatives and strategies that can inspire other local actors across the EU, where possible also taking into account migrants with specific needs;
• improved cross-border cooperation between authorities and other stakeholders involved in issuing scalable/replicable good practices and a methodology for the development and implementation of local integration strategies;
• improved cooperation between national and local authorities;
• enhanced visibility of the views and opinions

Read more in the call document.

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Eligibility

In order to be eligible, the applicants (beneficiaries and affiliated entities) must:

• be legal entities (public or private bodies)
• be established in one of the eligible countries, i.e.: EU Member States (including overseas countries and territories (OCTs)), excluding Denmark, countries associated to the AMIF or countries which are in ongoing negotiations for an association agreement and where the agreement enters into force before grant signature

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Consortium composition

Proposals must be submitted by:

• minimum five applicants (beneficiaries; not affiliated entities) from five different participating Member States.
• the following entities can NOT apply as coordinator: profit making entities & International Organisations

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Project duration

Maximum 30 or 36 months.

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Budget

The available budget for this topic is EUR 8 000 000.