2002-2003
The aim of this project was to further refugee participation in the development and implementation of common European asylum policies focused on reception, integration and return, through a programme of capacity building measures involving individual refugees and members of refugee community organisations (RCOs). These measures included the development and delivery of appropriate training for RCOs by ECRE member agencies, and the organisation of a pan-European conference for RCOs and ECRE member agencies. Through this two-way process, whereby refugee-assisting NGOs shared their experiences of working across Europe with RCOs, and refugees provided a "reality-check" on the advocacy work of NGOs, the ability of refugees and RCOs to follow and influence the European asylum debate more closely was increased, and their involvement in ECRE's work strengthened. In the long-term, the process initiated by this project will lead to refugees and RCOs playing a more active role in the European asylum debate both at a political and practical level, and that more national refugee led organisations join ECRE as members, reinforcing ECRE's role as voice of the refugee sector in Europe. The project achieved the following results: - Refugees and RCOs will have a better understanding of the EU's role in developing asylum and immigration policy, and how these developments affect work at the local and national level
- Refugees and RCOs will have increased their capacity to access European funding through a greater awareness of what is available and how to form transnational partnerships
- Refugee and RCOs will have gained insights into how to structure and network in a pan-European setting
- Refugees and RCOs will be more involved in the shaping of ECRE policy and advocacy strategy
- Partnerships between ECRE member agencies and RCOs at a national level will be strengthened, and as a result the service provided to refugees
Partner Agencies:
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