The Second National Integration Plan for Costa Rica 2018 - 2022, emerges as a propositive response to guide the country's actions over the next few years in terms of integration of the migrant and refugee population. The initiative is based on the framework of the initiative MIgration EU eXpertise (MIEUX) funded by the European Union and implemented by the International Center for Migration Policy Development (ICMPD).
The Greater Amman Municipality, the French Agency for Development, the French Red Cross and the Jordanian Red Crescent launched a joint strategy to strengthen the resilience of vulnerable populations, improving living conditions, expanding social communication between refugees and the local community, and establishing community-based activities and opportunities for capacity building in the Badr Nazzal district.
From the late 1990s until today, the municipality of Barcelona has followed an intercultural strategy to implement inclusive measures for local migrant integration. These measures were reinforced to welcome asylum seekers as the population tripled between 2015 and 2017, through a range of measures, including:
In Tangier, Morocco, the municipality is working closely with civil society initiatives to promote social cohesion and access to services for migrants given the lack of deconcentrated services of the ministry in charge of migration.
In Amman, the International Rescue Committee (IRC) manages the activities of the Hashmy Janoubi community centre, which serves the local community living on the outskirts of the city through projects addressed to migrants and local inhabitants alike.
The City of Chicago (USA) has developed public-private partnerships to create a local protection fund whereby civil society organisations can work with immigration lawyers so that all migrants know exactly which services they can and cannot access depending on their status.
The City of Lisbon’s One Stop Shop that brings together under one roof and streamlines services to immigrants and ensures open access to everyone (regardless of status) has been an inspiration for other cities.
São Paulo developed a Referral and Assistance Centre for Immigrants, a specialized public service that provides, among other services, guidance on the regularization of documental status, legal counseling, social assistance, as well as referral to Portuguese classes in public schools, job intermediation services, and short-term shelter.
The ILO has supported the establishment of Migrant Worker Resource Centres (MRCs) in multiple countries. The MRCs are run by government, trade unions and civil society organizations, and provide information and support services (including legal support and dispute resolution). The ILO has also developed an operations manual for the establishment and operation of MRCs.
At the city level, Amsterdam has adopted a program called “Everyone’s Police”, which encourages the reporting of crimes in the interest of more effective policing and community engagement. To reach undocumented residents, the police organizes monthly information sessions. A safe reporting policy based on the Amsterdam model has been rolled out nationwide to encourage people who are undocumented to approach the authorities to report crimes and to promote trust.