JumaMap: Services for refugees

The project is implemented by Arci nazionale APS in Italy. It began in March 2018 and is currently ongoing.

JumaMap is a multi-language information website and a nationwide map of services for asylum seekers and refugees in Italy. The platform's contents are available in 19 languages.

JumaMap is a tool that facilitates persons forcibly displaced's orientation through Italian territory and access the services: reception, health care, Italian language schools, employment orientation, legal assistance, psycho-social support, canteens and food distribution, anti-violence centres, assistance to persons with disabilities. The map counts 2820 associations and 3941 services.

The main goal of the project is to contribute to improve the protection environment enabling  persons forcibly displaced's empowerment and self-reliance, as well as integration. This is reached through a community-based approach, which includes the engagement of  persons forcibly displaced, civil society actors as well as networks of Refugee-Led Organizations operating in public and private sectors.

Main activities of the Good Practice

• Implementation, updating and monitoring of the map of services and associations;
• Production of articles or useful documents on information of interest to people forcibly displaced, on the following topics: health, asylum and immigration procedures, family reunification, work, social aid, minors, gender-based violence);
• Promotion and networking: dissemination of the project through the realisation of initiatives in different territories and through the association's communication channels;
• Focus groups: organisation of focus groups with refugees for the assessment of project objectives;
• Territorial maps: follow-up of collaborations on territorial maps, digital and printed, with the different Arci committees;
• Participatory database management: promotion and training on tools to enable other organisations to independently upload, manage and organise data on the map, while maintaining the same shared database.

Elements which helped facilitate the implementation of the good practice

The continuity of funding made it possible to develop a solid database, with an increasing number of technical tools to enable other organisations to implement and benefit from the database, and to make the map more accessible to persons forcibly displaced.

The Arci network, which is widespread throughout the country through committees and clubs, further enables the map's data to be enriched and constantly updated.

In addition, the involvement of many partners with specific competences has made it possible to widen the network of mapped services useful for a number of beneficiaries with specific needs, such as the FISH Onlus (services addressed to people with disabilities) and the Di.Re network - Women in the Network against Violence, to fight gender-based violence and offer support).

The map also benefits from many services specifically aimed at the LGBTQ+ community. Through the Gris network we have expanded and updated both the network of health services provided and the promotion of information about prevention and wellbeing. We are also partner with Missing Children Europe for the access to specific services for minors. Of particular importance is our collaboration with other UNHCR Italy projects and partners, such as the PartecipAzione programme that promotes the associative protagonism of refugees.

Partners involved

• ActionAid
• Arci Avellino
• Arci Solidarietà Bologna
• Arci Como
• Arci Padova
• Arci Porco Rosso (Palermo)
• Arci Pistoia
• Arci Roma
• Arci Viterbo
• Dire - Donne in Rete contro la Violenza
• Fish - Federazione Italiana Superamento dell’Handicap
• GrIS Lazio
• Lunaria
• Medici del Mondo Italia
• SPI - Società Psicoanalitica Italiana
• Unicef, particularly through Here4U project

For the complete list of partnerships and collaborations, please visit the page: www.jumamap.it/it/il-progetto/collaborazioni/

What challenges were encountered in delivering the project and how were they overcome?

Challenges

1. Difficulties in making JumaMap a shared tool for associations;

2. Access to the platform and usage of the map;

3. Data obsolescence: in a short time the mapped services can change essential information (e.g. address, activities, etc.) and thus provide incorrect information.

How they were overcome

1. Organisation of initiatives, involvement of the Arci network, contacts with organisations with specific expertise;

2. Translation of the portal into an increasing number of languages, simplified navigation on the map and server upgrade to increase content loading speed;

3. Implementation of participative tools, to allow associations to manage data independently, and activation of the feedback tool for each service, to allow anyone to report errors or out-of-date information.

Results of the Good Practice

JumaMap portal has an average of 100,000 visits per year, and POCs have access to a multi-language map which counts 2820 services and 3941 associations.

In what way does the good practice meet one or more of the four objectives of the Global Compact on Refugees?

Objective 2: Enhance refugee self-reliance

The approach at its core is autonomous access, in the mother tongue, to useful information and services covering both basic needs and specialised services, as well as those aimed at specific categories of people. The individual, therefore, while being in a state of need, can decide for themselves which services to contact and how to acquire the information they needs.