SAFE: foSter cooperAtion For improving access to protEction

The project is implemented by Forum réfugiés in France and Italy. It began in 2021 and ended in 2023. The three-year project was co-funded by the European Commission, implemented and coordinated by Forum réfugiés, a French non-profit, and in partnership with six partners: Federation of Protestant Mutual Aid, French Red Cross, Federation of Protestant Churches in Italy, Italian Red Cross, Mediterranean Universities Union and Oxfam Italy. It aims to facilitate the exchange of experiences, expertise and practices among organizations involved in the implementation of private sponsorship schemes and resettlement programs, and to strengthen a European dynamic.

Its goal is to improve access to protection through private sponsorship schemes and complementary pathways, such as humanitarian corridors, family reunification and student mobility, for beneficiaries of international protection.

Main activities of the Good Practice

The project identified the capacity building needs expressed by partners thanks to the organization of workshops. European and international sponsor organizations have been invited to participate to these workshops. 

Based on these needs, exchanges of practices meetings, webinars and look and learn visits were organized amongst partners and other actors such as organizations involved in resettlement programs or willing to be involved in private sponsorship schemes. 

An online platform was created. It provides an open and trusted learning environment where technical, operational and conceptual issues can be discussed and addressed. The platform also addresses the needs of reliable data on complementary pathways by collecting and highlighting research, specific data on complementary pathways and methodologies implemented on a global scale. The platform also contains a map with the different actors in Europe. This map can be regularly amended. Moreover, capacity building sessions and trainings were organized on family reunification in France. Furthermore, in Italy, a community sponsorship program (to be implemented) was elaborated. In addition, national toolboxes were created, and three position/advocacy paper disseminated (on administrative statuses, the role of volunteers and funding). 

Elements which helped facilitate the implementation of the good practice

Good cooperation among partners, online webinars and look and learn visits. 

Partners involved

• Federation of Protestant Mutual Aid (FEP)
• French Red Cross (CRF)
• Inter-Cultural Association of Greater Victoria (ICA)
• Italian Federation of Protestant Churches (FCEI)
• Italian Red Cross (CRI)
• Mediterranean Universities Union (UNIMED)
• Oxfam Italy

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

Challenges

The COVID-19 pandemic.

How they were overcome

Good cooperation between partners and online meetings. 

Results of the Good Practice

Practical results in the lives of refugees will follow. For now, the results we see are for professionals. 

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

Objective 1: Ease the pressures on host countries

Complementary pathways in Europe for beneficiaries of international protection in third countries eases the pressures on the first host countries. 

Objective 3: Expand access to third-country solutions

Collaboration on complementary pathways helps to expand access to third-country solutions. 

Next steps

Synergies migrations, another French non-profit, will continue to conduct the meetings that were organised in France with French civil society organisations working on complementary pathways. 

Are there areas in which support would be required to continue and/or scale up your good practice?

Funding.