Integration in Local Communities: Institutional Engagement, Rural Inclusion and Refugee-led Action Research

2026-07-22

In line with the Urban Agenda Partnership on Inclusion of Migrants and Refugees (2012-2022), IN LOCO is based on the need to create networks of key stakeholders to ensure that policies have their roots in data, needs, risks, and opportunities systematically observed ‘on the ground’. The main aim of IN LOCO is to create a model for multi-stakeholder engagement through the establishment of Local and Rural Task Forces. These task forces are composed of members from public institutions, NGOs, Civil Society Organisations, academic institutions, migrant associations, diaspora communities and other stakeholders that influence integration efforts at the local level. Their capacities are combined to co-design and implement Local and Rural Action Plans that: - ensure synergy between all initiatives aimed at migrant reception and inclusion; - improve the quality of existing services and interventions; - deploy new resources and initiatives to respond to problems and weaknesses not yet adequately addressed; - explore initiatives for the settlement of migrant persons and families in rural areas; - ensure sustainability of piloted projects beyond the scope of the project. The work of the Local/Rural Task Forces will involve a highly participatory approach and will follow a methodology of continuous feed-back between action-evaluation-reflection-action. Underpinning the work of the Local/Rural Task Forces will be field research, conducted by a team of researchers composed of 40 trained refugees, who will conduct at least 200 interviews with asylum seekers and refugees both in the project implementation territories and in other European territories. These insights will guide the development of the aforementioned action plans to ensure they are needs-based, and form a foundation for the establishment of a refugee-led association called New Europeans Welcome (NEW) that will be a driver of advocacy and lobbying efforts towards EU policy-makers. Second Tree will use its network of working groups, digital channels (including LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram) and international collaborators to routinely disseminate projects updates, outputs and events. A website for the project will also be developed.

Greece

2025-10-15