The institutional capacity to manage migration in Poland is still weak. According to the Polish Office for Foreigners, there are insufficient skills of officials and stakeholders dealing with migration issues not only at national, but also at regional and local level. Also, there is a lack of existing integration measures which would promote a cohesive, inclusive and tolerant society in Poland. Because of its young history of immigration, the Polish population does not have a sufficient understanding of migration issues, of the problems faced by migrants, but also of the positive contributions of migrants to Poland.

The project aims to strengthen migration management in Poland through competence building and supporting migrants' integration. It will seek to promote intercultural dialogue, increase understanding of migration issues and boost intercultural skills of different stakeholders influencing the integration process. The project will provide comprehensive, operational solutions to migration challenges faced by Poland and respond to a need to develop accurate measures of migrants' integration and migration management in Poland. It proposes a twofold approach: it will target the host society and host country institutions, and migrants alike.

• public migration authorities
• integration and migration NGOs
• migrants, part. women
• journalists
• public and schools

The project will offer training modules on migration management to selected Polish professionals, based on existing IOM training module and training materials, as well as on Swiss and Polish experiences in diversity management and cultural orientation training methods for migrants. It will also enhance the National Platform of Integration by supporting its structure, organizing events and exchanges namely with the Federal Commission on Migration. In addition, a targeted PR campaign aiming at making migration related issues understandable for the broad public will be launched, in order to improve the communication on migration matters by the Polish press and media. According to studies conducted by both, the OFF and IOM, it has been realized that the way migrations related issues are reported do harm the migrant’s community and integration in Poland.

Résultats obtenus:  

• 73 institutions (including 26 NGOs) increased their knowledge and competences in migration management
• Social awareness on intercultural matters has been raised through a nation-wide information campaign
• 63 trainings with 947 participants aiming at increasing knowledge on migration and diversity management were organized
• 47 events with 1’415 participants organized within the National Platform of Coooperation
• 368 migrants participated in cultural orientation trainings
• 4 national conferences took place within the National Platform of Cooperation
• 1 study visit to Switzerland organized

Phase 1 01.07.2012 - 31.12.2016   (Completed)