Veranstalter: EMN Österreich
17. März 2022, 09.30 – 17.00, hybrid
(Dieser Eintrag steht nur in englischer Sprache zur Verfügung)
AUSTRIAN NATIONAL CONFERENCE 2022
Innovative Solutions to Create Sustainable Perspectives for Displaced Populations
17 and 18 March 2022
By the end of 2020, 89.4 million people around the globe were living in displacement. In 2019 alone, this number had increased by 4.6 million. With only a small number of internationally displaced persons returning to their countries of origin and the global resettlement figures decreasing, the pressure on the world’s top host countries to provide sustainable perspectives is immense. Nonetheless, the protection of and assistance to displaced populations and the support of host countries and communities are the responsibility of the international community as a whole.
This year’s National EMN Conference on 17 March 2022 focused on the situation of displaced populations in first reception countries, the challenges of integration and the potential drivers to stay or migrate further. Renowned international experts provided insights into the living situation of displaced populations in first-reception countries and showcased existing and emerging innovative solutions to provide sustainable perspectives. Economic and security factors were identified as two of the main drivers for displacement and onward migration. With multiple crisis often leading to social tension between host and refugee communities, social cohesion was highlighted as one success factor for creating sustainable perspectives. The experts agreed that multi-stakeholder collaboration and the linking of humanitarian, development and peace efforts are needed if interventions are to be long-lasting. With regards to innovation, several examples were showcased such as investing in refugee-led businesses, using IT technologies, local resource-based interventions, matching refugee benefiting businesses with global businesses and investors, using ecological sustainable technologies, and building upon the capacities of the displaced population.
To find out more, please have a look at the conference program and presentations linked below.
NATIONAL EMN CONFERENCE: PART I
Migrants’ Realities in Host Countries
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IOM Situation Report on Afghanistan and the Syrian Arab Republic (download presentation)
The presentation provided information on recent statistics and forecasts on the migration of Afghan and Syrian nationals. It addressed facts as well as uncertainties about future movements within and across borders.
Vivianne Van Der Vorst, Senior Regional Project Manager, Regional Office for Asia & the Pacific, IOM
Modher Alhamadani, Senior Program Coordinator, Country Office for Turkey, IOM -
Meet Ahmad Sufian Bayram (download presentation)
Ahmad is a social entrepreneur who became an expert in supporting both entrepreneurship in the Middle East and Africa as well as refugee entrepreneurs in Europe. The presentation focused on the reality of Syrian entrepreneurs in host countries and the opportunities and challenges they face.
Ahmad Sufian Bayram, Regional Manager at Techstars & Author
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Displaced Populations’ Situations in Host Countries: The Case of Turkey (download presentation)
This presentation elaborated on recent (political) developments in Turkey and Turkey’s Temporary Protection Regime as well as on activities under the umbrella of the EU Facility for Refugees in Turkey. It highlighted the needs of displaced persons residing in Turkey, touched upon the role of IOM and other international organizations in addressing those needs and showcased different (innovative) projects in the field.
David Savard, Emergency Coordinator, Country Office for Turkey, IOM
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Drivers for Displaced Populations’ Decision-Making to Stay or to Leave (download presentation)
Various factors influence the decision-making process of migrants and refugees. The presentation examined how and why displaced populations residing in Turkey decide to stay or migrate further. Thereby touching upon subjective factors at the micro-level such as life satisfaction, visions of the future, and hope.
Ayşen Üstübici, Assistant Professor, Koç University
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Opening Statements at the Panel Discussion (download presentation)
Victor Jensen, Former Policy Advisor of the Austrian Federal Ministry of the Interior
Michele Amedeo, Deputy Head of the Migration Unit/Head of Centre of Thematic Expertise on Migration, DG NEAR, European Commission
NATIONAL EMN CONFERENCE: PART II
Creating Sustainable Perspectives for Displaced Populations: From Theory to Practice
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Keynote (download presentation)
Alexander Betts elaborated on the concept of sustainable perspectives for the local integration of displaced populations focusing on socio-economic outcomes. He presented aspects related to social cohesion between displaced populations and the host community. In this context, examples of innovative solutions in Africa were showcased.
Alexander Betts, Director, Refugee Economies Programme, University of Oxford
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The Humanitarian-Development-Peace Nexus (download presentation)
Few debates on international cooperation currently generate as much momentum as the discourse around the ‚Humanitarian-Development-Peace‘ Nexus (HDPN). The presentation introduced the concept of HDPN, its principles and challenges. It provided concrete examples of its implementation in the context of displacement, achievements, and lessons learned for future initiatives.
Annika Sandlund, Head of Partnership and Coordination Service Division of External Relations, UNHCR
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The Austrian Strategic Approach to Humanitarian Aid and Development Cooperation in the Context of Displacement
A central goal of the Austrian government is to support displaced populations in their regions of origin. The presentation showed how the Austrian strategic approach as a donor country has developed over the recent years. It explained the objective to tackle the so-called root causes of (secondary) migration.
Erika Bernhard, Deputy Head of the Department for Humanitarian Aid and Food Aid, Federal Austrian Ministry of European and International Affairs
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Germany’s Partnerships for Prospects Initiative (P4P) (download presentation)
P4P is the attempt by the German government to bridge the gap between short-term support measures and medium- and long-term prospects for displaced people in countries bordering the Syrian Arab Republic. The presentation gave insights into the initiative, the results of a recent evaluation, and presented one successful project example, focusing on the success factors and relevant partners.
Kathrin Löber, Senior Policy Advisor, German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development
Rita AbouJaoudeh, Decent Work and Gender Advisor, ILO Regional Office for Arab States
Patil Mardigian, Monitoring and Evaluation Officer, ILO Regional Office for Arab States -
Private Sector for Refugees (PS4R) Platform – Lessons for the Future (download presentation)
The presentation focused on the initiative the Private Sector for Refugees (PS4R) Platform and shared ideas on future international programs, with a focus on economic cooperation, free movement of people and entrepreneurship.
Benjamin Herzberg, Senior Private Sector Specialist, World Bank Group
NATIONAL EMN CONFERENCE: THE WORKSHOP
Success Factors to Create Sustainable Perspectives for Displaced Populations
Building upon the results of the National EMN Conference 2022, a selected group of key actors from EU-Member States and public institutions, international organizations, civil-society organizations, and academia were invited to further discuss success factors to create sustainable perspectives for displaced populations. Practitioners from the first reception countries of Lebanon, Pakistan, and Turkey shared their know-how on the “Do’s and Don’ts” when designing and implementing support initiatives. Among the key success factors identified during the workshop are women’s participation, private sector engagement, multi-stakeholder collaboration, services and activities fostering social cohesion, language training, free mobility withing the host country, free primary education and scholarships for higher education, creating livelihood opportunities, building job-related skills, access to global markets, entrepreneurship trainings and grants, making use of local resources, and the transfer of know-how to local authorities.
To find out more, please have a look at the workshop program and ppt presentations linked below.
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Breakout Session Lebanon (download presentation)
Rita Abou Jaoudeh, Decent Work and Gender Advisor, ILO Regional Office for Arab States
Patil Mardigian, Monitoring and Evaluation Officer, ILO Regional Office for Arab States -
Breakout Session Pakistan (download presentation)
Muhammad Amad, Executive Director, IDEA
Azmath Khan, Chief Executive Officer at Foundation for Rural Development (FRD) -
Breakout Session Turkey (download presentation)
Ibrahim Timurtas, Head of Sub-Office Hatay, IOM