Background

The project is focused on addressing key institutional barriers for reintegration of vulnerable returnees, and drivers of social and economic exclusion and outmigration in the Western Balkans, such as limited work opportunities, low-paid jobs, large informal sector and poor quality of social services.  

The project is part of the Instrument for Pre-accession Assistance (IPA) II Multi-Country Action, EU support to Fundamental Rights of Roma Community, and Reintegration of Returnees, entrusted to UNDP, World Bank, and the Council of Europe.  

In all Western Balkan economies, the project assesses policy and institutional gaps and facilitates a dialogue on mechanisms for implementation and monitoring of reintegration policies and programmes. In three target IPA beneficiaries (Albania, North Macedonia and Serbia), the project implements local level programmes and tests innovative solutions for sustainable socio-economic reintegration of returnees. 

Objectives

The overall objective is to contribute to the effective reintegration of vulnerable returnees from the EU with particular attention to Roma. The support to Roma returnees will also contribute to reducing the existing socio-economic gap between Roma and non-Roma women, men and children.  

The specific objective is to enhance capacities of Western Balkan authorities at central and local level to develop and implement effective policies and programmes for reintegration of returnees.