Bangkok - Reintegration is a complex, multidimensional phenomenon that requires a holistic and coordinated approach to be addressed sustainably. Underlying this complexity of the reintegration process, IOM rolled out a regional training programme for IOM partners, especially protection officers from government and non-governmental institutions who are mandated to design and implement reintegration programmes in their country. The overriding objective of the training was to enhance the awareness and understanding of IOM partners on sustainable reintegration with a particular focus on integrated approaches to reintegration. 

On 7-9 February 2022, 42 officers from Cambodia, Indonesia and Thailand participated in the regional training. The training covered key topics on reintegration including the return concept, importance of conducting vulnerability and risk assessments, service mapping and labour market assessment with the returnees and/or victims of trafficking prior to designing a reintegration plan. During the training, IOM also introduced the concept of an integrated approach to reintegration with a detailed step-by-step process for designing reintegration, particularly to address the psychosocial, social, and economic dimensions of reintegration at the individual, community, and structural level.  

IOM believes reintegration is considered sustainable only when returnees have reached the level of economic self-sufficiency, social stability within their communities, and psychosocial well-being that allow them to cope with (re)migration drivers. Having achieved sustainable reintegration, returnees are able to make further migration decisions as a matter of choice, rather than necessity.  

The three-day training was conducted in a hybrid mode and included interactive group discussion, group work, role-play, and quizzes to ensure active participation from all actors involved in the training. The training curriculum was developed based on IOM Reintegration Handbook and the IOM Handbook on Protection and Assistance to Migrants Vulnerable to Violence, Exploitation and Abuse. 

The training was conducted with the support of the European Union (EU) as part of the Ship to Shore Rights South-East Asia (SEA) project, a multi-country and multi-annual initiative of the EU and United Nationals (UN), implemented by the International Labour Organization (ILO), in collaboration with International Organization for Migration (IOM) and United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). The Ship to Shore Rights SEA project aims to promote regular and safe labour migration and decent work for all migrant workers in the fishing and seafood processing sectors in South-East Asia.  

For more information, please contact IOM Thailand Media and Communications team at mediathailand@iom.int or Among Resi at aresi@iom.int.