Community Stabilisation | EU-IOM Joint Initiative

The EU-IOM Joint Initiative supports community stabilisation initiatives designed to address migration drivers and promote local capacity in order to mitigate or prevent the recurrence of displacement and irregular migration.

These include individual micro-entrepreneurship initiatives, improving the provision of and access to basic services through the rehabilitation of infrastructure and provision of equipment, and attempting to strengthen social cohesion. Throughout these activities, IOM provides training to build the capacity of local actors in order to enhance the sustainability of its actions.

Accordingly, community stabilisation aims to support governments and civil societies in reducing factors that lead to irregular and forced migration, integrating the needs of host communities and marginalized groups, and fostering an inclusive environment for all community members affected by violence, displacement and migration, including non-displaced communities, civil society organizations, youth, government officials, migrants and internally displaced persons.

How is the EU-IOM Joint Initiative supporting community stabilisation?

1. Supporting the implementation of initiatives aiming at community stabilization

The EU-IOM Joint Initiative supports local authorities to respond to the urgent needs of host communities and the impacts of migration dynamics, as well as to support community cohesion and cope with social tensions. IOM initiatives are community-driven and conducted in close coordination with local stakeholders and authorities. The EU-IOM Joint Initiative identifies initiatives included in the local communal and regional development plans for immediate or quick implementation in order to improve livelihood opportunities for local youth, promote regular activities in different economic sectors, and refurbish or rehabilitate small infrastructures. These initiatives lay the groundwork for long-term development initiatives.

The EU-IOM Joint Initiative is setting up community stabilisation activities to support communities in Niger and Libya.

In Libya, the program works to improve the provision of basic services for communities in the health, education, WASH, and agricultural sector, strengthen relationships between communities and authorities on one hand, and among communities on the other hand, and promote livelihood opportunities
In Niger, migration is often an important source of income for local communities but can also be the source of social tension and/ or put pressure on already limited resources. Some local actors perceive that recent development efforts in Niger are focused on migration rather than local development. The EU-IOM Joint Initiative assists local authorities to respond to the needs of host communities and the impacts of migration flows, as well as to support community cohesion and cope with social tensions.

2. Involving local stakeholders in community stabilisation efforts

Throughout, community stabilization programming engages a range of local stakeholders, including as implementing partners and as beneficiaries. The EU-IOM Joint Initiative notably cooperates with community or tribe leaders to ensure transparent, fair, accountable and high-quality activity implementation, oversight, and local ownership.

The EU-IOM Joint Initiative in Libya works in close cooperation with Community Management Committees, comprising of community leaders representing a cross section of tribal groups. These committees support IOM’s community stabilization efforts, advise on concerns and provide recommendations for project priorities. Priorities are jointly identified with authorities, migrants, and communities. Local stakeholders are involved in service provision.

EU-IOM Joint Initiative Brochure

Community stabilisation activities1.52 MB