The Second Year of COMPASS

During its second year of implementation, COMPASS continued to contribute to ensuring that migrants from all gender and diversity groups have access to protection-sensitive pathways and are empowered to contribute to sustainable development outcomes in their communities.

The program has made significant progress in finalizing key operational tools, such as the Toolkit for Monitoring the Reintegration of Trafficking Survivors, Participation in Practice: Community-Based Planning Manual, as well as the IOM Case Management Guidelines and Training Package.

IOM's capacity-building efforts have enabled governments and stakeholders to enhance their knowledge on how to better prevent, detect, investigate, and prosecute trafficking in persons and the smuggling of migrants. Additionally, they have gained insights on effective identification, referral, protection, and assistance of migrants in vulnerable situations and returnees.

Better, Together

In 2022, the extensive network of local partners continued to expand, ranging from sports clubs in Libya to beekeepers in Ethiopia and a fashion hub in Nigeria. Programme wide, 181 community members were trained to become proactive ambassadors for safe migration, emerging as catalysts for change within their communities.

Acknowledging the vital role communities play in protecting vulnerable migrants, promoting dignified and sustainable reintegration, and preventing irregular migration, IOM persistently endeavored to enhance the capabilities of its staff and partners through tailored training for implementing community-based planning.

Lastly, effective coordination is crucial. That is why IOM closely collaborates with government entities, UN agencies, and NGO partners, fostering collective efforts to advance safe migration.

Here are a few examples:

Chad

• To effectively collect migration data across the territory, IOM Chad partners up with a multitude of partners including ACHDR, Oxfam and WFP, and the Institut National de la Statistique, des Etudes Economiques et Démographiques (INSEED)

Egypt

• Threads of Hope to expand its services and support from Egyptians and refugees to all migrants, providing employment opportunities and empowering women.
• The partnership with the national Scouts movement, training 45 Scouts leaders who became change makers through the ‘Choose Youth Path’ campaign

Ethiopia

• Community conversation facilitators and peer educators are driving change at the heart of communities, promoting safe migration pathways and local alternatives. IOM trained an additional 122 individuals to take up that role in 2022.
• A partnership with local NGO Bethany Christian Services Global leading to the creation of seven beekeeping cooperatives, creating local opportunities for returnees and communities.
• Four more community-based reintegration initiatives were made possible through local partners: Support to Bright Star Relief and Development Association, Mary Joy Development Association, The Ethiopian Evangelical Church Mekane Yesus and Positive Action for Development (PAD)

Iraq

• IOM has made great progress in supporting the Government of Iraq in its efforts in setting up a conducive policy and legal framework, ensuring and orderly, safe, and dignified return, re-admission and reintegration of Iraqis returning from abroad.

Libya

• A partnership through a technical working group with the Ministry of Health, the International Medical Corps and migrant community leaders and embassy representatives allows to promote mental health and psychosocial support service more effectively
• A team of 14 COMPASS ambassadors representing the same number of nationalities present in Tripoli, reached out over 7000 migrants in 2022
• The Belkhair sports club in Tripoli is a space where migrants and locals meet to work out, supported by IOM through COMPASS to continue to support social cohesion between migrant and host communities.

Morocco

• Synergies with projects funded by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark and the Population, Refugees and Migrants office of the US State Department allowed IOM to train an increased number of stakeholders on migrant protection in a larger geographical area, through a coordinated approach. 

Nigeria

• Okada moto taxi riders in Edo State became ambassadors of the “Korrect Waka” campaign promoting safe migration pathways among young people, an idea of the campaign design committee of the Owa Alero community.
• In Delta State, the Girls Power Initiative created a fashion hub after training returnees and communities on fashion design and marketing

Tunisia

• Local associations such as Amal and Caritas are key in providing direct assistance to migrants in need of shelter and other forms of support
• Strong ties and coordination with UNHCR and international NGOs Tunisie Terre d’Asile and Médecins du Monde allow IOM to better support and refer migrants

Services adapted to needs

COMPASS is designed to cater to the actual needs of migrants, their families, and communities. As a result, its activities extend beyond direct assistance, addressing critical aspects such as mental health and psychosocial support.

That's why IOM provided training on Psychological First Aid to the staff at the Filipino embassy in Lebanon, enabling them to offer better support to migrants residing in their shelter. In Libya, IOM conducted eight training sessions throughout the year for a diverse group of civil society and government partners. In Egypt, IOM organized mental health and parenting sessions for trafficking survivors and trained 54 members of the national council on trafficking to provide mental health and psychosocial support. Lastly, in Nigeria, IOM collaborated with 42 local mental health professionals to establish a referral and coordination chart.

Road to Equality

Protection-sensitive pathways must be accessible to everyone, irrespective of gender or other diversity factors. In 2022, COMPASS launched the online advocacy campaign "Road to Equality," reaching over 400,000 people through digital platforms.

Click the link in the resource section below to delve deeper into the campaign.