Abidjan – “Thanks to this fair, I realized that I was not abandoned. I have chosen three reintegration projects that will facilitate my reintegration into society. I will do my best to have a better future in Côte d’Ivoire, instead of risking my life in the Mediterranean or in the desert. If ever I have to go to Europe, I will use the legal channels, and I will go to visit and return to my country,” said Moussa, one of the 350 young returned migrants who visited the job and training fair organized for returned migrants in Côte d’Ivoire.

This event which was organized last week by the UN Migration Agency (IOM) in Abidjan, targeted Ivorians who returned home between 2017 and 2019 under IOM Assisted Voluntary Return (AVR) programme as part of the EU-IOM Joint Initiative for Migrant Protection and Reintegration, but who have not yet received reintegration assistance. 

During the three-day job fair, 22 IOM partners presented participants with a wide range of accessible job opportunities in several cities in Côte d’Ivoire (Abidjan, Bouaké, Daloa, Man, Gagnoa, San-Pédro, Korhogo) covering various fields including construction, poultry and transport.

Former beneficiaries of the assistance shared their experience and advice. IOM also assisted visitors in designing a sustainable professional project tailored to their profile and aspirations.

“We are happy to participate in this fair which gives these returned migrants a second chance for reintegration in their country of origin. It was an opportunity for us to showcase all our activities so that they can define their own future,” said Hyppolite Kakou, from the National Agency for Vocational Training (AGEFOP), an IOM partner.

At the end of the job fair, all participants were able to submit their projects and register on lists with IOM’s partners. They were also able to participate in side activities such as debates on different themes (reintegration challenges, return opportunities, female entrepreneurship, etc.) and therapeutic art workshops (theatre, slam, art therapy).

“The participants expressed themselves freely in a judgement-free space. They need intensive follow-up, and some need to be listened to. Since their arrival, they wanted to discuss, express themselves, share their experiences and their journey. In art therapy, we stimulate a lot creativity and speaking,” said Souhad, art therapist.

Since May 2017, this initiative has made it possible to ensure the voluntary return of more than 5,250 Ivorians from various countries including Libya, Niger and Morocco and to promote the socio-economic reintegration of more than 2,000 of them, through training and support for the creation of income-generating activities (IGAs). Based on the beneficiaries’ needs and skills, these activities can be individual, collective - provided to several returned migrants as a group - or community-based, i.e. involving returned migrants and members of the community. These reintegration programmes are implemented jointly by IOM Côte d’Ivoire and its various partners, State structures, civil society organizations and private sector actors.

This event was funded by the European Union under the EU-IOM Joint Initiative for Migrant Protection and Reintegration.

IOM’s efforts were supported by the Government of Côte d’Ivoire, represented at the job fair by several State structures, including the Directorate General for Ivorians Abroad, (DGIE), Child Protection Directorate (DPE), Youth Employment Agency (AEJ), National Agency for Vocational Training (AGEFOP), and National Agency for Support to Rural Development (ANADER).

For more information, please contact Lavinia Prati, IOM Côte d’Ivoire, Tel. +225 80 07 01 27, email: lprati@iom.int.