Since 2015, almost 1 million young migrant and refugee women have entered the European Union.

Since 2015, almost 1 million young migrant and refugee women have entered the European Union.

Why

Since 2015, more than 1.5 million Third-Country Nationals aged 18-35 have entered the European Union and have made the region their permanent home - about 46% of this group is women (OECD, 2018). The challenges for integration faced by them are numerous and multi-dimensional:

  • stereotypes linked to being both a refugee or a migrant and female;

  • language barriers;

  • lack of knowledge regarding access to available services;

  • limited public mechanisms focused on supporting their needs,

  • limited comprehension related to how valuable vocational training can be to their process. 

Although several integration policies have been tried by European Union (EU) member states, very few focus on covering the full social and economic integration of their new residents. Integrating this population in an effective way is key to making our societies more inclusive, solidary and fair. 

Considering the importance of education and participation in the labour market for a successful integration of migrant and refugee women in the EU, MOMENTUM was born to reduce barriers and facilitate access to tailored training opportunities and skills assessments, with a localised focus.

 

Values

The program and all its activities are established and executed under the following values:

  • Cooperation

    Momentum’s central pillar, which affirms the importance of all those involved in the program coming together, exchanging, learning from each other and collaborating to achieve a common vision.

  • Solidarity

    This fundamental value stands for sharing both the advantages - prosperity, for instance - and the challenges - of integration, for example - equally and justly among all of us. It's the ingredient that strengthens our ties and makes our community so collaborative.

  • Equality

    Also a core value of the European Union, it expresses MOMENTUM's concern for human dignity, diversity and support for equal participation by all in economic, social and cultural spheres.

  • Integration

    Momentum believes that the process by which migrants and refugees become accepted into society, both as individuals and as groups, touches every aspect of the migrant experience - from education, housing, political participation, civic engagement, to work (on which the program is focused).

Vision

MOMENTUM envisions a European labour market:

• Where political, educational and social players work together to guarantee equal opportunities for all;

• Where migrant and refugee women are supported to reshape their lives in a new country, accessing capacity-building and job market opportunities tailored to their needs;

• That is more inclusive, fair, cooperative and accessible.

Key Objectives

Momentum is committed to accomplishing the following objectives:

1. To map and address obstacles and barriers on vocational training and employment support provision to young Third-Country National women, with a focus on refugees.

2. To remove structural obstacles faced by young Third-Countries National women in accessing targeted vocational training and employment support through a multi-stakeholder collaboration framework tested in social economy.

3. To provide integrated services of local language, vocational training and employment support to TCN women through a targeted and gender-sensitive approach.

Who can take part in Momentum

  • Individual migrant and refugee women (18-35 y.o.) who have been residing in partner countries for at least two years and a maximum of six years, and that hold a working permit.

  • Grassroot migrant and refugee organisations and associations.

  • Public employment services providers and authorities, especially those with a focus in labour and training.

  • Social enterprises, Civil Society Organisations and vocational training providers

  • Policy makers at national, regional and European Union level, who focus on the design and monitoring of integration policy initiatives

Activities

Based on a co-designed multi-stakeholder collaboration framework, the program is “breaking the working silos” in services provision and promoting a whole-of-government approach to skills development and integration, responding to TCN women's multiple vulnerabilities.

It offers integrated services, combining advanced local language courses, targeted vocational training based on women’s skills needs and local labour market needs, and employment support, engaging employers and raising their awareness about cultural barriers.

The project is going to test and assess the developed framework through a 7-month pilot programme in social economy, an emerging sector with enhanced integration potential for refugee and migrant women, according to the roadmap below.

Jan 2022 – Jul 2022

Phase 1:
Mapping of obstacles faced by young migrant women

Key Activties:
- In depth interviews
- Focus Groups
- Survey

Jul 2022 – Jan 2023

Phase 2:
Designing and piloting an integrated collaboration framework

Key Activities:
- Participatory Labs
-Online European Exchange workshop

Feb 2023 – Dec 2023

Phase 3:
Delivering vocational training and employment support

Key Activities:
- Policy Meeting (Brussels)
- Creation of Local Ecosystems
- Identification of Participants
- Community Activities
- Information Sessions
- Programme Delivery
- Impact Report

 

Momentum is dedicated to generating positive impact by providing vocational training and employment support to migrant and refugee women living in the EU, as well as to fostering collaboration among relevant stakeholders.