2.44 - Participatory Local Plans for the Integration of Migrants: Learning from best practices and building bridges between U.S. and Portugal

Project Description

The main goal of this project is to help producing national guidelines for the development of Participatory Local Plans for the Integration of Migrants, by learning from American best practices and by building bridges between U.S. and Portugal.

Namely, it aims to learn and exchange ideas on good practices in local planning for migrants, from on two different U.S. experiences:

  • “The Collaborative Migration Management Strategy” (the first American government strategy focused on strengthening cooperatives efforts to manage safe, orderly, and humane migration in North and Central America, approved by the Biden-Harris Administration in 2021);
  • “Gateways for Growth Challenge” project (which has been running since 2016, as a competitive opportunity for local governments to receive research support and technical assistance from the “American Immigration Council” and “Welcoming America” to improve immigrant inclusion in their communities).

The project, will have therefore the following goals:

  • Learn from the American experience on participatory planning for migrants;
  • Incorporate migrant voices in the development of local plans for migrants;
  • Build bridges between U.S. and Portugal by exchanging knowledge and best practices between both countries national, local and non-government organizations.

And the following main project activities:

  • Preliminary diagnosis workshop (January-February 2023)
  • Public hearing period (March-April 2023)
  • Professional exchange program (March 2023)
  • Co-creation workshop (May 2023)
  • Academic and professional seminar (May 2023)
  • Presentation of new national guidelines for the development of participatory local plans for the integration of migrants (June 2023)

   Website 

Research team
  • Miguel Silva Graça (principal investigator)

Partners

  • CITTA
  • High Commission for Migration (ACM)
  • U.S. Department of State (DoS)
  • "Gateways for Growth Challenge" (American Immigration Council / Welcoming America)
Financial Support
  • "Small Grants Program" (US Embassy Lisbon)
Time Frame
  • January 1st, 2023 - June 30th, 2023