• EPIM Mission Statement
• EPIM Strands of Activity
• The European Context
• About EPIM first phase (2005-2007): facts and figures
• Capacity building
• Policy work
• Strategic Learning and Evaluation

EPIM MISSION STATEMENT

EPIM seeks to improve the lives of regular and undocumented migrants through a three year grants programme. Funded organisations and projects strive to impact on constructive migration and integration policies nationally and locally, and inform policy at the European level.

EPIM's main objectives are based on two building blocks:

• To open up debate and encourage broader commitment to the development of constructive integration policies at the EU level and to promote effective linkages between these policies and those of Member States at both the national, regional and local levels; and

• To engage the widest possible range of stakeholders in society in this process with a view also to embedding constructive integration policies and practices in other social and economic programmes

EPIM STRANDS OF ACTIVITY

As was the case in its first phase, EPIM will continue to refer to the Common Basic Principles on Integration (CBPs) as benchmarks guiding its grant making programme. Overall EPIM follows a Human Rights based approach to migrants' integration.

1- Strategic grant making in 3 priority areas:

• Access to fundamental rights, services and justice for undocumented migrants because they represent one of the most vulnerable groups of migrants.
• Mainstreaming of migrants' voices to involve them in developing and implementing policy as active participants in the governance process and/or public life and/or public realm.
• Strategic use of the media and communications to encourage integration. This area is twofold: work on the representation of the migrants in the media and participation of the migrants in the media (e.g. content produced by migrants). The overarching aim is to recognize the role of media in our societies with regard to portraying diversity issues, to fight discrimination in order to foster an environment in the host societies that facilitates integration.

2- Networking and capacity building of civil society organisations working in the migration and integration field

3- Support advocacy and policy work of the grantees to influence public policy at the European level and in Member States so that the integration of migrants is better placed on the political agenda across Europe and a broader approach to migration and integration issues is upheld

THE EUROPEAN CONTEXT

Identified as a major policy challenge for EU Member States, integration of migrants is one of the growing areas of interest for the EU. In spite of the increasing focus by governments on the importance of economic migration, linked directly to labour shortages and demographic trends in Europe, there is increasing evidence of xenophobia and racism in our societies. The European context is marked by a serious backlash in attitudes against immigration and a tendency by politicians to foster the ‘fortress Europe' by multiplying legal obstacles for migration.

Europe, with its diverse and declining population, is undergoing fundamental changes as it positions itself in a globalised world. Keeping European societies open and inclusive is a formidable challenge requiring creative responses from engaged citizens. Given reigning feelings of uncertainty in our societies, it is essential to combat these attitudes which act as hindrance to effective integration and invest in creating a positive discourse of integration and the opportunities represented by migrants for the future of Europe.

Against this background, EPIM sees its role as complementary to existing European Funds by focusing on a broad range of integration-related issues and by adopting a broad definition of ‘migrants', including legally residing and undocumented migrants, asylum seekers and refugees.

Thousands of NGOs are also putting all their resources on the line to make immigrant integration work on a daily basis. These organisations are very close to the reality of immigrants and the host society, and are doing crucial work in preventing and easing tensions, signalling new problems and tendencies, and giving input for possible policy responses. Immigrant integration primarily takes place at the local level. All countries in Europe are however facing more or less similar challenges, and therefore EPIM strongly believes in the benefit of European policies and European cooperation. Funding has been made available for organisations working at the European level, but equally for national NGOs who want to engage in cooperation beyond their borders.

ABOUT EPIM FIRST PHASE (2005-2007): facts and figures

As part of the first phase, 5 consultations were held in different European countries during 2006 and early 2007. The first EPIM consultations were held in Portugal and Belgium and other consultations took place in the UK, Ireland, and in Germany for a joint Franco-German consultation. In parallel the grants scheme was launched in March 2006. An independent Jury of experts reviewed the applications and selected six European-level and five national level grantees. A grantees' workshop was organised in December 2006, followed by a concluding roundtable with policy makers on June 12th 2007 on the theme « towards a Common European Framework for Migration and Integration Policies: perspectives from European institutions and civil society organisations ».
EPIM synthesized the recommendations of the grantees into a final report (EPIM I Synthesis Report of the First Phase 2005 -2007). Building on this report, and on the findings of a mapping exercise on the funding needs of European Civil Society Organisations in the field of immigrants' integration, EPIM identified the areas of intervention for its second phase.

CAPACITY BUILDING

It is very important to EPIM that the organisations it supports have the appropriate skills to produce the best outcome for their projects. As part of the grants scheme, a capacity-building programme for EPIM grantees has been initiated according to grantees' needs. By dedicating a variable portion of the grant to support the core costs of each organisation, EPIM is committing to build grantees' organisational capacity.

A set of collective thematic workshops will be spread along the programme timeframe. The workshops represent an opportunity for grantees to exchange on issues and develop joint strategies.

In addition, EPIM has already set in place for all grantees:

• A regular Policy Update on the Integration and Migration fields at the EU level and EU agenda prepared by, EPC (European Policy Centre) a Brussels based think tank.

• A joint Newsletter on Integration/Migration Policy issues between EPIM and the Diversity Migration and Integration Interest Group (DMIIG) of the European Foundations Centre (EFC).

• Development of the EPIM system wide learning process through the set up of EPIM repository and knowledge sharing tools such as the website and the extranet.

POLICY WORK

EPIM policy work consists of supporting the grantees in their advocacy work through grant giving, capacity building and networking facilitation. EPIM as a consortium of foundations aims at sustaining a group of NGOs active in the migration and integration field. Therefore, EPIM's added value lies on enhancing the advocacy efforts of the grantees which stem from their evidence based approach.

EPIM can:

• Echo the voice of European NGOs and established networks at the EU level on salient migration and integration issues
• Reinforce the messages coming from the civil society
• Build its policy legitimacy on lessons learnt through the grantees' practice
• Take advantage of the specialisation and of the networks of the grantees in their fields
• Facilitate the creation of synergies to strengthen their advocacy strategies at the national or European level

STRATEGIC LEARNING & EVALUATION

A specific evaluation plan has been designed for the EPIM programme. Evaluation combines internal and external methodology: an external team of experts is working in conjunction with the EPIM Programme Manager and the Evaluation Committee. Evaluation is both formative, focusing on a mutual real time strategic learning process, and summative. It is conducted at three levels: the grantees level, the partnership one, and the overall impact of the programme.

Each project will be self-evaluated and it will submit regular progress reports. The evaluation criteria focus on measuring the impact of the specific project but it should also show links to the broader objectives of EPIM by demonstrating specific contributions made to the wider framework. After one year of implementation of the second phase of EPIM, the first fact sheet has been produced on lessons learned and the challenges ahead.