The Project

Refugee women affected by recent military conflicts, primarily from Ukraine but also from other regions facing comparable displacement and socio-economic instability. These women face compounded barriers to employment, including trauma, cultural and language differences, limited access to finance and networks, and unfamiliarity with local market systems.

8 partner countries involved; target group composed of refugee women entrepreneurs across the Baltic Sea Region (exact number of individual beneficiaries not specified).

Public sector / authorities: • Rzeszowska Agencja Rozwoju Regionalnego S.A. (lead organisation) • national and regional development agencies participating through the Interreg Baltic Sea Region network. Civil society / NGOs: • Associations and community organisations engaged in refugee support and women’s empowerment (specific entities not yet listed). Business / employers: • regional business incubators • entrepreneurs • mentors All contributing to training, incubation, and market-entry support. Academia / research organisations: • universities and training institutions in partner countries cooperating on skills development, entrepreneurship education and monitoring.

• Creation of a comprehensive transnational support network connecting stakeholders from Poland, Estonia, Norway, Lithuania, Latvia, Sweden, Denmark and Estonia. • Design and delivery of entrepreneurship and innovation programmes for refugee women, including training, mentoring and incubation. • Needs assessment and consultations with target groups to tailor interventions to specific barriers such as trauma, language and limited access to capital. • Development of business-support instruments (fund/mechanism/network) promoting women’s participation in local and regional economies. • Engagement with local businesses, educational institutions and entrepreneurial mentors to guide participants from ideation to market entry.

Introduces a transnational mechanism focused on refugee women’s entrepreneurship in the Baltic Sea Region (a first of its kind within the Interreg framework). Its integrated approach combines cross-border collaboration, capacity building, psychological empowerment and business incubation to create a scalable model for inclusive economic growth.

Is there a project or third-party evaluation? Tick box: [x] Internal [ ] External *Initial consultations with representatives of the target group have confirmed high interest in training and increased awareness of entrepreneurial potential, validating the project’s approach and design. These early results indicate a strong basis for sustainable future impact.

The project will consolidate its cross-border collaboration and extend the established network beyond its initial implementation period. Continued Interreg funding will support further scaling and replication, ensuring long-term sustainability and strengthening refugee women’s entrepreneurial ecosystems in the Baltic Sea Region.

The project will consolidate its cross-border collaboration and extend the established network beyond its initial implementation period. Continued Interreg funding will support further scaling and replication, ensuring long-term sustainability and strengthening refugee women’s entrepreneurial ecosystems in the Baltic Sea Region.

COPE targets NEETs (young people aged 15–29 not in education, employment, or training). The intervention is particularly focused on individuals with multiple and complex vulnerabilities, including: • Mental health challenges • Social isolation • Lack of access to networks and services • Cultural and structural barriers to participation

• At least 600 NEETs referred for inclusion • At least 380 NEETs followed up six months after the start of the intervention • Additional qualitative interviews with 30 NEETs planned • Targeted across four countries, with an emphasis on regional implementation in Italy and Portugal

Autonomous Province of Trento (lead, Italy), regional/local employment and social services, European Foundation for Philanthropy and Society Development (Croatia) Civil society/NGOs: COGES Don Milani Group (Italy), Federation of Cooperatives of Trento Business/employers: SHINE 2Europe (Portugal) Academia/research organisations: University of New Lisbon, University of East London

• Assigning “link workers” to establish trust relationships with each participant • Creation of local community networks to support NEETs • Mixed-methods evaluation (qualitative + quantitative) • Use of self-assessment and validated psychometric tools (EuroQoL EQ-5D-5L, Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale, SWEMWBS) • Involvement of at least 600 NEETs, with longitudinal follow-up of outcomes

• Introduces the “relational proximity” approach—a community-based, trust-building method—to the NEET population for the first time • Innovation exists at both service design and governance level, by embedding informal community actors in formal intervention pathways • Focus on individual empowerment through social connection, not only job readiness • Relational networks serve as new service infrastructures to be tested for possible policy integration

[x] Internal: [x] External: EC Final assessment study The project is ongoing, with most results pending A comprehensive evaluation strategy is in place, covering: • Social and health outcomes • Mental well-being, quality of life, self-esteem • NEET status changes, employment entry • Qualitative insights through interviews and focus groups A process evaluation will examine implementation drivers and barriers across local contexts. No impact results are available yet, but the design reflects best practice in social experimentation methodology

Too early to assess, as the project is still under implementation Early indicators suggest strong potential for sustainability through: • Integration with local social services (particularly in Trento and Lisbon) • Planned scaling in new sites within Italy and Portugal Stakeholders are already planning how to embed the model within existing service systems

Tick box: [x] Yes, (conditional on successful implementation) [ ] No • Conceptually transferable due to: o Flexibility of the relational proximity model o Emphasis on community-based support and soft outcomes • Project team is already working on expansion strategies • Limitations: o No international transfer or cooperation with other EaSI projects observed so far o The approach may require cultural adaptation and strong local actor engagement, which may vary by country

Refugees, peer mentors, and teachers participating in empowerment and inclusion activities.

+200 refugees, 119 peer mentors, 60 teachers (EC, assessment study).

– Public sector / authorities: • City of Vienna (Lead Organisation); European Urban Initiative • Urban Agenda for the EU • Covenant of Mayors for Climate and Energy – Europe • Union for the Mediterranean (UfM) Regional Platform on Sustainable Urban Development – Civil society / NGOs: • Eurocities Network • European Capitals of Inclusion and Diversity Award • Living Spaces Living-in.EU • European Capitals of Smart Tourism • Affordable Housing Initiative – Business / employers: • EIT Urban Mobility • Smart Cities Marketplace • Scalable Cities • Driving Urban Transitions to a Sustainable Future • NetZeroCities – Academia / research organisations: • Joint Research Center (JRC) - Territorial Development • ESPON • URBACT • Joint Programming Initiative Urban Europe • European Capital of Innovation Awards • Intelligent Cities Challenge

• Regeneration of a disused building to create the CORE Centre for integration services. • Integration of refugees in the co-design process, acting as mentors, teachers and coaches. • Training with 119 peer mentors and 60 teachers; 16 trade-specific workshops (bakery/confectionery, gastronomy, hairdressing, carpentry, tailoring, IT). • Ten public calls for civil society initiatives; 54 NGO and volunteer-led projects funded for refugee integration. • Two certificate courses for refugee teachers deployed to 25 local schools.

1. Delivered an innovative model of “integration from day one”, empowering refugees to use their own skills in the integration process. 2. Regenerated a disused building into a multifunctional centre combining education, vocational training and co-created integration initiatives.

Is there a project or third-party evaluation? Tick box: [ ] Internal [x] External *EC Assessment Study of the Urban Innovative Actions 2014-2020; expert review, project documents, interviews and online survey.

The CORE Centre continues after project end. Certificate courses for refugee teachers are maintained by the University of Vienna. Peer mentors continue to offer city walks and school workshops. Workshops, information modules, and discussion rounds remain active through project partners. The project as a whole is not funded by local public funds due to changes in policy priorities.

Is there evidence that this could be adapted to other contexts? Tick box: [x] Yes [ ] No Reasoning: The project’s evaluation, documented activities and continuation of selected components show a replicable model of public-civil cooperation for refugee empowerment, accessible through the SIM platform.

Refugees and asylum‑granted third‑country nationals residing in Athens who were in a “limbo” state—i.e., having received protection but lacking access to structured services, stable housing, employment or full civic participation.  A special focus on those with inactive labour market status, isolated social conditions, limited language skills, and in need of integration support.

• The programme involved hundreds of refugees engaging in training, community activities and housing access schemes. • 200 refugees involved in 488 community activities with local citizens; 110 affordable housing units aimed to house around 400 people; more than 400 people attended Greek/English/ICT courses. • The website and project documentation report large numbers of partners, local neighbourhood actions and multi actor engagement.

Public sector / authorities: • Municipality of Athens (lead), local municipal housing and neighbourhood services, city planning departments. Civil society / NGOs: • Refugee support organisations, community groups, citizen volunteer networks (e.g., via the synAthina platform)  Business / employers: Property owners offering vacant apartments, social enterprises, training providers affiliated with the housing facilitation unit  Academia / research organisations: University of Athens (lead academic partner), research and evaluation teams supporting innovation and monitoring

• Training courses: Greek and English language, ICT skills, creative expression, professional counselling, soft skills (job readiness). • Affordable housing scheme: Housing Facilitation Unit, leasing of vacant apartments, support for tenants and landlords (legal, financial, tenancy advice). • Neighbourhood community initiatives: Co Athens platform, neighbourhood mapping, refugee + citizen joint activities, volunteering in local neighbourhoods. 

• Combines affordable housing for refugees with active citizenship/volunteering and community co‑design, rather than treating housing and integration separately.  • Uses a circular economy / exchange model: refugees contributing to community improvement activities in return for housing and supports.  • Neighborhood‑based urban innovation: leveraging existing vacant housing stock in Athens and engaging local citizens in co‑creation of refugee inclusion processes. 

Is there a project or third-party evaluation? Tick box: [x] Internal [x] External (EC, evaluation report) • Evaluation report (2021) outlines achievements: training delivered, housing contracts signed, community activities engaged. • Case study from ESF+ site: reported 200 refugees engaged in 488 community activities; 110 affordable housing units planned for ~400 people. • Some legacy actions embedded; however, long term outcomes (employment rates, sustained autonomy) were less documented in the early reports. 

• The initiative included a built‑in “legacy/transfer” component via the guidebook and neighbourhood platform, intending to embed the model into municipal policy.  • Some actions have continued, but the evaluation flags external risks (funding shifts, housing market issues, policy context) that may limit full sustainability

Is there evidence that this could be adapted to other contexts? Tick box: [x] Yes [ ] No • Modular design (housing + training + community) allows adaptation. • Key conditions: strong local authority leadership, willingness of property owners to participate, citizen engagement frameworks, monitoring systems. • Transfer limitations: context specific to Athens housing stock and refugee flows; replication may require adaptation to different housing markets, policy environments and migration profiles.

Migrants, refugees, asylum seekers conscious inclusion of women, different age categories, education levels, language skills

…As mentioned in one paper 120 asylum seekers participated, 66 (55% male)/ 54 (45% female)

– Public sector / authorities: Public administration is made aware of program to help the transition of migrants and refugees i.e. career counselling ,– Civil society / NGOs: work with researchers to identify needs of asylum seekers ,– Business / employers: facilitated in selecting appropriate employees according to their needs ,– Academia / research organisations: education institutions facilitated trainings to design training programs that correspond to migrants/refugees/asylum seekers needs i.e. soft skills (i.e. interpersonal skills, organization skills, personal skills, entrepreneurial skills)

Training, assessment, placement

NADINE creates an adaptable platform able to: 1) Provide functionalities for skill assessment, 2) dynamically create tailored suited training programs to adapt existing skills into host societies needed skills, 3) provide a digital companion that will suggest and assist the end-users through administrative tasks and 4) creates a data lake available to public administration bodies for better organisation of migration flows.

Is there a project or third-party evaluation? Tick box: , [x ] Internal [x ] External

The tool has been developed so can be replicated and continued. It wasn’t clear whether or not it has been utilized since.,

Is there evidence that this could be adapted to other contexts? , Tick box: , [x ] Yes [ ] No,Reasoning: Already widely used in multiple EU countries as mentioned

FIER specifically targeted disadvantaged groups among refugees and asylum-seekers, including: • Women • Young unaccompanied minors • Older refugees • Migrants with low levels of education and far from the labour market The project aimed to provide fast-track pathways to labour market integration for these groups, combining skills recognition, language training, and employer engagement.

• 2,600+ refugees supported (vs. target of 1,000) • 2,300+ stakeholders engaged (vs. target of 500) • (!) 254 companies contacted (vs. target of 500) • 417 staff members trained in mutual learning activities (vs. target 250) • 283 volunteers involved (vs. target 250) In Volkhochschulverband Baden-Württemberg with 90 % of the participants integrated into the labour market – many of them into full-time employment. Source: EC Final Assessment Study (2021), pp. 193–200

– Public sector / authorities: Coordinator: Region Västra Götaland Partners: • Public Employment Service (PES) and the City of Mölndal in Sweden • Baden-Württemberg BW Ministry of Education amd the City of Stuttgart in Germany • Oslo VO Rosenhof and The City of Oslo adult education in Norway • Land Salzburg, Austria • GO! Community Education in Belgium • European Association of Regional & Local Authorities for lifelong learning – Civil society / NGOs: SGN Vänersborg (Sweden – associated partner); VHS Baden-Württemberg (Gemrany); YUVA (Turkey); refugee organisations, volunteer groups. – Business / employers: 254 employers engaged through placements, mentorships, and language-at-work models – Academia / research organisations: Partner: Pädagogische Hochschule Weingarten (PHW), (Germany)

• Regional labour market and skills mapping • Pilot projects in 12 regions • Competency profiling and soft skills validation • “Train the trainer” and empowerment sessions (refugees training refugees) • New in-company language mentor concept and programme • Joint development of civic education paths and workplace training schemes • Mutual learning activities and cross-regional knowledge sharing

Focused on process and service innovation: each region tested new integration formats adapted to local needs Notable innovations include: • Workplace language mentorship models (e.g., Baden-Württemberg, Oslo, Salzburg) • Empowerment training delivered by refugees themselves • Integration coordinators and new job profiles created • Blended civic and vocational curricula Innovation was self-assessed per partner; no centralised tool or methodology was developed Despite the lack of a unified framework, interregional learning inspired cross-transfer (e.g. Oslo adapting Stuttgart’s model)

Evidence of Evaluation or Impact Is there a project or third-party evaluation? Tick box: [ ] Internal [x] External: Final EC study confirms the project exceeded most activity targets. However, the EC mentions that there was lack of robust quantitative impact measurement at project level due to fragmented monitoring across pilots. Evaluator was part of lead partner team, which may limit perceived independence

Follow-up Activities / Sustainability Some activities successfully continued post-funding, supported by regional or national sources: • Stuttgart: Empowerment and fast-track training scaled and adopted in new sectors (healthcare, sales) • Salzburg: All five pilots continued with provincial/LEADER funds • Oslo: Vocational training model aligned with national policy and continued • YUVA (Turkey): Continued work with SGN in new project under Civil Society Dialogue Programme However, no formal or centralised upscaling or transfer plan was implemented by the consortium. Sustainability success depended on local policy support and funding availability.

Is there evidence that this could be adapted to other contexts? Tick box: [x] Yes (with conditions) [ ] No While the project's tools and models were designed with adaptability in mind, actual transfer and replication outside the original partners has been limited. Barriers include: • Lack of dedicated transfer strategies • Limited documentation of practices in a form that could guide external adoption • General recommendations not sufficiently detailed for direct replication That said, several partners: • Submitted new Erasmus+ and AMIF applications to extend project ideas • Reported interest from external actors (e.g. Spain, Italy) • Developed training models adaptable across sectors (e.g. PH Weingarten's “Train the Trainer”)

Women innovators

Women entrepreneurs in Europe, including ,90 interviews in 9/10 European countries (reached); more in workshops (see Data Management Plan); ,20 Innovation Ambassadors

15 participating organizations, including: ,– Public sector / authorities: TEAGASC - AGRICULTURE AND FOOD DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY (999466952) ,– Civil society / NGOs: LONGFORD WOMEN S LINK CLG (914845607) (social enterprise); ELARD (European networks) ,– Business / employers: CONSULTA EUROPA PROJECTS AND INNOVATION SL (970092442) ,– Academia / research organisations: TECHNISCHE UNIVERSITEIT DELFT (999977366)

Futures and case study methods (200 innovations identified) ,Community of Practice – hub of networking and training

Content: focus on women innovativeness in rural regions ,Methods: multi-method approach (interviews, workshops, case study)

Is there a project or third-party evaluation? Tick box: , [x] Internal [ ] External

No information on scaling, continuation and replication (on-going as for 28.07.2025)

Is there evidence that this could be adapted to other contexts? ,Tick box: , [x] Yes [ ] No ,Reasoning: , The case study approach provides a firm basis for scaling the project results (9/10 regions planned, 200 case studies conducted), directly aiming at women entrepreneurship in Europe. Although the interventions are aimed at women entrepreneurship in rural areas, there are ready materials that may help in identifying the conditions of long term intervention for innovativeness of women.

• Asylum seekers and refugees, hosted primarily in CAS centres in the Piedmont region (Italy) • A smaller number of beneficiaries in Albania • Special attention to vulnerable sub-groups, including women (28% of participants, above the 23% CAS average)

• Italy: 623 beneficiaries (plus 641 in control group for evaluation) • Albania: 30 participants • Gender: 28% women (Italy) • Job mentors engaged with 735 individuals; 535 formally joined the project • 358 beneficiaries underwent profiling and skills assessment • 240 received individualised action plans • 310 received job coaching • 216 started training; 66 completed vocational/Italian language workshops • 120 completed civic education courses

Public sector: ANPAL (coordinator), Piedmont regional employment agency (APL), Italian Ministries of Labour and Interior, multiple prefectures Civil society/NGOs: Forcoop, Kairos Mestieri Social Enterprise, cultural mediators and social mentors Business/employers: Employers in the Piedmont region engaged via job coaching and placement initiatives Academia/research organisations: FRDB (Fondazione Rodolfo Debenedetti – impact evaluator), ITC-ILO (training and dissemination)

• Screening and profiling using the EU Skills Profile Tool • Creation of Individualised Action Plans for each participant • Mentoring by job coaches and social operators • Vocational and Italian language training • Civic education • Cooperation with PES and private employers • Pilot tested in 264 CAS reception centres • Dissemination events targeting policymakers

FORWORK’s innovation lies in: • Being one of the first large-scale counterfactual social experiments in Italy’s migration policy • Introduction of individual mentoring in PES services, typically not tailored for migrants • Integration of administrative and qualitative data to track outcomes • Cross-sector collaboration: third sector organisations delivering mentoring services typically outside PES remit • Use of EU Skills Tool to support validation and profiling While mentoring itself is not new, its integration into mainstream PES practice for asylum seekers was unprecedented in the Italian context.

Evidence of Evaluation or Impact [x] Internal: by FRDB [x] External: EC review and extended peer scrutiny • A counterfactual evaluation was designed (623 in treatment vs. 641 in control group) • Full results expected by late 2021 (delayed due to COVID) • Preliminary data indicates: o Strong uptake by participants o Effective targeting of women o Increased institutional learning among PES and prefectures However, final causal impact results were not available at project closure, limiting policy uptake at that stage

Follow-up Activities / Sustainability Activities continued post-project in limited form: • Institutional actors (e.g. Piedmont APL) retained capacity • No national-level upscaling yet, despite initial plans to expand to 12,000 beneficiaries Barriers to scaling: • Shifting political context and migration policies (e.g. 2018 “Security Decrees”) • Limited regional engagement beyond Piedmont • No transfer or pilot adaptation occurred outside Italy during project runtime However, methodologies and evaluation tools remain relevant and available for use in similar contexts

Transferability Potential Tick box: [x] Yes, but limited so far [ ] No Reasoning: • The model is highly relevant for other countries with large CAS-like reception systems (e.g., Spain, Greece) • The robust methodology (counterfactual design + cost analysis) makes it suitable for policy testing and adaptation • However, no active transfer or structured dissemination beyond Italy occurred • The absence of international partners beyond Albania, and limited updates to the project website, weakened the transfer framework • National scale-up was envisioned (via ESF/AMIF), but no follow-up confirmed to date

Vulnerable individuals and families facing simultaneous housing and employment insecurity. Specific groups included: • Roma communities • Long-term unemployed individuals • Single mothers and female-headed households • Low-income families and young adults Focused on marginalised populations in Central and Eastern Europe.

• 245 households were involved across the five pilot programmes. • 175 households participated in the final evaluation phase. • Data disaggregated by gender is limited, but the pilots targeted a high proportion of female-headed households, especially single mothers

Public sector: Local municipalities and housing authorities (e.g., Budapest District Authorities, Brno City Housing Office) Civil society/NGOs: Local social service NGOs and community support organisations responsible for piloting the SREs and delivering counselling. Business/employers: Local labour market actors (training centres, employers) involved in job placement and vocational upskilling. Academia/research organisations: Metropolitan Research Institute (MRI – Hungary) as project coordinator and evaluator.; Policy researchers contributed to developing the integrated model and policy recommendations.

• Establishment of Social Rental Enterprises (SREs) to manage housing stock and tenant relations. • Provision of case management combining employment support and housing counselling. • Job-readiness training, career coaching, and connection to labour market opportunities. • Housing mediation with landlords, housing acquisition, rent management and tenant support. • Development of a transnational policy framework and evaluation tools for replication.

• Dual-service integration of housing and employment within a single counselling structure. • The SRE model represented a novel hybrid between public-private provision, adapted to CEE contexts. • Use of non-institutionalised case management allowed more flexible and person-centred service delivery. • Project tested financial sustainability models for SREs in post-socialist housing markets where such services were rare.

[x] Internal: [x] External: • Carried out via MRI and partner organisations. • 67% of participant households improved labour market outcomes (e.g., employment or training participation). • Most participating households also experienced housing stabilisation. • Evaluation methods combined qualitative case studies, individual pathway tracking, and transnational synthesis. • Final results published in a comprehensive Final Report (2020) Homelab Final Report.

• Some local SREs continued activities using self-financing and municipal partnerships. • The project generated policy recommendations to facilitate broader adoption, but no full national scale-up took place. • The model remains operational in pilot forms, but institutionalisation depends on national funding and political will. • Sustainability was found to be context-dependent, requiring strong municipal cooperation and cross-sectoral alliances.

Tick box: [x] Yes, [ ] No The model is modular and adaptable to different housing and labour market contexts. It is especially relevant for cities and regions with fragmented service provision, where vulnerable groups face multi-dimensional exclusion. However, success depends on: • Availability of affordable housing stock • Local government support • Stable policy frameworks • Trained case managers and funding for operational costs The approach may require cultural adaptation and strong local actor engagement, which may vary by country.

The primary target groups were migrants and refugees residing in the West Midlands region. This included newly arrived asylum seekers, established migrants, stateless persons and those at risk of exclusion. The project explicitly emphasised vulnerable sub groups: women, youth, individuals experiencing language and employment barriers, and those with limited access to services.

• At least 1,370 participants were directly engaged across the 3 cities • The participants came from at least 99 different countries, representing a broad spectrum of ages and statuses • Outputs: e.g., 394 “Share My Language” sessions, 95 rights awareness sessions, 16 new social enterprises, 79 Citizen Social Scientists trained

Public sector / authorities: • City councils (Coventry, Birmingham, Wolverhampton), local housing & community services Civil society / NGOs: • Migrant led organisations, voluntary sector, community associations Business / employers: Social enterprises, local SMEs participating in training, employment and enterprise creation Academia / research organisations: Coventry University (Centre for Trust, Peace and Social Relations) – evaluation and research partner

• Training of migrant ambassadors, citizen social scientists and health champions. • Employment and enterprise pathways: languages, digital skills, business start‑up support. • Refurbishment/housing‑based actions: e.g., migrant volunteers refurbishing empty homes for skills and employability. • Civic and community engagement: story‑telling campaigns, co‑creation workshops, policy forums. • Production of tools and guides: a publicly available “Guide to Developing a MiFriendly City”.

MiFRIENDLY Cities demonstrates high levels of innovation in multiple dimensions: • Migrants were participants, designers and implementers—not mere recipients. The guidebook emphasises migrants “at the heart of city development” • The initiative brought together multiple sectors—public, private, third sector—in new partnerships around migrant integration. • Integrated services across employment, housing, civic participation and health, rather than siloed programmes. • The approach aligns with Urban Living Labs and testbeds for migrant integration.

Is there a project or third-party evaluation? Tick box: [x] Internal [ ] External Conducted by Coventry University; methodology includes theory of change, quantitative and qualitative data. Positive outcomes: many of the 31 distinct actions delivered; the executive summary reports 26 of 30 areas achieved or over-achieved targets. Participants: improved confidence, new businesses started (16+), high participant satisfaction. Challenges: Data issues flagged (demographics, long term tracking); legacy and sustainability still uncertain.

• The guidebook explicitly sets out three phases for deployment of the model and provides tools for scaling. The guidebook outlines legacy planning as Phase 3 and emphasises embedding actions into city policy and systems. • The evaluation report notes some components have been mainstreamed and further funds secured; however, other actions have been wound down or ceased. • The UK context (Brexit, funding changes) posed additional external sustainability risks.

Is there evidence that this could be adapted to other contexts? Tick box: [x] Yes [ ] No The guidebook was explicitly developed to support other cities in adopting the MiFriendly model. Modular and phased deployment model (partnership creation, planning & participation, implementation & legacy) makes adaptation feasible in different city contexts. Key conditions for successful transfer: strong local authority leadership, multi sector partnership, migrant empowerment and long term commitment. Potential pitfalls: contextual differences (legal, funding, social) may limit direct replication; robust documentation and toolkits help mitigate this.

migrants and refugees

…6970 people involved (52% women, 48 %men)…………………………………..…..

– Public sector / authorities: …15% public / 3% policy makers……………………………………….. ,– Civil society / NGOs: 78%………………….. ,– Business / employers: …1%………………………….. ,– Academia / research organisations: ………3%………………………..

Conferences, workshops,

MICADO combines AI-powered tools—like chatbot interfaces and automatic translation—with co-designed service packages to ease migrant integration.It unifies diverse local needs into a flexible, scalable platform adaptable across cities, avoiding the usual patchwork of isolated, proprietary systems.With agile methods, co-creation, and cutting-edge data science, MICADO transforms migration management from fragmented guesswork into smart, inclusive action.

Is there a project or third-party evaluation? Tick box: , [x ] Internal [ x] External

MICADO is evolving into a modular, scalable platform—rooted in local needs but designed for wide adaptability across European cities.Its co-creative, agile development ensures continuous improvement, with ongoing testing feeding directly into a flexible MVP.Public institutions can customize and extend MICADO independently, ensuring long-term sustainability without relying on proprietary systems.

Is there evidence that this could be adapted to other contexts? , Tick box: , [x ] Yes [ ] No,Reasoning: …Already been piloted in four difference cities in 4 countries…………………..,………………………………..………………………………..,………………………………..………………………………..,………………………………..………………………………..

Migrants, refugees, and unemployed people participating in Business Challenges Labs and training activities.

40% of refugees involved in the project acquired employment (total number of people involved not available).

– Public sector / authorities: • Municipality of Fuenlabrada (Lead Organisation) • CIFE - Fuenlabrada Centre for Entrepreneurship and Innovation (public agency) – Civil society / NGOs: • Santa María la Real Foundation • ASALMA • CESAL • Islamic Culture Centre of Fuenlabrada. – Business / employers: Local companies and social enterprises engaged in skills development training programmes – Academia / research organisations: not specified

• Establishment of seven Business Challenge Labs (BC Labs) focusing on niche, high-demand employment sectors. • Development of public/private partnerships supporting training, entrepreneurship and intercultural integration. • Creation of “Experimental Teams of Employment and Integration (ETEIs)” combining locals and migrants to strengthen social cohesion. • Implementation of intercultural training activities and vocational programmes in collaboration with local companies.

The project introduced an innovative labour integration model that links entrepreneurship, vocational training, and intercultural dialogue through collaborative BC Labs, co-managed by public authorities, NGOs, and private partners.

Is there a project or third-party evaluation? Tick box: [ ] Internal [x] External *Evaluation in the EC Assessment Study of the Urban Innovative Actions 2014-2020. The project achieved all intended outputs and demonstrated significant employment results (40% of refugee participants gained jobs).

Partly sustained: • The project sought additional funding to continue and scale up activities. • Some BC Labs were maintained by local companies, though SME capacity limited broader sustainability. • Established connections to local businesses provide potential for long-term funding mechanisms beyond traditional training models.

Is there evidence that this could be adapted to other contexts? Tick box: [x] Yes [ ] No Reasoning: Publicly available documentation and reports at https://www.uia-initiative.eu/en/uia-cities/fuenlabrada and https://portico.urban-initiative.eu/uia/final-report-bridging-gap-innovative-financing-schemes-european-cities/milma-project-migrants-labour-integration-model-based-acculturation-project

Women founders and C-level executives (FEL Programme) ,Researchers (Entrepreneurship Education) ,other

1000 Ukraininan enterpreneurs, 100 women

17 altogether, including: ,– Public sector / authorities: Ukraininan StartUp Fund ,– Civil society / NGOs: ……………………………….. ,– Business / employers: FUNDINGBOX ACCELERATOR SP ZOO (951227688) + ,– Academia / research organisations: INSTITUTE OF PHYSICS OF NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCE

FEL: Mentoring (60 mentors), networking (125 start-ups) ,Entrepreneurship Education: ,Science2Business Programme ,Summer School in Entrepreneurship Programme ,Train the Trainers Programme ,Innovation ecosystem

Content: The initiative aims at building a capacity for Ukraine as a “startup” country, with strong emphasis on human skills and networking development ,Method: Multi-method approach

Is there a project or third-party evaluation? Tick box: , [x] Internal - no information on the scope of evaluation until now [ ] External

Th initiative seems a novel approach to EU support of Ukraine after the break of the war in 2022.

Skilled workers (indirectly), public work-related agencies (indirectly)

Unknown

,– Public sector / authorities: STATE SCIENTIFIC INSTITUTION INSTITUTE OF EDUCATIONAL ANALYTICS (881208335) ,– Civil society / NGOs: FONDAZIONE CNOS-FAP ETS - IMPRESA SOCIALE (946851727) ,– Business / employers: ……………………………….. ,– Academia / research organisations: UNIVERSITAET BREMEN (999987454)

Desk research, “in-depth interviews with:; 1) the national policy makers responsible for the skill formation, employment and migration policies, 2) education and training providers - higher education, vocational education and training, adult education , 3) enterprises and employers organizations, 4) trade unions, professional organizations, labour market intermediaries and NGO's working with migrant workers.”

Content: ,conceptualizing and exploring the conditions for skill matching methods; , diversification of countries involved in the studies (Lithuania, France, Italy, Germany, Poland, North Macedonia, Türkiye, Ukraine, UK, Norway and Ethiopia)

Is there a project or third-party evaluation? Tick box: , [ ] Internal [ ] External

Unknown (on-going project)

Is there evidence that this could be adapted to other contexts? ,Tick box: , [x] Yes [ ] No , Reasoning: “SKILL MATCHING AND MIGRATION LINKS IN THE NORTH MACEDONIA, TÜRKIYE, UKRAINE AND ETHIOPIA” report provides results of a standardized questionnaire used in four countries.

Residents of the deprived area of Fives (Lille metropolitan area), including vulnerable groups affected by unemployment and poverty. Although not specifically aimed at migrants, the project benefits local and migrant residents alike through the promotion of shared activities and social interaction around food and community events.

In 3 years: • 15,000 users of the site • 120,000 visitors during the summer period • 23 public events • 500 cooking workshops • more than 100 local partners involved • 120,000 citizens from Lille used the area overall • 20,000 people participated in organised events

Public sector / authorities: • Ville de Lille (lead organisation) • Métropole Européenne de Lille (MEL) • Maison de l’Emploi de Lille, Lomme, Hellemmes (MDE) • CCAS (public institution) • Epareca (public institution) Civil society / NGOs: • Association Les Sens du Goût (LSG) • Fédération du Nord du Secours Populaire Français (SPF) • La Sauvegarde du Nord (SN) • Rencontres Audiovisuelles (RA) • À Table Citoyens! (ATC) Business / employers: • Société de Restauration et Rénovation de Lille (SORELI) Academia / research organisations: • Institut Supérieur d’Agriculture (ISA) • Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS) • Centre d’Innovation des Technologies sans Contact (CITC)

• Renovation of a central building in the Fives brownfield to host a community kitchen. • Development of urban agriculture, culinary transformation and catering activities. • Organisation of community workshops, food-related events and training sessions. • Creation of jobs and training opportunities in cooking, hospitality and food distribution. • Integration of technological innovation, including vertical farming and contact-free technologies. • Partnerships with restaurants, caterers, charities and social NGOs to combat food waste and distribute meals. • Promotion of cultural events and audiovisual productions supporting community engagement.

The project introduced an innovative socio-economic model that links urban regeneration, social inclusion and food-based entrepreneurship. Through the combination of a collective kitchen, technological experimentation (vertical agriculture and contactless tech), and collaborative management with local stakeholders, it redefined the role of food as a catalyst for urban renewal and social innovation.

Is there a project or third-party evaluation? Tick box: [ ] Internal [x] External *Evaluation conducted through the EC Assessment Study of the UIA 2014-2020, complemented by Project Journals, Impact Reports and Lessons Learnt studies publicly available on the UIA platform

The project capitalised on its experience through publications and transferable models accessible via the UIA network. Its outputs, including the operational model of the community kitchen, local partnerships and studies, serve as reference tools for other European cities aiming to combine urban regeneration, food production and social inclusion.

Is there evidence that this could be adapted to other contexts? Tick box: [x] Yes [ ] No Reasoning: the project demonstrates how urban brownfield regeneration and collective kitchens can foster social inclusion, employment and local cohesion. Its methodologies and results have been documented for replication through the Urban Innovative Actions (UIA) and Portico platforms, making it a transferable model for other European cities.

Early career entrepreneur women

306

– Public sector / authorities: Not clear ,– Civil society / NGOs: Not clear ,– Business / employers: Identified and work with entrepreneurs ,– Academia / research organisations: academics carried out research to identify insight and practices as well as develop tools.

Educational and training programme for early stage women entrepreneurs to develop their fundamental entrepreneurial competencies; community building; mentoring,

The project introduced innovative research methods—like log data analysis and social network analysis—to study how female entrepreneurs and adult learners engage with e-learning. Its fresh approach – the Kirkpatrick Model – not only deepens understanding of entrepreneurial learning but also holds serious promise for real-world commercial applications.

Is there a project or third-party evaluation? Tick box: , [ x] Internal [ x] External

In the long run, both Europe and South America stand to gain scientifically and economically from the project. Its innovative approaches offer fresh insights and practical solutions that can support policymakers in tackling socio-economic challenges like job creation and economic growth.

Is there evidence that this could be adapted to other contexts? , Tick box: , [ x] Yes [ ] No,Reasoning: As just noted, the model can be replicated and adapted in a range of other contexts.,

Asylum seekers and neighbourhood members participating in entrepreneurship courses and English lessons.

• 296 asylum seekers (40.9% from Syria, 12.2% from Eritrea, and others from Iran, Iraq, Pakistan, Afghanistan and Ethiopia) • 229 participants in business incubation programme • 200 participants in entrepreneurship classes • 281 participants in flexible education and training activities.

– Public sector / authorities: Municipality of Utrecht (Lead Organisation) – Civil society / NGOs: • Dutch Council for Refugees, Welcome in Utrecht • Het Wilde Westen • The Voorkamer • Stut Theater • Radio Einstein • Eet Mee • De Buitenkamer • New Dutch Connections – Business / employers: • Marcelliens Good Company • Oscar van der Ende Business Training & Advisory Services – Academia / research organisations: • Utrecht University • Hogeschool Utrecht

• Reception centre regeneration to create co-housing and shared learning spaces. • Co-design process involving asylum seekers and young NEET residents. • Business incubation programme (229 participants). • Entrepreneurship classes (200 participants). • Flexible education and training activities (281 participants). • 117 social activities promoting interaction and integration between asylum seekers and local citizens.

Developed an inclusive model that combines reception centre regeneration, entrepreneurship training, and community-building activities within a shared living and learning environment, fostering interaction between asylum seekers and local youth.

Is there a project or third-party evaluation? Tick box: [ ] Internal [x] External *Based on the Final Evaluation Report (2019) and Assessment Study of the UIA 2014–2020. The project achieved full completion of planned activities and demonstrated high participation and engagement.

Partly sustained: • The project transferred its site to another COA reception centre with adaptations. • Several community activities and collaborations between local organisations and refugees continue. • National policy constraints have limited large-scale replication, though the Parliament approved testing in other centres.

Is there evidence that this could be adapted to other contexts? Tick box: [x] Yes [ ] No Reasoning: Publicly available manuals and evaluation reports provide guidance for municipalities and NGOs. The model has been recognised as transferable within the Urban Innovative Actions framework.

and Estonia who wish to start their own business or work as light entrepreneurs. The project focuses on those facing barriers to employment and integration due to skill mismatches, limited digital literacy and lack of entrepreneurship competences.

3 beneficiaries/partner organisations (number of individual participants not specified).

Public sector / authorities: local and regional agencies supporting immigrant integration and employment policies in Finland and Estonia. Civil society / NGOs: organisations active in migrant support, entrepreneurship mentoring and social inclusion initiatives. Business / employers: start-up communities, business incubators and companies providing expertise and potential placement opportunities. Academia / research organisations: Haaga-Helia ammattikorkeakoulu Oy (lead organisation).

• Review and analysis of existing upskilling opportunities in entrepreneurship and AI capabilities in Finland and Estonia. • Curriculum design and requirements analysis tailored to the needs of immigrants and refugees. • Customization of AI-driven digital tools to support individualized learning and business-planning guidance. • Creation of AI-based learning programmes for entrepreneurship and business development. • Implementation of training sessions for immigrant participants, combining theory and practice in digital entrepreneurship. • Active involvement of participants in all phases of the project to ensure co-creation and responsiveness to real needs.

It is a pioneering initiative that integrates AI technology into immigrant upskilling for the first time within the Central Baltic framework. Through the transformation of traditional business development guides into AI-driven, interactive formats, it provides accessible, personalized entrepreneurship training. The project’s cross-border collaboration between Finland and Estonia extends its innovative scope by enabling shared expertise, cross-border entrepreneurship and sustainable business development opportunities.

Is there a project or third-party evaluation? Tick box: [x] Internal [ ] External *Impact is monitored through the creation of AI-based training tools, implementation of pilot courses and participant engagement in all phases of the project.

The AI-driven upskilling model, digital tools and training materials developed in the project are designed for continued use after project completion. Public access to these resources through the project website ensures the long-term availability of the learning programme and supports the replication of the approach in other EU regions.

Is there evidence that this could be adapted to other contexts? Tick box: [x] Yes [ ] No Reasoning: the AI-assisted upskilling model and cross-border collaboration framework can be adapted by other countries seeking innovative, technology-based solutions for immigrant integration and entrepreneurship promotion.

Immigrant women from Ukraine who have arrived in Latvia and Estonia as refugees, facing economic exclusion and lack of employment due to profession-specific regulation, insecurity, low self-confidence and financial difficulties.

• Originally planned: 70 immigrant women from Ukraine, who arrived to Latvia and Estonia as refugees, and reside in Zemgale, Riga and Riga region in Latvia and Põhja-Eesti region in Estonia. • Actual achievement: 86 Ukrainian women participated in the training course in Latvia and Estonia: 78 completed successfully.

Public sector / authorities: Latvia University of Life Sciences and Technologies (lead partner) Civil society / NGOs: local associations and community organisations supporting Ukrainian refugee women’s social and professional integration, collaborating in training delivery and outreach activities. Business / employers: external marketing professionals, motivational speakers from the business community, small companies involved as training bases in the final phase. Academia / research organisations: Latvia University of Life Sciences and Technologies, education & social development faculty and training material handbook co-developed by project partners.

• Two rounds of the Digital Marketing training course, each 88 hours. • 10 cross-border workshops: 5 face-to-face + 5 online sessions + 3 online masterclasses. • Use of top-tier professionals and business motivational speakers in the training. • The course included final projects, internship/practical components with small companies, and certificate of completion signed by the Latvian University of Life Sciences and Technologies.

The project introduced a cross-border cooperative model between Latvia and Estonia focused specifically on immigrant Ukrainian women (a group at high risk of economic exclusion) and up-skilled them in a high-growth profession (digital marketing). It used blended delivery (face-to-face + online masterclasses), business community involvement and certification transferable into formal education credit points.

Is there a project or third-party evaluation? Tick box: [x] Internal [ ] External

The project materials (training handbook) developed for the two rounds may support continuation or replication. However, the source does not provide detailed data on follow-up employment outcomes beyond completion.

Is there evidence that this could be adapted to other contexts? Tick box: [x] Yes [ ] No Reasoning: the model is documented (training handbook, cross-border workshop design) and focuses on a transferable topic (digital marketing) for a refugee/immigrant women target group in a multilingual region. The cross-border nature (Latvia & Estonia) builds an experience of replication in similar Baltic/European contexts.