Sweden is number one when it comes to integration policy. All the policies are in place. Yet there are many challenges. Person-to-person integration is lacking and needed. This is shown by the NIEM research project led by Sayaka Osanami Törngren, a researcher at Malmö University. Together with the Skåne Nonprofit Sector Network, new recommendations will be developed for Skåne-based organizations working with new arrivals and new Swedes.
Sayaka Osanami Törngren, a researcher in migration and integration at Malmö University, is leading Sweden’s participation in the EU-funded research project The National Integration Evaluation Mechanism (NIEM), in which fourteen European countries are participating. Together with the Skåne Nonprofit Sector Network, she is working to understand the challenges of integration and what civil society can contribute to improve the integration of people who have been granted international protection.
“We are examining existing integration policies and developing indicators to compare integration policies across the EU. We have spoken with various stakeholders, including Region Skåne, the County Administrative Board, civil society, and refugees,” says Sayaka Osanami Törngren.
Malmö, Skåne, and Sweden are well-positioned to successfully integrate newly arrived refugees. Research shows that all the necessary policies are in place. Yet many people report and talk about the integration process as a failure. Why is that?
“There are different ways to define integration. In Sweden, integration means having a job and being self-sufficient,” says Sayaka Osanami Törngren.
The social aspect needs to be incorporated into integration efforts
However, NIEM shows that successful integration also requires addressing the social aspect. New Swedes need to feel a sense of connection to Swedish society, and this requires two-way integration.
“People from different backgrounds need to meet one another, make connections, and build relationships,” says Sayaka Osanami Törngren.
Civil society has become increasingly important
That is why community organizations are important; they provide a platform where these opportunities can be created.
“As a welfare state, the government needs to provide support for refugees. But the public sector alone cannot—and should not—be solely responsible for integration efforts. The role of civil society has become increasingly important. For example, early intervention is needed when refugees first arrive. That’s where civil society plays a crucial role,” says Sayaka Osanami Törngren.
New approach matches refugees with civil society organizations
The Skåne Nonprofit Sector Network is an advocacy organization for civil society organizations active in Skåne. Skåne has a strong tradition of civic engagement and played a major role in the refugee reception effort in 2015. Together with the County Administrative Board, Region Skåne, and the Swedish Public Employment Service, they have developed the NAD method, which has been adopted in both Gothenburg and Stockholm. Through this model, they match refugees with civil society organizations and NGOs so that refugees can join organizations and integrate into Swedish society based on interests such as sports, art, and language. They collaborate with the state, municipalities, and non-profit organizations. – Refugees and immigrants have a hard time finding information and knowing where to look. It’s a new system and a new structure in Sweden that they have to get to know and understand, says Nadeen Khoury, research assistant at NIEM, Malmö University.
Research shows that mothers, in particular, are focused on their children’s well-being. They want to enroll their children in language courses, music lessons, and sports activities.
“Even though we didn’t have a lockdown, immigrants felt completely isolated during the pandemic. How can we prevent this from happening in the future?” asks Nadeen Khoury.
The research is expected to lead to new recommendations for integration efforts
The research findings are intended to lead to recommendations for government agencies and other stakeholders aimed at bringing about positive change in society—what is known as “impact.” Contributing to policy influence is also one of the tasks of the Skåne Nonprofit Sector Network.
“We want to influence the system. We have a forum through NAD and will incorporate this into our work on regional policies for the reception system,” says Henrik Nilsson, process manager at the Skåne Nonprofit Sector Network.
Skåne and Malmö offer a strong foundation for research and collaboration on integration issues. The Network and Malmö University have long been working together through Partnerskap Skåne and Milsa.
“We’re always looking for new ways to work in partnership. We need to learn more about our own operations, about civil society, and about integration in general. To achieve the goals of the 2030 Agenda, we must collaborate across sectoral boundaries. And those of us who work with new arrivals and the most vulnerable groups in society need to work both within and outside the systems,” says Henrik Nilsson.
Facts
The EU-funded research project The National Integration Evaluation Mechanism (NIEM)began in 2016 and will conclude in the summer of 2022. The final report for the project will be published in January. Fourteen member states and countries are participating, representing a broad geographic cross-section of Europe. The purpose of NIEM is to measure and compare integration policies in Europe according to EU standards. Based on a range of indicators—such as language learning, education, housing, and employment—the researchers study and compare the conditions for successful integration. In the Swedish part of the project, researcher Sayaka Osanami Törngren at Malmö University leads the work. Research assistant Nadeen Khoury is also part of NIEM, as is student Tawanda Maviga, who wrote the master’s thesis*Integration Practitioners’ Perspectives on the Integration Process of Newly Arrived Refugees in Malmö, Sweden*as part of the master’s program in International Migration and Ethnic Relations (IMER) at Malmö University.