Implemented by JRS Romania, In Loco aims to build effective integration policies that respond to the local needs of communities of implementation from 11 countries across the EU.
In the Dobrogea region of Romania, the integration of migrants and refugees is shaped by a combination of structural gaps and contextual differences between urban and rural communities. In urban areas, challenges include housing affordability, administrative complexity and fragmented access to services. In contrast, rural areas are affected by geographical isolation, limited infrastructure, lack of transportation and reduced institutional capacity.
Across both contexts, migrants face difficulties in accessing reliable information, navigating administrative systems and building trust-based relationships with institutions. At the same time, institutions encounter challenges related to fragmented coordination, limited collaboration and the absence of participatory mechanisms involving migrants.
As a result, integration efforts often remain top-down, reactive and insufficiently adapted to local realities. The project is based on the assumption that integration becomes more effective when it is built on participation, co-creation and shared responsibility, and when solutions are adapted to the specificities of both urban and rural contexts.
Who benefits
Refugees and migrants living in urban and rural areas in the region of Dobrogea: beneficiaries of temporary protection from Ukraine, BIPs (refugees and subsidiary protection) and other legally residing migrants benefit from empowerment, access to information and services, and opportunities to participate in local governance processes.
Local stakeholders - authorities, public institutions and service providers involved in integration, education, employment, health, housing and social areas - benefit from enhanced capacity, coordination and responsiveness.
Local communities benefit from increased diversity, cohesion, inclusion and resilience.
How it works
The In Loco project follows a structured process that connects evidence gathering, capacity-building, co-creation and implementation.
The process begins with creating safe and inclusive spaces for dialogue, where migrants and local stakeholders can share their experiences and identify key challenges related to integration, across both urban and rural contexts, with particular attention to rural-specific challenges. These exchanges provide a good understanding of local needs and gaps.
Building on this, the project provides targeted capacity-building activities. While professionals are supported in developing inclusive and culturally aware practices, migrants are empowered to better understand systems, express their needs and engage with institutions. This dual approach helps create a shared understanding and common ground for collaboration.
The next step in the process is co-creation, where newcomers and decision-makers jointly define priorities and design solutions. This leads to the establishment of Local and Rural Task Forces - multi-actor structures ensuring ownership, coordination and continuity.
Based on this collaborative work, each Task Force develops a locally adapted Action Plan, focused on concrete interventions, such as: improving access to language learning, to information, and developing a network of community mediators who can support migrants in their native languages.
Implementation is coordinated across the integration sectors and is accompanied by a community-based monitoring mechanism, allowing migrants to directly assess the relevance and impact of the interventions. This ensures continuous feedback, learning and adaptation.
The project approach is complementary to the Local Support Teams for integration established by the Prefectures in accordance with the national legislation. While these formal structures bring together public institutions, IGOs and NGOs, the In Loco model expands participation to migrants, including them in decision-making processes.
- Project duration
- 1 Oct 2024 - 30 Sep 2027
- Project locations
- Romania
- Topic
- EU funding
Results
The project builds an integration-oriented local governance system in the region of Dobrogea through the Urban and Rural Task Forces that reunite migrants and local stakeholders. These informal structures are currently working on the Urban and Rural Action Plans, informed by the needs identified through the participatory dialogue. Early results indicate increased institutional awareness, improved communication and coordination between stakeholders, and a stronger commitment to collaborative problem-solving.
Migrants involved in the process reported higher levels of self-confidence, empowerment and participation, while professionals demonstrated an increased capacity to apply inclusive and context-sensitive approaches.
The introduction of community-based monitoring has strengthened accountability, ensuring that interventions remain relevant, responsive and adaptable to real needs.
Evaluation
Although the project is ongoing and no formal evaluation has yet been conducted, the project has so far proven effective due to its participatory design and feedback mechanisms that connect individuals with the institutions through the community-based monitoring. The latter enables ongoing learning, reflection and adjustment, enhancing both the quality and sustainability of the intervention.
The model demonstrates strong potential for replication in other urban/rural contexts, as it is based on flexible principles and locally adaptable processes.
Funding and resources
The project is funded by the Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund (AMIF) of the European Union.