Knowledge by, for and about newcomers

Knowledge by, for and about newcomers

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Integration chain communication expert pool

Project

Integration chain communication expert pool

Client

Association of Dutch Municipalities

Duration

2020

Product

expert pool

Project description

The central parties in the civic integration chain (VNG, SZW, DUO, COA, Divosa) are preparing for the new Civic Integration Act that will take effect on January 1, 2022. A broad group of professionals is working on plans for the new situation. These parties find it important to also involve people with a refugee background in making the plans.

Improve communication with integrationists

On behalf of its partners, the VNG asked us to:

  • Establish an expert pool of newcomers and oldcomers
  • Organize three meetings in which this expert pool will contribute ideas on how the chain partners should communicate with persons integrating during the introduction of the new Integration Act.

Project outline

We developed the expert pool methodology based on our experience in community building, social design and organizing participation. Expert pools are lively, diverse, trained groups of new and oldcomers from one region who, by sharing their practical experiences and advice and designing solutions, support governments and other organizations in developing and evaluating integration policies and implementation. We call the members experts because that is what they are: experts on integration from the user's perspective.

Results & insights

For this particular assignment, the experts had to come from all over the country rather than just from one region. In three weeks we managed to put together a group of 20 participants from 17 different municipalities, some of whom lived in the Netherlands for a short time (2 years) and others for a long time (more than 20 years). During three meetings they contributed ideas, discussed and designed solutions for the chain partners to improve and optimize communication with persons integrating.

Recommendations communication government

The experts reflected on their own positive and negative experiences with communication from and with the government. They also talked about this with people in their network and shared all experiences with the group. Based on this, conclusions were drawn and recommendations made. Moreover, we drew up a list of insights and translated them into opportunities for the chain partners. For example:

  • Insight: general poor accessibility of government services is especially difficult for newcomers.
  • Opportunity: invest in a dedicated help desk, available online, via chat and by phone.

Relevant articles

Integration through the eyes of newcomers

First research report from OpenEmbassy into the Integration Act 2021 from the perspective of newcomers integrating in the Netherlands.

Path to integration full of bumps - Article Domestic Administration

People integrating in the Netherlands must "quickly and fully participate in society, preferably through paid work": the Integration Act. The...

Integration through the eyes of newcomers

First research report from OpenEmbassy into the Integration Act 2021 from the perspective of newcomers integrating in the Netherlands.

Path to integration full of bumps - Article Domestic Administration

People integrating in the Netherlands must "quickly and fully participate in society, preferably through paid work": the Integration Act. The...

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This project was supervised by:

project manager

Patrick van der Heijden

Trainer, researcher
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