Georgia, November 2025 – The Return and Reintegration Facility (RRF) and the French Office for Immigration and Integration (OFII) co-lead an observation mission in Tbilisi and Mtskheta.
The OFII Referral Desk in Georgia aims to connect migrants who choose to return voluntarily from European countries with local service providers and governmental services, supporting their long-term economic, social and psychosocial reintegration. The project is funded by the RRF and co-implemented with OFII. It is available for both pre-departure and post-arrival referrals, that can be easily reported and monitored through the Reintegration Assistance Tool (RIAT) for return counsellors all across Europe.
The observation mission was designed to deepen return counsellors understanding of its operational mechanism. It brought together return counsellors from various RRF Member States, namely Belgium, Finland and Germany as well as OFII local staff from Georgia and Armenia offices. It offered participants a unique opportunity to witness first-hand how the referral mechanism functions, how reintegration assistance is delivered and its impact on the ground.
Exchanging with partners
To start the visit, participants visited the physical desk, that serves as a one-stop shop for returnees referred to OFII Desk, and met the referral counsellor who is responsible for the reception, follow up, and case closure.
Over the course of the mission, participants engaged directly with organisations and individuals who contribute to the sustainable reintegration of Georgian nationals from the EU. Meetings with key partners such as the International Organization for Migration (IOM) Georgia and Caritas Georgia allow counsellors to better understand the operational processes, challenges, and innovations within the project.
To foster exchanges among reintegration practitioners, focus group discussions were held with returnees and implementing partners, including the NGOs Internally Displaced Persons Women Association (IDPWA) and the Public Advocacy (PA), who were engaged in the mentorship programme.
Learning from returnees in the field
Finally, the most insightful component of the mission was the opportunity to visit the small businesses established by returnees with reintegration support, such as beauty salons, garages and greenhouses.
These field visits allowed return counsellors to gain insight into the practical impact of reintegration assistance – how funding, counselling, and local partnerships translate into real economic and social opportunities for individuals rebuilding their lives.
Building Stronger Cooperation Across Member States
By sharing experiences, and learning collectively from Georgia’s context, return counsellors returned home with concrete insights that can strengthen their everyday job and raise awareness about existing opportunities to their colleagues back home.
Ultimately, the initiative reflects the shared commitment of RRF, OFII, and their partners to improving the effectiveness of voluntary return and sustainable reintegration systems.
Through cooperation and hands-on learning, this mission contributed to human-centered, dignified and sustainable support for migrants navigating the complex process of return and reintegration.