Capacity building for third-country nationals

Capacity Building for Third-Country Nationals addresses the need for a more active population and workforce in the municipality by combining attraction, establishment and integration strategies for third-country nationals (TCN) with professional training tailored to regional needs. Short-term certified modular training courses were created to increase the skills in high demand by regional employers.

Three groups of people in particular benefit from this practice: Regional economic sectors gain access to a prepared workforce; TCN find jobs more easily; and the municipality retains citizens and promotes regional economic sustainability. 

This good practice originated in the second edition of Fundão’s Municipality Plan for Migrant Integration (MIXin). MIXin is a strategic document focusing on migrant and international protection beneficiary integration, aiming to diagnose the resident foreign population and enhance their integration across all social spheres. The diagnosis identified a need to increase migrant training. In response, an opportunity arose to combine skill acquisition with the demand for prepared labour in key economic sectors due to regional desertification. This relation turned the initial intention into a measure in MIXin’s second edition action plan.

To put the measure into practice, Fundão secured funds and consulted regional employers about their workforce needs. Partnering with the Portuguese Institute of Employment and Vocational Training (IEFP), the organisers created certified modular short-term training courses promoting high-demand skill acquisition.

Over the course of the programme, 10 training actions were conducted in areas ranging from soil planning and drainage to cheese production, resulting in the award of 216 skills certificates. Post-project, about 50 TCN were employed by regional employers seeking these skills. 

While benefitting all involved, the practice has room for improvement, particularly in expanding the active stakeholder network. Additionally, the initiative's execution was significantly hampered by the COVID-19 pandemic, potentially affecting results. 

The development of this initiative in the context of MIXin’s second edition has brought various sectors together to focus on improving employment and professional training. It promoted certified training actions to increase job opportunities for TCN and provide the regional economic sector with a prepared workforce. This approach stimulates the labour market, addressing economic challenges.

The initiative also tackles demographic and social challenges. It aims to attract and establish TCN in Fundão to counteract population decline and provide supportive conditions for their integration, mitigating desertification in Portugal's central interior. Socially, the plan ensures TCN have access to services, offers, and events for comprehensive community inclusion, minimising integration resistance and promoting intercultural dialogue.

Besides economic, demographic and social dimensions, the initiative directly addresses education and skills development. It thus responds to multiple challenges, fostering a balanced and inclusive community. 

The development of this initiative followed a participatory approach, relying on input from all beneficiaries.

Initially, the practice emerged as a measure within the second edition of MIXin, based on a statistical study of migration in Fundão, combined with participatory methods like questionnaires and focus groups. These methods gathered feedback from beneficiaries on their experiences and needs for better integration. The principle of promoting certified professional training emerged from this analysis, leading to the creation of this programme. This involved:

• Main employers in the region, who participated by identifying the skills most in demand. 

• Nationals from third countries: As the main beneficiaries, they participated in the development phase by expressing the need for more training and in the implementation phase by joining training actions. 

• Institute for Employment and Vocational Training (IEFP): This national entity ensured the training actions were in line with the National Qualifications Catalogue.
• Fundão Migration Center: Responsible for developing and implementing the initiative. After training, the centre facilitated connections between trainees and employers seeking the taught skills. 

Reflecting the scope of the municipal strategy it was developed under, this practice has brought about diverse changes at local and regional levels. Below is a summary of key areas where differences have been made.

• Needs and problems addressed: Shortage of trained workforce aggravated by regional desertification; Comprehensive settlement and integration of migrants in the region.
• Strategy: Creation of a TCN Capacity Building Center that promoted the acquisition of skills in greatest demand from the main economic sectors in the region.
• Results: 10 training actions carried out, leading to the issue of 216 certificates.
• Impact of the practice: Regional employers gained access to a newly trained workforce;  
  TCN benefit from easier access to jobs. By the project’s completion, around 50 TCN had found jobs in the region as a direct consequence of acquiring skills through the programme.
   

The municipality can benefit if more people choose to settle there, helping combat population-desertification, and supporting regional economic sustainability. 

Fundão’s good practice can help similar cities tackle workforce shortages while promoting sustainable integration of new residents. By doing so it addresses the widespread European problem of rural desertification, where a decline in active populations is exacerbating territorial disparities.  

The EU Territorial Agenda (paragraphs 28 and 30) highlights this challenge, suggesting initiatives to settle and integrate new residents to maintain and stimulate regional economies and support balanced territorial development. Answering this challenge, the initiative also contributes to Sustainable Development Goals 8 – Decent Work and Economic Growth, and 10 – Reduced Inequalities. The practice, funded by AMIF, aligns with the Portugal 2020 and Europe 2020 Strategy. Its transfer potential is not conditioned by a specific national legislative context, as the relevant Portuguese legislation aligns with that of the EU. 

The methodology can be adapted to the specific context of each city or entity. While there is no prerequisite for its transfer, towns and cities are more likely to benefit if they: are set in rural environments; seeking to attract and retain workforce; and have already implemented strategies to attract TCN or have a substantial number of TCN in their territory. 

However, certain key steps must be followed to achieve results similar to those in Fundão:

1. Comprehend the migratory context of the region;
2. Understand the needs of the region's economic sector;
3. Promote training actions in line with the needs of the region. 

Fundão is now eager to share their practice, providing details of its implementation and results, to encourage similar initiatives elsewhere.