Can we do it together? Co-designing attentive practices with and for forced migrants in seven countries

Abstract

ABSTRACT Designing feasible programmes for the attention of forced migrants’ needs is a demanding task that often relies on a group of experts at national levels. Moreover, programmes tend to be based on estimations of generic needs while migrants and fieldworkers are seldom included in the design process. Responding to the quest for a more tailored and participatory approach, we describe how attentive programmes were developed in seven countries along the migration route from the Middle East to Northern Europe. To be sensitive to local and particular needs, and to foster co-creation, we used principles of responsible research and innovation and action research. In 2019, we started with 176 migrants’ interviews, focused on detecting needs and understanding local contexts. During 2020–2022, we designed, implemented and evaluated attentive practices together with forced migrants, humanitarian agencies, NGOs and other stakeholders. Results showed that local conditions delimit the programme outcomes, but still, comprehensive conclusions could be drawn. Including migrants and fieldworkers in the process brought valuable insights and helped to challenge the top-down and nation-state centric framework of integration. We argue that collaborative methodology can produce both tailored and feasible programmes. However, the process demands time and human resources, flexibility and volunteer engagement.