The International Organization for Migration (IOM) held a series of workshops for State institutions and civil society organizations to present the Community-level Work Strategy for the Integration of Migrants and Host Communities. The implementation of the strategy is carried out within the framework of different projects whose main objective is to address the needs of integration at economic, social, and psychosocial levels. In addition to IOM's accompaniment to government institutions, international organizations and civil society actors, these workshops are part of complementary actions to establish synergies and articulate efforts based on existing responses to the needs of migrants and host communities at local and national levels.

Prior to the workshops, the IOM team carried out visits, mappings, and meetings in the field with the different actors, thus generating alliances that allow to articulate efforts within the areas of action of the integration strategy carried out by the Organization in Panama.

The workshops were held in a face-to-face manner with representatives of civil society organizations and authorities of the municipalities of Panama, San Miguelito and La Chorrera. It took place in Panama City between the 25th and 26th of, and with representatives of civil society organizations and local authorities of La Chorrera, on the 1st and 2nd of June, 2021. These workshops aim to make all partners aware of the work that IOM has been doing at the national level to foster inter-agency partnerships and address the challenges of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

"One of the challenges that have been identified has to do with the need to address the implementation of the SDGs in an integrated manner, and to explore modalities that recognize the importance of local actors as indispensable factors to generate impact with both migrant and host populations in different communities," said Adis Quevedo, IOM Project Specialist in Panama.

The implementation of these workshops has been a first step towards consolidating the commitment of participating institutions and organizations to facilitate access to communities and join efforts to improve the quality of life of migrant and national residents. It has been a presentation of the community projects carried out by IOM and an exchange of ideas with key actors where we also receive feedback and that we hope to be able, from this, to strengthen our alliances and participate in inter-institutional workspaces at the local level.

For more information, please contact Mayteé Zachrisson, IOM Panama Communications and Media Assistant, at mzachrisson@iom.int.