IOM, 10 May 2021

A new publication by IOM will help practitioners and policymakers to strengthen migrant integration and social cohesion amid the pandemic.

A Review of Lessons Learned

Facilitating the “meaningful social mixing” of people of different backgrounds is an increasingly important tenet of mainstream programming and policies aimed at promoting migrant inclusion and broader social cohesion at the local, national and even global levels. This guidance note aims to provide project managers and developers, as well as event organizers and facilitators, with guidance in fostering migrant integration and social cohesion through social mixing activities. This note draws from IOM’s emerging programming on migrant integration and social cohesion and extensive research on intergroup contact theory, which posits that increased interaction and mixing of people from different backgrounds can cultivate trust and decrease prejudice under the right circumstances. It makes key evidence-based recommendations that project managers and event facilitators can leverage to ensure maximum positive impact of social mixing activities. 

Through meaningful social mixing in both the face-to-face and digital worlds, migrants and host communities can develop stronger positive social connections, allowing for a shift away from xenophobic and anti-migrant attitudes.

Read the full publication by IOM here.