In recent years, there has been an increase in human mobility worldwide due to drivers such as the search for better opportunities abroad, natural and human-caused crises, environmental degradation and the increased circulation of information because of better technology. Higher flows of migration have also been accompanied by higher volumes of migrants returning to their countries of origin. Motivations for returning home range from the desire to reunite with families, lack of legal status, changed conditions in either host countries or countries of origin, to a sense of achievement of the migration experience and the willingness to start a new life back home, among others. Return is often followed by a process of re-inclusion or re-incorporation of migrants into their society. This process is usually referred to as “reintegration”. 

However, the mere fact that someone returns to a country or place where they have previously lived does not mean that reintegration is seamless. For some, return is connected to an array of challenges. Return and reintegration assistance can help migrants in overcoming some challenges which would otherwise be impossible. Return counselling is a fundamental element in the design, development and implementation of reintegration assistance and is one of the most effective ways to provide tailored assistance to returnees. It should, whenever possible, begin before the departure from the host country to support migrants in making an informed decision for return and prepare for reintegration. To avoid confusion and frustration, objective and balanced information on the country of origin should be provided to advise potential returnees of the challenges and responsibilities ahead. Considering that in Switzerland return and reintegration assistance is provided to beneficiaries for more than 50 countries on an annual basis, it is impossible for return counsellors to be aware of the reintegration modalities of all countries.

This handbook aims to bridge this disconnect, through the provision of tailored, country-specific information, allowing the engagement and empowerment of returning migrants before departure. It provides practical guidance on the design and development of economic reintegration activities for migrants returning to 15 countries. These countries have been selected based on the number of migrants assisted through IOM Switzerland’s projects between 2017 and 2019. Whilst reintegration can take place in various return contexts, such as spontaneous, forced or assisted voluntary returns or internal displacement, this handbook focuses exclusively on assisted voluntary return and reintegration (AVRR). Moreover, it focuses solely on economic reintegration assistance and specifically income generating activities.