Voluntary Assisted Return and Reintegration Programme (VARRP)

Voluntary Assisted Return and Reintegration Programme (VARRP)

IOM Zimbabwe, in collaboration with IOM UK, has implemented the Voluntary Assisted Return and Reintegration programme (VARRP) since 2002. The programme assists asylum seekers and irregular migrants to return home safely and to successfully reintegrate into Zimbabwean society. Occasionally, IOM facilitates assisted voluntary return of migrants from other European countries.

The VARRP is implemented through well-tailored reintegration measures that support the socio-economic integration of returnees upon their return. Qualifying individuals are assisted with return arrangements (flights and travel documentation where needed), and provided grants to engage in a selected reintegration activity under the following options:

• Small business set-up
• Vocational training
• Education courses for adults and children

IOM provides further assistance to those selecting business set-up, by providing training in ‘Planning and Managing your Business’. The two-day training workshops and follow-up business coaching, are conducted in English and provide a broad range of information, advice and tools for promoting self-sufficiency through entrepreneurial activity.

Location:

Country-wide, Zimbabwe

Policy/practice area:

Socio-economic integration

Keywords:

Entrepreneurship, Refugees and asylum seekers, Return Migration

Integration Practitioner:

International Organization, Regional Organization or UN agency

Name of Organization:

International Organization for Migration

Website:

http://www.iomzimbabwe.org.zw/

Contact Information:

142 king George Road, Avondale
Harare
Phone: +263 4 335044/8
Email: rkapungu@iom.int

Other stakeholders involved in this practice:

IOM missions in Zimbabwe and the UK, work together to provide a holistic service to VARRP beneficiaries. IOM UK raises awareness on assisted voluntary return through road shows, community outreach, newspapers and radio among others, provides information on the return process before one decides to leave the UK, processes flight arrangements and where necessary, travel documents for qualifying individuals. In Zimbabwe, IOM receives returnees, assisting them with airport pickup and temporary accommodation where required, helps them with the choice of their reintegration activity, processes payments to relevant suppliers for training, education or business inputs, and conducts periodic monitoring and evaluation visits to the returnees to ascertain progress in the chosen activity.

Major Accomplishments:
• Zimbabwe ranks in the top ten countries of return from the UK through VARRP, and has received over 800 returnees since 2002
• VARRP beneficiaries contribute to employment creation and the emergence of small businesses that have not been in existence in their communities. These are beneficial to communities as a whole, and include grain milling, nursery schools, and internet cafes, among others.

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