Sustainable Migration Solutions: Case Studies in Service Integration and Support

The study by the World Bank’s Social Protection & Jobs team examines how seven countries integrate services and case management for migrants, highlighting successes in collaboration, digital solutions, and economic benefits while identifying gaps in sustainability, follow-up, and legal barriers. It emphasizes that well-structured, government-led, and data-driven approaches are key to long-term migrant integration and economic inclusion.

The study, conducted by the World Bank’s Social Protection & Jobs team, examines service integration and case management approaches for economic migrants, refugees, asylum-seekers, and returnees across seven countries Bangladesh, Colombia, Italy, Kosovo, Lithuania, Turkey, and Romania. By analyzing interventions across eleven dimensions, including institutional arrangements, financing, and monitoring, the report identifies both successful strategies and persistent challenges. The research highlights that collaboration between national governments, local authorities, NGOs, and multilateral organizations is essential for providing comprehensive service delivery and ensuring the sustainable integration of people on the move. Governments offer scalability and institutionalization, NGOs fill gaps for vulnerable groups, and international agencies such as USAID and the European Union fund early-stage interventions. However, the long-term sustainability of these models remains a critical issue, as many programs rely on external funding with limited government ownership.

Case Management in Action: Lessons from Seven Countries

The findings reveal that well-structured case management systems can facilitate economic and social integration, benefiting both host nations and migrant populations. Countries like Colombia, Italy, and Lithuania have implemented one-stop-shop service integration models, streamlining access to essential services such as employment assistance, legal aid, healthcare, and education. In Colombia, the Centros Intégrate, initially funded by USAID, have transitioned to government control under the Ministry of Equity and Equality, ensuring long-term sustainability. These centers provide crucial support to Venezuelan migrants and returnees, removing bureaucratic barriers and facilitating their inclusion in social protection systems. Similarly, in Italy, the Spazio Comune centers function as integration hubs for economic migrants and refugees, offering services through partnerships between municipalities and NGOs. The model is flexible, allowing for localized adaptation while maintaining a common goal of fostering migrant inclusion. In Lithuania, the MiCenter, managed by IOM Lithuania, offers a combination of legal support, career counseling, and language training, reflecting the country’s efforts to integrate its growing foreign population into the labor market.

Digital Solutions: Transforming Migrant Support Services

One of the most effective innovations in case management is the use of digital platforms to enhance service efficiency. Romania’s Digital One-Stop-Shop for Ukrainian refugees in Cluj, supported by the World Bank and the European Union, has been a game-changer. This platform allows refugees to register for social services, apply for jobs, and access language courses online, reducing the administrative burden on local authorities and improving service delivery. Within just five months, 90% of the target refugee population in Cluj had used the platform, leading to a 33% increase in employment—the highest improvement among comparable regions. Similarly, in Kosovo, a comprehensive Case Management System (CMS) ensures that returnees receive structured reintegration support. Led by the Ministry of Internal Affairs, this program coordinates housing, employment, and financial aid at both national and municipal levels, ensuring that services reach those in need. These digital innovations streamline service delivery, improve data tracking, and ensure continuity, making them valuable models for other countries seeking to enhance migrant integration.

Challenges in Bridging the Gap Between Needs and Services

Despite notable successes, significant challenges persist in ensuring that migrants can fully access and benefit from available services. In Bangladesh, the Migrant Welfare Centers, run by the Wage Earners’ Welfare Board (WEWB) with support from the World Bank, provide counseling, legal aid, and financial assistance to returnees. However, a lack of follow-up mechanisms prevents effective tracking of long-term reintegration outcomes. A similar challenge exists in Turkey, where the Turkish Red Crescent’s Community Centers offer integrated services for Syrian refugees but struggle with funding limitations that impact their ability to scale operations. The research underscores that while many programs provide immediate relief, long-term sustainability is often uncertain, particularly when government involvement is minimal. Another common challenge is bureaucratic and legal barriers, which limit migrants' access to mainstream social protection programs. While returnees often receive more comprehensive case management, foreign migrants may experience fragmented service delivery due to legal restrictions. Addressing these barriers requires stronger policy frameworks, improved coordination across agencies, and increased financial investment from national governments.

The Road Ahead: Sustainable Integration and Economic Impact

The study highlights that migrant integration is not just a social responsibility but an economic opportunity. Once settled, migrants contribute skills, entrepreneurship, and labor force participation, strengthening host economies. However, rigorous evaluations are needed to determine whether personalized case management approaches justify their costs compared to more streamlined service models. Countries like Colombia, which is transitioning the funding of Centros Intégrate from USAID to government sources, illustrate the importance of institutionalizing migrant services. Similarly, Kosovo’s structured reintegration program for returnees, backed by a digital case management system, demonstrates the value of a government-led, data-driven approach to ensure long-term success. The report suggests that the most effective models are those that combine personalized case management with broader service integration, ensuring that migrants not only receive initial support but also achieve long-term economic and social inclusion.

By analyzing diverse global models, this research provides valuable insights into best practices and existing gaps in migrant case management. Countries that invest in holistic, collaborative, and data-driven integration strategies are more likely to achieve sustainable outcomes. The study emphasizes that service integration and case management are not only humanitarian imperatives but also smart economic policies, fostering inclusive growth and social stability for both migrants and host communities.