What is RISE
RISE – Reinforcing Integration through Sponsorship Enhancement – is a Community Sponsorship initiative that connects local residents and communities with migrants who are forced to start a new life in a new country.
RISE fosters collaboration between these two groups and empowers local residents (whether acting individually or as part of a group) to actively engage in creating a welcoming and safe environment. This includes helping migrants find safe housing, settle in, and integrate into their new communities.
The project brings together the International Organization for Migration (IOM), the Lithuanian Reception and Integration Agency, and university researchers from Italy and Belgium. Together, they provide guidance and equip local residents (Community Sponsors) with the knowledge, tools, and resources they need to support the integration process of forced migrants.
RISE is funded by the European Union through the Asylum, Migration, and Integration Fund (2021-2027) and is implemented by IOM in Belgium and Luxembourg, Italy, and Lithuania, in cooperation with Roma Tre University, Odisee University of Applied Sciences, and the Lithuanian Reception and Integration Agency.
RISE connects communities with individuals seeking safety and a new start. Together, we create welcoming spaces where everyone has the opportunity to thrive.
Our Purpose
The RISE project aims to lead various Community Sponsorship activities and promote Community Sponsor engagements across Belgium, Italy, and Lithuania.
At RISE, we aim to:
- Strengthen knowledge of existing Community Sponsorship programs
- Increase the number of available housing options
- Develop practical toolkits for housing actors (real estate agents and landlords), government entities, local residents, and refugees
- Recruit and engage volunteer sponsors, matching them with refugees in need of sponsorship
- Promote closer collaboration across EU member states by sharing best practices in Community Sponsorship and private hosting
Why housing is fundamental?
At RISE, we are confident that affordable and accessible housing is a fundamental human right. The project follows the “Housing at the Centre” approach which is the key to building sustainable communities and ensuring that everyone has a safe, stable place to live, especially those in need of international protection.
By working with local governments, real estate agencies, landlords, host families, and other stakeholders, we aim to increase the availability of housing options and engage communities to welcome refugees as tenants and neighbours.
Providing Assistance for Transitioning Housing Solutions (PATHS)
The PATHS Project, funded by ESF+, is a pioneering initiative designed to prevent homelessness among beneficiaries of International and Temporary Protection in Belgium, France, and Greece. It focuses on supporting their transition to sustainable housing and independent living through Community Sponsorship and innovative service delivery models. This is where the PATHS and RISE projects intersect, both striving to create long-term housing solutions.
Key objectives include building the capacity of intermediary organizations, raising awareness about equal and affordable housing, and engaging key stakeholders such as property owners, real estate agencies, and community groups. The initiative also enhances housing matching platforms in Belgium, France, and Greece, facilitating better connections between beneficiaries and available housing opportunities.
IOM Belgium & Luxembourg collaborates with Fedasil and Orbit to mobilize resources and networks, identifying beneficiaries in need of housing as well as landlords with available properties. By interlinking the PATHS and RISE platforms, both projects will reinforce each other in the pursuit of sustainable housing for all.
As the lead partner of the RISE project, IOM Lithuania ensures seamless collaboration among all partners, drawing on their expertise to deliver the best outcomes across Belgium, Italy, and Lithuania.
IOM Lithuania spearheads the Community Sponsorship initiative, equipping sponsors and communities with the tools and knowledge to provide meaningful support throughout the sponsorship journey.
In addition, IOM Lithuania organizes Steering Committee meetings, Community Sponsorship events, and fosters dialogue with key stakeholders, including government institutions, municipalities, and NGOs, to ensure a coordinated and comprehensive approach to the integration of forced migrants.
www.lithuania.iom.int
In Belgium, the RISE project contributes to the efforts of Fedasil in expanding the Community Sponsorship efforts, as such offering an alternative or additional reception solution for resettled refugees while increasing the resettlement efforts in the longer term.
IOM Belgium and Luxembourg, the implementing partner in Belgium, actively engages diaspora communities to ensure the diversification of sponsors – with the advice and in coordination with the Diaspora Advisory Board (DAB).
In close coordination with Fedasil, IOM Belgium and Luxembourg is also responsible for processing the registrations of Sponsor Groups and ensuring close monitoring to accompany both the reception groups and newcomers in this journey. By mobilizing and training Sponsor groups, this office plays a key role in fostering successful Community Sponsorships, ensuring sponsors and newcomers are well-supported at every step of the journey.
belgium.iom.int
In the framework of the RISE project, IOM Italy liaises with project partners and relevant stakeholders involved in Community Sponsorship schemes at the national level to support their enhancement and sustainability.
In particular, IOM Italy collaborates and coordinates efforts with the University of Roma Tre in order to contribute to the relevance and coherence of the research, mapping, training, and practical tools development. All the activities are carried out in coordination with IOM Lithuania as the managing mission, IOM Belgium as the implementing mission, and other relevant project partners.
eca.iom.int/italy
As a partner in the RISE project, Odisee University of Applied Sciences leads the development of recommendations to improve Community Sponsorship practices.
By building on proven methods and addressing gaps identified through research, Odisee contributes to creating a stronger foundation for future sponsorship initiatives.
Odisee and IOM build on the research conducted by Odisee on the success rate of private accommodation of Ukrainian refugees in Belgium (the #freespot campaign).
www.odisee.be
Roma Tre University, as an implementing partner in the RISE project, focuses on several key areas. The university is responsible for developing toolkits to support the establishment and refinement of Community Sponsorship (CS) models, with a particular emphasis on the housing component.
Additionally, Roma Tre University develops training packages for trainers to pilot CS schemes, ensuring that the training materials are comprehensive and tailored to the project’s needs. This includes evaluating the effectiveness of these training materials in CS schemes.
The university also provides support and coordination for the implementation of research components, working closely with other consortium members to achieve the project’s objectives. This involves conducting qualitative research to gather in-depth insights and understand the dynamics of Community Sponsorship, which helps improve the matching criteria for beneficiaries and sponsors. Furthermore, Roma Tre University is responsible for developing an impact assessment framework with key performance indicators to monitor and evaluate the project’s progress and outcomes. This ensures a thorough and systematic evaluation of the project’s impact, helping to identify successes, challenges, and areas for future development.
www.uniroma3.it
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www.vilnius.caritas.lt
The Federal Agency for the Reception of Asylum Seekers (Fedasil) is an associate partner of the RISE project and a key consortium member in Belgium. Since launching the Community Sponsorship (CS) programme in 2020, in collaboration with Caritas International, Fedasil has been the competent government institution overseeing the initiative. The CS model supports Fedasil in fostering strong relationships with local governments, sponsors, host families, and landlords, ensuring effective integration and access to basic services for asylum-seekers.
www.fedasil.be
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