WELDI baseline report

Osijek (HR)
96,000 inhabitants
Local coordinator: Officer at Department for Social Protection, Pensioners and
Health - responsible for refugees, migrants and other vulnerable groups
Local initiative in continuing the success story of Ukrainian refugee reception
Osijek’s civil society is proud of having
managed the arrival of newcomers
from Ukraine - about 800 people
came in a very short amount of time
and found shelter in the city. After
initial support, cultural activities,
employment and language learning
was organised quickly, mobilising 120
volunteers. This experience reminded
many locals of their own story of forced
displacement in the 1990s, which
meant that they could easily relate to
and sympathise with the newcomers.
In addition to that, the city and civil
society could build on the experience
of managing the arrival of refugees
in 2015. Although back then, most
people moved on, it created a pilot for
cooperation between the city council
and NGOs. Almost two years after
their arrival, about 500 Ukranians
continue to stay in Osijek, but the
initial dynamism of reception seems
to ebb away. National government has
no plan about what should be the next
steps and there are less resources
available for local actors providing support.
But the capacity that has been
built up locally suggests continuing
the successful path that has been started.
First steps in doing this would be
to further improve stakeholder coordination
and to launch new initiatives,
e.g. to foster the economic integration
of Ukrainians with external funding.
Preliminary focus of the integrated action plan
▷ Develop a stakeholder exchange
platform for better coordination.
▷ Start an initiative to assess and
record qualifications of jobseeking
refugees.
▷ Set up a social agency for
temporary job placements
for locals and newcomers,
with the support of the Public
Employment Service. This could
be coupled with support in the
recognition of qualifications and
language training where needed.
Partner profiles 44