Impact evaluation of Reception and Integration System projects for migrants in Tuscany

Title Valutazione di impatto sociale dei progetti SAI – Sistema di Accoglienza ed Integrazione capofilati dal Comune di Rosignano Marittimo e dalla Società della Salute Alta Val d’Elsa –

Location Tuscany, Italy

Duration 2025

Funding  ARCI Comitato Regionale Toscano

 

Context

During the three-year period 2023–2025, the Municipality of Rosignano Marittimo and the Società della Salute dell’Alta Val d’Elsa (local health authority) acted as lead organisations for two SAI project for the reception and integration of migrants. The projects, which are part of the national integrated reception services for refugees, asylum seekers, unaccompanied foreign minors, foreigners entrusted to the social services, and migrants in general, were implemented with the support of ARCI Toscana Regional Committee. In particular, these specific projects were aimed at facilitating the integration of single adult men and families who are beneficiaries of international protection or asylum seekers.

At the time of the analysis, the project led by the Municipality of Rosignano Marittimo coordinated 49 spots across 10 reception facilities distributed across the municipalities in the area. The project led by the SdS Alta Val d’Elsa coordinated 21 spots across 3 facilities: 11 spots in Poggibonsi, 5 spots in Colle di Val d’Elsa, and 5 spots in San Gimignano.

Given the intention of the Municipality of Rosignano and the SdS Alta Val d’Elsa to resubmit their projects within the SAI system for the three-year period 2025–2027, they decided to assess the social impact generated by their respective projects between 2023 and 2025, in order to understand better the changes brought about not only for the beneficiaries of international protection but also for the local communities.

 

General Objective

To assess the impact of the projects, ARCI Toscana Regional Committee and the other lead organisations involved ARCO’s Local Development Unit to carry out a social impact assessment by mapping the stakeholders connected to the SAI projects and by analysing the changes generated during the three-year period 2023–2025.

 

Our contribution

To assess the social impact of the projects, the Local Development Unit mapped the projects stakeholders, using a qualitative and participatory approach to identify the impacts generated by the activities promoted by the SAI project.

The research group adopted an integrated approach that combined desk-based analysis of project documents and materials with semi-structured group interviews with the SAI project coordinator and staff, as well as representatives of the lead organisations.
In addition, Researchers conducted focus groups and/or interviews with project users, as well as semi-structured interviews with other key actors identified through the stakeholder mapping, including the municipal authorities involved, third sector organisations and private actors.

This approach allowed ARCO’s team to involve stakeholders in reflecting on the impacts generated by the two SAI projects, producing evidence and results useful for future planning and strengthening the link between the reception system and the local context.

The analysis shows that both SAI projects – albeit with their own specific characteristics – have generated numerous changes and outcomes, primarily for the beneficiaries of the reception projects themselves in terms of learning the Italian language and knowledge of the local area, career guidance and vocational training, guidance on local services, and support for independent living, but more generally for a wide range of actors within the local context, including institutional bodies and project teams.

There is also a clear intention to invest further in the social integration of beneficiaries within the communities and to carry out a further social impact assessment over the next three-year project period, integrating this into activities from the very outset.

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