Bridging Employability and Social Inclusion Through Mutual Exchange
Innovative Approaches to Refugee Integration (IARI) is an eighteen-month project designed to strengthen the social and labor market inclusion of people displaced from Ukraine in Poland and Italy. Building on and scaling up innovative practices from existing initiatives, the project tackles the gap between displaced Ukrainians’ skills and available job opportunities while fostering the exchange of best practices among partners.
Alongside OPORA, project partners include Poland-based organizations Polska Akcja Humanitarna (PAH) and Fundacja Emic, and Italy’s RED Nova. Each partner plays a distinct role, contributing in multiple ways throughout different phases of the project. OPORA’s main role is to analyze policy frameworks and assess the needs of displaced Ukrainians, while also facilitating mutual learning sessions to improve ongoing interventions.
Presenting research results
Needs Assessment Report: February 2026
Comparative Policy Review Analysis: February 2026
This report explores the lived experiences, needs, and aspirations of displaced persons from Ukraine living under the Temporary Protection Directive in two regions: Piedmont in Italy and the Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodeship in Poland. Conducted between June and August 2025, the study employs a mixed-methods approach. The analysis focuses on key dimensions of integration, including employment, housing, education, healthcare, and social participation.
This comparative policy report examines how the EU Temporary Protection Directive was implemented in Poland and Italy. It traces the shift from emergency solidarity toward longer-term inclusion, analysing legal frameworks, governance structures, labour and social integration measures, and political contexts. Using country case studies and comparative analysis, it highlights shared challenges, divergent approaches, and policy implications for sustainable protection of displaced people across different national welfare systems.
Presenting research results
Needs Assessment Report: February 2026
Comparative Policy Review Analysis: February 2026
This report explores the lived experiences, needs, and aspirations of displaced persons from Ukraine living under the Temporary Protection Directive in two regions: Piedmont in Italy and the Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodeship in Poland. Conducted between June and August 2025, the study employs a mixed-methods approach. The analysis focuses on key dimensions of integration, including employment, housing, education, healthcare, and social participation.
Project Activities
OPORA’s work on the project is carried out in four main phases:
Needs Assessment
Conduct interviews with displaced Ukrainians in Poland’s Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodeship and Italy’s Piedmont region to assess the specific needs on social inclusion and labor integration.
Needs Assessment
Conduct interviews with displaced Ukrainians in Poland’s Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodeship and Italy’s Piedmont region to assess the specific needs on social inclusion and labor integration.
Expert Interviews
Engage in action research together with our project partners to discuss current initiatives and their potential, making sure the plans are not made for but with organizations.
Expert Interviews
Engage in action research together with our project partners to discuss current initiatives and their potential, making sure the plans are not made for but with organizations.
Mutual Learning Sessions
Organize learning sessions based on our data collection to identify an innovative and scalable model of social and labor market inclusion, based on best practices of RED Nova, PAH and Emic’s activities.
Mutual Learning Sessions
Organize learning sessions based on our data collection to identify an innovative and scalable model of social and labor market inclusion, based on best practices of RED Nova, PAH and Emic’s activities.
Toolbox Development
Support the development of a toolbox that comprises scalable actions and improvements that benefit civil society organizations and public and private stakeholders and foster greater social and labor market inclusion for displaced Ukrainians in Poland, Italy, and beyond.
Toolbox Development
Support the development of a toolbox that comprises scalable actions and improvements that benefit civil society organizations and public and private stakeholders and foster greater social and labor market inclusion for displaced Ukrainians in Poland, Italy, and beyond.
Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Social Fund Agency. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.
Partners
Innovative Approaches to Refugee Integration (IARI)
Bridging Employability and Social Inclusion Through Mutual Exchange
Innovative Approaches to Refugee Integration (IARI) is an eighteen-month project designed to strengthen the social and labor market inclusion of people displaced from Ukraine in Poland and Italy. Building on and scaling up innovative practices from existing initiatives, the project tackles the gap between displaced Ukrainians’ skills and available job opportunities while fostering the exchange of best practices among partners.
Alongside OPORA, project partners include Poland-based organizations Polska Akcja Humanitarna (PAH) and Fundacja Emic, and Italy’s RED Nova. Each partner plays a distinct role, contributing in multiple ways throughout different phases of the project. OPORA’s main role is to analyze policy frameworks and assess the needs of displaced Ukrainians, while also facilitating mutual learning sessions to improve ongoing interventions.
Presenting research results
Needs Assessment Report: February 2026
Comparative Policy Review Analysis: February 2026
This report explores the lived experiences, needs, and aspirations of displaced persons from Ukraine living under the Temporary Protection Directive in two regions: Piedmont in Italy and the Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodeship in Poland. Conducted between June and August 2025, the study employs a mixed-methods approach. The analysis focuses on key dimensions of integration, including employment, housing, education, healthcare, and social participation.
Project Activities
OPORA’s work on the project is carried out in four main phases:
Needs Assessment
Conduct interviews with displaced Ukrainians in Poland’s Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodeship and Italy’s Piedmont region to assess the specific needs on social inclusion and labor integration.
Expert Interviews
Engage in action research together with our project partners to discuss current initiatives and their potential, making sure the plans are not made for but with organizations.
Mutual Learning Sessions
Organize learning sessions based on our data collection to identify an innovative and scalable model of social and labor market inclusion, based on best practices of RED Nova, PAH and Emic’s activities.
Toolbox Development
Support the development of a toolbox that comprises scalable actions and improvements that benefit civil society organizations and public and private stakeholders and foster greater social and labor market inclusion for displaced Ukrainians in Poland, Italy, and beyond.
Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Social Fund Agency. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.
Partners