IOM, Caritas Makeni Partner to Support Returning Migrants and Vulnerable Communities
Sia Lucy Kannah The International Organization for Migration (IOM) Sierra Leone and Caritas Makeni have signed a strategic partnership agreement aimed at strengthening support for vulnerable populations and returning migrants across northern Sierra Leone.
The partnership seeks to help returning migrants rebuild their lives with dignity while strengthening the resilience of communities receiving them. It will also focus on addressing challenges that affect successful reintegration and contribute to irregular migration.
Under the agreement, the two organisations will implement targeted interventions in four priority sectors, including Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS). This component will provide psychological care and social support to help returning migrants cope with trauma, address emotional challenges and readjust to life in their home communities.
Caritas Makeni, the relief and development arm of the Catholic Diocese of Makeni, brings more than four decades of grassroots experience to the partnership. Established in 1979, the organisation has developed extensive community networks and built strong relationships across northern Sierra Leone, with a focus on youth development, reintegration and rural community empowerment.
The collaboration will combine IOM’s global expertise in migration management with Caritas Makeni’s established local presence and community-based infrastructure to deliver tailored reintegration support.
Through the initiative, both organisations aim to promote community cohesion, strengthen support systems for returning migrants and address some of the underlying factors contributing to irregular migration across the region.
By bringing together their respective expertise and resources, IOM Sierra Leone and Caritas Makeni seek to create more sustainable reintegration opportunities for returnees while improving the well-being and resilience of vulnerable communities.
Editorial note: The source mentions four priority sectors but only identifies Mental Health and Psychosocial Support. The other three sectors should be confirmed and included before publication to provide a complete account of the agreement.