Ethiopian Catholic Church Shares Returnee Reintegration Experience at International Embassy Seminar

The 15th Annual Embassy Seminar, jointly organized by IOM Norway and the Norwegian Directorate of Immigration (UDI) in Oslo, brought together diplomats, government officials, and migration partners to discuss best practices in assisted voluntary return and reintegration. Held under the theme “Assisted Voluntary Return and Reintegration: From Policy to Practice,” the seminar gathered 90 participants, including representatives from 43 embassies, 22 Norwegian government officials, and partner organizations such as Caritas.

The Ethiopian Catholic Church was represented by Ms. Mihret Seifu, Project Coordinator for Returnee Reintegration Programs at Catholic Caritas Ethiopia, who participated as a panelist during the event. In her presentation, she highlighted the realities faced by Ethiopian returnees and shared the experiences of the Church’s reintegration programs aimed at supporting migrants returning to their communities.

Ms. Mihret also presented the collaboration between Catholic Caritas Ethiopia and FRONTEX under the European Reintegration Programme (EURP), through which the Church has been supporting the reintegration of returning migrants over recent years. She emphasized that successful reintegration begins long before returnees arrive home, noting the importance of pre-return counseling to help manage expectations and reduce the stigma that many returnees face within their families and communities.

Addressing participants from across diplomatic and migration sectors, Mihret underscored the importance of comprehensive reintegration support that promotes sustainable social and economic inclusion. She noted that since 2019, the Ethiopian Catholic Church, through Catholic Caritas Ethiopia, has assisted more than 300 returnees, including both voluntary returnees and deportees from Europe, in successfully reintegrating into their families and communities. The support provided includes economic assistance, psychosocial care, counseling services, and livelihood opportunities aimed at promoting long-term self-reliance and resilience.

The seminar provided an important platform for dialogue on migration policies and practices, particularly in light of recent legislative developments within the European Union. It also offered an opportunity for the Ethiopian Catholic Church to share its experience and commitment to accompanying returning migrants with dignity, compassion, and practical support.

Through its ongoing reintegration initiatives, Catholic Caritas Ethiopia continues to support vulnerable returnees as they rebuild their lives, strengthen their livelihoods, and contribute to the well-being of their communities, reflecting the Church’s mission of promoting human dignity, solidarity, and hope.