IOM Czechia has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Refugee Facilities Administration of the Ministry of the Interior (SUZ) to enhance collaboration within the Bridges to Integration project. This partnership aims to support refugees, particularly Ukrainian temporary protection holders, in securing qualified employment and achieving greater self-sufficiency in Czech society.

The Bridges to Integration project addresses the fact that the majority of Ukrainian refugees in Czechia work in low-skilled positions despite having higher qualifications. Over the next 20 months, IOM will provide assistance with nostrification, requalification programs, and employment counseling, ensuring that refugees can access opportunities that match their skills and experience.

Centres for the Integration of Foreigners (CPIC), operated by SUZ, play a crucial role in this effort by providing long-term and structured support for migrant integration. They serve as a state-run equivalent of IOM’s Migrant Resource Centres—a "one-stop shop" for information and services. Over the past three years, CPICs have also become an important and relevant resource for Ukrainian temporary protection holders.

As a result, CPICs will be essential to the Bridges to Integration project, serving as key locations where expert consultants will provide counseling and assistance across regions in Czechia.

This project is made possible thanks to the funding from the European Union and the Ministry of the Interior of the Czech Republic.

Details about the project can be found here: https://czechia.iom.int/mosty-k-integraci-vzdelavani-prace-v-cr