Since 2007 Caritas International Belgium and Cordaid/Mediation Agency for Return (Maatwerk bij Terugkeer in Dutch) from The Netherlands have been working together within a European network focusing on capacity building of our African partner network in the field of tailor made reintegration assistance for migrants who have returned voluntarily to their countries of origin.

Our network addresses the need to improve voluntary return and reintegration practices in Africa and to strengthen our network of partners. Return to Africa is problematic, in part due to the particularities of the continent itself: family pressure and disappointment; housing and income difficulties coupled with psychosocial problems are among the issues faced by those who chose to return. These problems are particularly predominant for young men.

Our experiences show that these problems are common to African countries in which our partners are established. In order to facilitate this group in returning and reintegrating, partner organisations who are well aware of the specific challenges, problems, needs and obstacles related to sustainable reintegration are indispensable.

A conference was held and organized in Dakar, Senegal from October 18-21, 2010 . This event gathered African organizations, partners of Caritas International Belgium and the Cordaid / Mediation Agency for Return as well as Caritas offices and other interested parties.

The main objectives of the conference were:

1. To contribute to reinforcing Assisted Voluntary Return (AVR) practices in Africa and to contribute to a homogeneous support system across the continent.

2. To increase the knowledge on the socio-economic and psycho-social situation in the different countries of return in Africa.

3. To raise the awareness of our African network on AVR issues.

4. To create and foster a debate among local African partner offices around this sensible issue.

5. To reach a common position on return and reintegration

6. To share the results and lessons learned in our European network in order to improve AVR practices to Africa in other European member state countries.

The expected results of the conference were:

1. Lifting of taboos on AVR in Africa.

2. Better knowledge of AVR issues.

3. Better knowledge of reintegration possibilities in Africa.

4. Strengthening of the network.

5. Improvement of return and reintegration conditions.

6. Complementarity of the programme with locally existing opportunities.

7. Publication of a report called "AVR in Africa", in French, English and Dutch, dealing with pilot countries and distributed among the European and African partner network, as well as with other organisations involved with AVR