The MIDWEB project offers a temporary placement opportunities for 60 qualified professionals who come from Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia and UNSC Resolution 1244 administered Kosovo, and live permanently in Austria, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Switzerland and the UK. The participants can go back to their countries of origin, for a short period of time to share their skills and expertise and contribute to the development of their country of origin.

The placements will respond to capacity-building needs in selected priority sectors in the target countries. IOM will be responsible for matching the human resource needs with the available expertise in its database. The temporary return assignments will have an average duration of 2 months and an allowance will be paid to each participant to cover their accommodation and living expenses. The exact period depends on the terms of reference formulated by the host institution and availability of the migrant in case he or she is employed in his/her country of residence or has family obligations.

The knowledge transfer will utilize a training of trainers (TOT) approach, curriculum development, awareness-raising activities, assessment studies, practical skills courses, management advice and other appropriate methodologies. The filling of regular vacancies by diaspora experts is not the purpose of this project.

In addition, the project will facilitate 12 virtual return assignments that will be carried out by making use of e-learning programmes or videoconferencing. Training and teaching programmes, courses, curriculum development and expert advice and services can be carried out for different fields, including health, education and management, without necessarily having physical presence in the country of origin. One virtual return assignment can consist of two or three sessions, depending on the nature of the skills transfer.

This component is managed by IOM the Netherlands, with the help of focal points in Austria, Germany, Italy, Switzerland and the UK. For more information, please contact:

For Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and Montenegro:
Zia Gulam
Tel.: +31 70 3181 571
E-mail: zgulam@iom.int

For Serbia and UNSC Resolution 1244 administered Kosovo:
Hans Eijkhout
Tel.: +31 70 3181 563
E-mail: heijkhout@iom.int