The RECO-YOUTH project – from refugee to co-creator: navigating youth integration in a time of uncertainty
Where does the future of young Ukrainian refugees lie? Will they return to Ukraine, or build their lives in Norway? They navigate between two worlds – one connected to their country of origin and one to the host country. At the same time, national authorities face the challenge of designing and implementing policies for this group in a context marked by significant uncertainty.
In collaboration with IMDi and HK-dir, the RECO-YOUTH project analyses, develops and tests new solutions to improve and better coordinate integration policies and services for young people with a refugee background in Norway. To achieve this goal, we will examine the integration experiences of young Ukrainian refugees (aged 16–21) – a large and growing group in Norway; strengthen coordination across levels and sectors within integration policy; and create social meeting spaces (living labs).
The project adopts a dual comparative perspective. First, it conducts in-depth analyses of experiences, challenges and best practices among young Ukrainian refugees and public and voluntary integration actors, comparing experiences and practices across counties and municipalities in Norway. Second, it includes a comparison between Norway and Poland.
Available data and expectations:
The first pillar focuses on examining how young Ukrainian refugees experience integration in Norway, the challenges they face, and what can be considered best practice (through a survey and qualitative interviews with young Ukrainian refugees aged 16–21).
The second pillar aims to strengthen coordination between national, county and municipal actors in the field of integration, through mapping existing challenges and co-creation seminars where actors can meet and jointly develop solutions.
The project will also draw lessons from Polish integration experiences. Poland looks like an innovative model, having received more than one million Ukrainian refugees within a short period of time. Quantitative interviews with young Ukrainian refugees in Poland and case studies in Polish municipalities are planned.
The fourth pillar involves the establishment of two Living Labs – one at the municipal level and one at the regional level – where young people, integration actors and local communities can meet and collaboratively develop measures to strengthen the integration of refugee youth in Norway. Young refugees are viewed as active co-creators and “equal stakeholders”, and the Living Labs are expected to enhance their agency and participation.
RECO-YOUTH aims to explore:
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- How increased temporariness and uncertainty affect young refugees’ experiences and strategies for educational, labour market and social integration.
- What challenges and opportunities exist for ensuring better coordination across multiple levels and sectors in the development and implementation of policies for young refugees.
- How co-creative approaches can be used to strengthen holistic integration services for young refugees.
Duration
2026 - 2029
Source of funding
The Research Council of Norway - 14,994,000 NOK
