Funding programme

The Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund (AMIF) provides funding for actions in the field of asylum, legal migration and integration, return and countering irregular migration.

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Call overview

This all aims to prevent irregular migration by developing information and awareness-raising campaigns on the risks of irregular migration and migrant smuggling.

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Background

Raising awareness about the risks of irregular migration in third countries is crucial for preventing potential migrants from embarking on hazardous journeys to the EU, often facilitated by smuggling networks, and thereby for combating migrant smuggling. It is important to develop a counter-narrative to the messages promoted by migrant smugglers and traffickers.3 This can be achieved through various means, including but not limited to communication activities (social media campaigns, traditional media, outdoor advertising, and remote counselling), engaging local authorities and civil society in origin and transit countries, involving diaspora communities in the EU, implementing educational and cultural initiatives, and sharing real-life testimonies.

To this end, the Call to Action on a Global Alliance to Counter Migrant Smuggling, launched by the European Commission within the Global Alliance to Counter Migrant Smuggling on 28 November 2023, calls, among other things, for increased efforts to prevent irregular migration by developing information and awareness-raising campaigns on the risks of irregular migration and migrant smuggling in key countries of origin and transit, as well as on the availability of legal migration opportunities, in order to discourage people from making dangerous journeys. The main objective is to deter and prevent irregular migration by providing reliable information on the dangers of irregular migration, on available legal pathways to Europe and on alternative economic opportunities in the countries of origin.

Read more in the call document.

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Objectives

The general objective of this call for proposals is to enhance the prevention of irregular migration in countries of origin and transit and to undermine the business models of migrant smugglers by reducing the demand for their services. This should be achieved by raising awareness about the risks of irregular migration and migrant smuggling in key countries of origin and transit, informing potential migrants about available legal pathways to Europe, and highlighting alternative economic opportunities in their home countries. The aim is to provide reliable information to counter the false narrative promoted by criminal networks and to alter the perceptions and behaviour of third-country nationals considering irregular migration to the EU, as well as key influencers in their decisions, such as family members, religious or community leaders, teachers, returning migrants, and migration facilitators. This enables migrants and potential migrants to make better-informed decisions based on objective information rather than misinformation spread by smugglers.

Read more in the call document.

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Scope

Proposals for information and awareness-raising campaigns should target migrants in third countries of origin and transit along the key migratory routes towards the EU, in particular, the Eastern, Central and Western Mediterranean and Atlantic routes, the Western Balkans route, the Silk route, and the EU’s eastern border11.

Proposals should address and clearly indicate the above-mentioned migratory routes and/or one or more of the following priority third country(ies): Albania, Algeria, Bangladesh, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Côte d’Ivoire, Egypt, Gambia, Guinea, Iraq, Kosovo, Mauritania, Montenegro, Morocco, Nigeria, North Macedonia, Pakistan, Senegal, Serbia, Tunisia, and Türkiye.

Proposals for regional campaigns addressing multiple third countries along a migratory route/neighbouring countries will be favourably considered, provided that such a regional approach is strategically meaningful and aligns with the call’s objectives.

Campaigns conducted in third countries may include complementary components in Europe aimed at engaging the target audiences’ social networks established in the destination countries.

Campaigns that envisage activities in EU countries should specify how the diaspora in EU Member States will be involved and how the messages will be addressed in the countries of origin. Campaigns focusing solely on the diaspora within EU Member States without activities implemented in third countries are not in the scope of this call.

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Eligibility

In order to be eligible, the applicants (beneficiaries and affiliated entities) must:

− be legal entities (public or private bodies)

− be established in one of the eligible countries, i.e.:

• EU Member States (including overseas countries and territories (OCTs)), excluding Denmark,
• non-EU countries: countries associated to the AMIF (associated countries) or countries which are in ongoing negotiations for an association agreement and where the agreement enters into force before grant signature

The following entities can NOT apply as beneficiaries/affiliated entities:

• profit making entities

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Consortium composition

Proposals must be submitted by:

• minimum three applicants (beneficiaries; not affiliated entities) from three different participating Member States. Affiliated entities and international organisations cannot be counted for reaching the minimum number of participating Member States.

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Budget

Total budget: EUR 10 000 000