On January 20th, 2020, the Tocqueville Foundation in collaboration with the Abdul Latif Jameel
Poverty Action Lab (J-PAL) and Community Jameel, organized a forum on strategies for promoting
social inclusion of migrants, with a particular focus in Europe. The event featured the work of J-PAL’s
European Social Inclusion Initiative, and explored how philanthropy can harness the power of
rigorous evidence to effectively promote social inclusion for migrants.
The panel discussion examined the role that private and public actors can play in supporting policies
and programs that can help reduce social exclusion of migrants. The conversation focused on what
we have learned so far about the effectiveness of these programs, as well as how we think research
now underway by J-PAL research affiliates will transform policies in this area.
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The debate was introduced by Fady Jameel; President of Community Jameel.
Jean-Christophe Laugée moderated the panel discussion.
Marc Gurgand, Scentific Director, J-PAL Europe, provided a review of the existing rigorous evidence
on fostering social inclusion for migrants and refugees and explained how new research can fill
pressing gaps in our understanding of this policy priority for many European countries.
Sule Alan, Professor of Economics, European University Institute – spoke of her research in Turkey
examining the most effective ways to promote the inclusion of Syrian refugees in Turkish schools.
Johan Bäckström, Managing Director, Kompis Sverige – Mr. Bäckström presented how Kompis
Sverige’s “Swedish buddy” program experience was designed to promote migrants’ language skills
and sense of belonging
Anna Schrimpf, Executive Director, J-PAL Europe, closed the discussion by explaining what kinds of
insights the European Social Inclusion Initiative aimed to produce in the next five years and how
these could transform inclusion efforts