Empowering beyond borders
Scaling up a gender-sensitive model for women’s economic reintegration
Client
International Labour Organisation
The Challenge
The International Labour Organisation (ILO) sought to scale up its successful pilot initiative, "Women as Financially Independent Rural Actors" (WAFIRA), aimed at the socio-economic reintegration of Moroccan women seasonal migrant workers. The project needed to transition from a pilot to a broader, institutionalised model, extending its geographic reach and integrating new international partners from France and Portugal, alongside existing Spanish and Moroccan partners. This required comprehensive project design and implementation proposal aligned with European migration and economic inclusion policies.
What We Did
We led a thorough review and analysis of all pilot-phase evaluations, technical reports, and monitoring data to establish a robust understanding of achievements, gaps, and potential improvements. We took a systems-thinking and user-centred approach to the design the scale-up proposal, ensuring that every element was informed by the lived realities of circular migrants—particularly women. Key activities included:
Conducting extensive stakeholder engagement through structured remote consultations with ILO teams, Moroccan authorities (MIEPEEC, ANAPEC), the Spanish Secretariat of State for Migration, and representatives from prospective new partners in France, Portugal, Mauritania, and Cap Verde. This was essential to ensure the proposal was grounded in diverse, real-world perspectives, building genuine ownership among those who would deliver and benefit from the programme.
Designing and refining the programme proposal using a systems-thinking and user-centred lens, ensuring that all activities followed a logical, gender-sensitive framework. This alignment with both European and national policy objectives was critical, not only for funder confidence, but to ensure the programme would be scalable, relevant, and resilient in the face of complex migration realities.
Drafting a comprehensive project document, including a detailed logical framework, risk assessment, and a realistic budget in line with ICMPD standards. By foregrounding operational feasibility and sustainability, we enabled the ILO and its partners to make a credible case for investment and long-term impact.
Throughout, we iteratively incorporated stakeholder feedback, making sure the final documentation was not only technically sound but also accurately reflected collective strategic objectives and operational realities on the ground. This co-design approach increased the likelihood of successful institutionalisation, adaptability, and long-term benefits for women and rural communities.
All of these elements were driven by the need to move beyond a short-term pilot and create a robust, inclusive system for reintegration, one that responds to the real needs of circular migrants and delivers measurable socio-economic empowerment, particularly for women, at scale.
Outcome
The finalised project document provided a clear, structured, and strategically aligned roadmap for scaling WAFIRA II, fully meeting submission standards for ICMPD. The proposed programme incorporated comprehensive stakeholder insights and offered robust, actionable strategies for institutionalisation and geographical expansion. It positioned the ILO and its partners effectively for the project's next phase, ensuring sustained socio-economic benefits for Moroccan women migrants through expanded income-generating activities and strengthened institutional support.