Discover how MISUP’s Pillars of Power training empowers professionals to support migrant communities.
The MISUP project – Strengthening Migrant-Supporting Communities, is transforming how organizations serve migrant populations by reinforcing their core leadership and operational capacity. It is built on a simple but powerful premise: to better serve migrant communities, we must fi rst empower the organizations that support them. By reinforcing the capacity of MSO leaders, the project seeks to improve the ability of these organisations to support migrants in their communities more effectively.
Rooted in Reality:
Identifying the Needs of MSO Leaders
At the heart of this initiative is Work Package 2 (WP2), which developed the “Pillars of Strengthening” (PoS) methodology to provide leaders of Migrant Supporting Organisations (MSOs) with the essential tools for effective management and long-term sustainability.
This methodology was rooted in rigorous research conducted across Spain, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Italy, and Greece, which identifi ed critical shared challenges such as funding diffi culties, bureaucratic hurdles, and the need for structured strategic planning. While 81.5% of MSOs surveyed recognized the importance of organizational development, the research revealed that only half had a structured approach to goal-setting, highlighting a vital need for the PoS curriculum.
A Curriculum for Real-World Impact
In collaboration with Akadimos and Asociación Empresas Con Valores, a comprehensive six-module program was created to bridge these gaps. The curriculum blends high-impact, face-to-face training with fl exible digital learning.
During a transnational event in Valencia, participants engaged in three intensive modules focused on strategic planning, change management, and external communication strategies. These were complemented by self-paced online modules on the MISUP Learning Platform, covering organizational diagnosis and fundraising techniques.
To ensure maximum reach and accessibility, these materials are currently being translated into six languages: English, Dutch, Spanish, Italian, Lithuanian, and Greek.
Synergy in Valencia: More Than Just Training
The practical impact of this methodology was recently demonstrated during a three-day training event in Valencia, where 21 leaders from across Europe gathered to share best practices and explore future collaborations. Beyond the classroom, a site visit to a local organization supporting young migrants provided participants with a fi rsthand look at the daily struggles of the communities they serve, encouraging them to adapt their services more effectively.
Measuring Success
The evaluation results from WP2 have been overwhelmingly positive: over 85% of participants reported a signifi cant improvement in their management skills and a clearer vision for leading organizational change. Most notably, 100% of the leaders confi rmed that the Pillars of Strengthening methodology directly supports the long-term sustainability of their organizations.
As the project progresses, these “pillars” stand as a solid foundation for building more resilient and effective migrant-supporting organizations across Europe.
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Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency. Neither the European Union nor EACEA can be held responsible for them.
