Since 2022, many countries in Eastern Europe and the Baltics with little to no prior infrastructure for receiving refugees, largely due to historically low levels of arrivals, were suddenly confronted with the urgent task of welcoming and supporting large numbers of people forcibly displaced from Ukraine. Among them were Poland and Lithuania, both of which responded quickly to meet immediate needs while beginning to think more strategically about long-term solutions. 

As the situation evolved, these countries started looking beyond emergency reception. They began exploring how to make their efforts more sustainable by strengthening integration and inclusion services, and by developing community support schemes inspired by community sponsorship. These initiatives aim not only to assist those displaced from Ukraine, but also to enhance the overall reception and integration landscape for forcibly displaced people more broadly. 

In the first part of our upcoming webinar, we will take a closer look at how community sponsorship schemes are developing in Poland and Lithuania. Together, we will examine the key components of these models, the stakeholders involved, and the lessons emerging from their implementation. 

*This webinar is organised as part of the “Integration Plus Models” webinar series under the EU-funded Quality Sponsorship Network Plus project. It will be followed by a second webinar (second part) focusing on the future of temporary protection. Please note that both webinars have independent registrations.