I integrationspolitikens utkant : Invandrarorganisationers deltagande i det svenska Equalprogrammet

Sammanfattning: The aim of this study was to describe and analyze the participation of immigrant organizations to the partnerships in the Equal program in Sweden. The focus of the study was on the significance of the participation for the organizations and its impact on them. The point of view of the participant organizations has been object of study through interviews with the persons who, on behalf of the organizations, have been in charge for the work with Equal. Interviews have been conducted with people representing 10 of the 21 immigrant organizations that have been identified among the Swedish Equal partners. Many organizations have experienced that the participation has strengthen the awareness of target groups about their needs and their possibilities. The interviewees also describe a certain disappointment of the target groups when the projects have run out of time and founds. Sometimes they also have met some resistance in the target groups against projects or ideas. The participation has also strengthened the activities of the organizations in the following fields: integration into the labor market, access to welfare and participation in society. The organizations that have worked in the field of integration and political activity have expressed more satisfaction with the participation because of a widening of its network and strengthening of its cooperation with other organizations. The organizations that have worked in the field of welfare service have been less satisfied because of the impossibility of continuing to deliver the service after the end of the project.