Integration and Diversity Directorate (IMDi)

Integration and Diversity Directorate (IMDi)
Name	Integration and Diversity Directorate (IMDi)
Native name	Integrerings- og mangfoldsdirektoratet
Formation	2005
Headquarters	Oslo
Jurisdiction	Norway
Parent agency	Directorate of Integration

Integration and Diversity Directorate (IMDi) is a Norwegian public agency responsible for implementing national policies on immigration, refugees and integration policy within Norway. It operates alongside ministries such as the Ministry of Labour and Social Inclusion and interfaces with regional authorities including the County Governor offices and municipalities like Oslo. IMDi coordinates resettlement, language training, and inclusion initiatives in cooperation with institutions such as the Norwegian Directorate of Health, Norwegian Directorate for Education and Training, and international bodies including the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.

History

IMDi was established in 2005 following reforms influenced by policy debates around Schengen Agreement, the European Union's freedom of movement, and national responses to asylum flows in the early 2000s. Early development drew on models from agencies such as the Swedish Migration Agency, the Danish Immigration Service, and references to instruments like the 1951 Refugee Convention. Its formation intersected with political decisions by cabinets led by figures such as Jens Stoltenberg and Kjell Magne Bondevik, and with legislative frameworks including amendments to Norway’s Immigration Act. Over time IMDi expanded programs aligned with international commitments from forums such as the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development and policy reviews by the Norwegian Parliamentary Ombudsman.

Mandate and Responsibilities

IMDi’s mandate includes reception and settlement of resettlement refugees, administration of integration grants, and coordination of language immersion and vocational pathways with authorities like the Norwegian Labour and Welfare Administration. It implements parts of national strategies reflecting commitments under instruments like the European Convention on Human Rights and works with municipalities such as Bergen, Trondheim, and Stavanger to deliver services. The directorate also advises ministers and contributes to white papers debated in the Storting while liaising with international partners such as UNICEF and IOM.

Organizational Structure

The directorate is led by an appointed director who reports to the responsible minister in the Ministry of Labour and Social Inclusion. Its internal divisions include sections for reception, municipal services, research and evaluation, and communications, collaborating with academic institutions like the Norwegian University of Science and Technology, the University of Oslo, and the Norwegian School of Economics. Regional offices coordinate with municipal caseworkers in places like Drammen and Tromsø and interface with civil society organizations such as Norwegian Refugee Council, Save the Children Norway, and Red Cross Norway.

Programs and Initiatives

IMDi administers programs for introductory education and/or vocational integration that link to curricula from the Norwegian Directorate for Education and Training, as well as language training partnerships with colleges such as OsloMet – Oslo Metropolitan University and vocational institutions like folk high schools. Resettlement initiatives coordinate with UNHCR resettlement quotas and local practices in municipalities including Kristiansand and Ålesund. Inclusion initiatives have included pilots modeled on international examples from Germany, Canada, and the Netherlands, and projects funded in collaboration with the European Social Fund and agencies like Innovation Norway.

Partnerships and Collaboration

IMDi collaborates with municipal governments such as Oslo, Bergen, and Stavanger; national ministries including the Ministry of Justice and the Ministry of Education and Research; and non-governmental organizations such as Amnesty International Norway and Kirkens Bymisjon. It engages academic partners including the University of Bergen and research institutions like Norwegian Institute for Social Research (ISF), and participates in Nordic networks alongside counterparts such as the Swedish Migration Agency and the Danish Agency for International Recruitment and Integration.

Funding and Accountability

Funding for IMDi derives from allocations in the national budget debated in the Storting and administered via the Ministry of Labour and Social Inclusion. Accountability mechanisms include audits and evaluations by the Office of the Auditor General of Norway, parliamentary oversight from committees such as the Standing Committee on Labour and Social Affairs (Norway), and legal scrutiny referencing instruments like the Constitution of Norway. Program evaluations have been published in collaboration with institutions such as the Norwegian Institute of Public Health and independent researchers from the University of Oslo.

Criticism and Public Reception

Public debate around IMDi has engaged political parties such as the Conservative Party (Norway), Labour Party (Norway), and the Progress Party (Norway), and media outlets including Aftenposten, Verdens Gang, and Dagbladet. Critics have raised issues related to settlement patterns in municipalities such as Rælingen and Alstahaug, efficiency of introductory programs evaluated by scholars from the Norwegian Institute for Social Research (ISF), and concerns about coordination with the Norwegian Labour and Welfare Administration. Supporters cite successful local initiatives in communes like Lillehammer and Hamar and endorsements from NGOs including the Norwegian Refugee Council.

Category:Public administration in Norway Category:Immigration to Norway