Municipality/Region

Baden-Württemberg, Germany

Summary

The online application MoBio (Mobile Biography) allows newly arrived migrants in the Rhein-Neckar district (Germany) to upload personal information and important certificates and qualifications. The information provided through the uploaded documents serve as the basis for drawing up integration plans and agreements on objectives.

The application complies with the regulation on digital integration management of the Ministry of Social Affairs and Inclusion of Baden-Württemberg. The uploaded files are stored centrally on a secure server of the Rhein-Neckar district authority.

Areas of integration covered by practice

• Integration of migrants in the education system
• Integration of migrants in the labour market
• Data and planning for integration

Background and purpose

The aim of the MoBio software is to enable refugees in the Rhein-Neckar district to compile their own personal information as a digital portfolio in order to support their integration process in all areas of society. The software allows refugees to freely access their data and share them with relevant third parties. This can help avoid duplication of information or documents in different places. Furthermore, it enhances cooperation between the people and organisations involved in the integration process.

Timeframe

The district started exploring the idea in the fourth quarter of 2016. Development began in the fourth quarter of 2017. The system was launched in the third quarter of 2018. Since then, the system has been used on an ongoing basis.

How does it work?

The Rhein-Neckar district designed and developed the MoBio system by involving relevant integration actors in a test phase. Functionality of the software is continuously developed and enhanced based on the experiences of first-line reception services (first reception centres, social counselling, district authority) and second-line reception services (second-line reception centres, integration management, local authority integration officers).

In addition, MoBio can be used for integration management when drawing up integration plans in accordance with the regulation on integration management and for case management at the local authority level. Refugees can play an active part in integration plans. They can also consult the objectives laid down regarding integration management.

Data cannot be used until approved by the refugees themselves. In this regard, data protection in 11 languages is fully ensured in line with the General Data Protection Regulation. Detailed user manuals are available for those involved in the integration process and for users in five different languages.

Refugees can encode their own data and store essential documents. Data can be uploaded in Arabic, German, English, Farsi or French, and the system is able to translate these into German by means of pre-set answer options. If required, data can be transferred directly to facilities such as job centres, work agencies or future employers.

Results and evaluation

There are currently more than 1,000 refugees registered in the system. Cooperation among parties during the transition from first-line reception and second-line reception has improved considerably.

Funding

The Baden-Württemberg Ministry of Social Affairs and Inclusion provided €15,000 under the regulation on digital integration management, and the district financed personnel and material costs and development expenditures estimated at around €200,000.

Further information

Registration page for MoBio

Further information and user manuals