The International Organization for Migration (IOM) has worked in Estonia for 20 years.  Together with the launch of IOM’s new global Strategic Plan for 2024-2028, IOM Estonia will develop its country strategy in 2024.

Throughout the 20 years, the work of the Estonian office of IOM has been focused on counter-trafficking campaigns, integration activities, helping migrants to return to their home countries, training of Estonian officials and NGOs, and public awareness raising. IOM has also developed the national cultural orientation programme that has enabled thousands of refugees to start rebuilding their lives in Estonia.

While we continue to assist migrants unable to stay in Estonia and wishing to return to their countries of origin, since 2022 we have also been actively engaged in helping those who have fled the Russian full-fledged war against Ukraine. IOM Estonia has offered direct assistance to Ukrainians in the form of cash, food and clothing items, as well as transportation tickets for those in transit. Our case managers help check and provide assistance tor vulnerable persons, provide referrals for health checks if necessary and offer temporary accommodation in case of need. 

In the social inclusion, IOM Estonia offers a trainings to refugees and locals alike. These include psychosocial support trainings for first responders (police officials, border guards, social workers, child protection specialists, teachers) and focused orientation courses on various topics for both Ukrainian adults and children, to name a few. We conduct activity days for Ukrainian kids in schools and organize camps with locals to support their inclusion in Estonian society.

Since March 2023, we continuously map the needs and intentions of Ukrainian refugees in Estonia using IOM’s Displacement Tracking Matrix (DTM). IOM is also working to improve migrants’ access to healthcare in Estonia in collaboration with World Health Organisation.

OUR TEAM

Kari Käsper 

Head of Office 

Mr. Kari Käsper leads the team of IOM Estonia since November 2023. Before joining IOM, he served at the UN High Commissioner for Refugees in Stockholm, Sweden. In addition, he founded and led the Estonian Human Rights Centre, a human rights NGO. He also worked as a lecturer at Tallinn University of Technology, where he taught human rights and European Union law for over a decade. He holds a Master’s Degree in European Union, International, and Comparative Law from Tallinn University of Technology. 

Policy Support and Capacity Building Unit

Aleksandr Aidarov - Programme Coordinator

Aleksandr Aidarov works as a programme coordinator at IOM Estonia. He has significant prior experience as a governmental policy adviser (Estonian integration policy and R&D policy), researcher (integration and cultural policy), and startup founder (the Estonian language acquisition among migrants). He holds a Ph.D. in public administration from Tallinn University of Technology 

e-mail: aaidarov@iom.int

Kristiina Aavik - Senior Project Associate (Migrant Health)

phone: +372 5566 5446, e-mail: kaavik@iom.int

Alla Zakharchuk - Senior Reporting Associate  

phone: +372 5681 6163, e-mail: azakharchuk@iom.int

Minna Kilumets -Project Assistant (Migrant Training and Integration)

 phone: +372 5681 6628, e-mail: mkilumets@iom.int

Migrant Support Unit

Lennely Saar - Programme Coordinator

e-mail: lsaar@iom.int 

Muhammad Saqib - Operations Assistant – Movements (Ukraine response and AVRR), focal point for Protection from Sexual Exploitation and Abuse and Sexual Harrasment (PSEAH) 

e-mail: musaqib@iom.int 

Martin Dislis - Project Assistant (Assisted Voluntary Return and Reintegration), focal point for Counter-Trafficking 

phone: +372 5696 3776, e-mail: mdislis@iom.int 

Valeria Mihhailova

Project Assistant - Case Manager 

Resources Management Unit

Maria Jefanov - Senior Resources Management Assistant