Contract related to: Strengthening the reintegration of returnees in The Gambia (STRONG) - The aim of the proposed intervention ¿ the Flexible Mechanism, hereinafter ¿the Mechanism¿ ¿ is to maximise EU leverage in migration discussions vis-à-vis Sub-Saharan African counterparts, based on a flexible and incentives-based approach while also respecting policy coherence for development, as well as foreign policy objectives of the Union. Through the financing of migration-related cooperation projects, the EU aims to expand its external engagement with African partners on migration and forced displacement. In line with the most recent developments in both internal and external EU migration policy, including the EU Pact on Migration and Asylum, the Mechanism will support the development and reinforcement of strong, balanced, comprehensive and mutually beneficial partnerships and programs with relevant countries of origin, transit and destination of migrants and forcibly displaced people. The action will also contribute to the Team Europe Initiative for a Comprehensive migration approach in the Maghreb, Sahel and West African countries in the Atlantic / Western Mediterranean route and to the Team Europe Initiative on Central Mediterranean migration route.Interventions will be weighed against the specific migration and/or forced displacement situation of each partner country or region, the nature of the overall dialogue with the EU, and the partner country¿s level of engagement with the EU on migration. This assessment will be done in coordination with EU Member States. In this regard, several factors, inter alia, can be taken into consideration, notably whether : (i) the country is engaging or showing willingness to engage in fighting against migrant smuggling and trafficking in human beings, as well as stemming irregular migration; (ii) the country is stepping up its efforts to host migrants and/or displaced people, and people in need of international protection, in a dignified way, in line with international and EU standards; (iii) the country/region is reinforcing capacities on migration management and governance, including on management of forced displacement flows, in the context of its partnership with the EU ; (iv) the country is showing a substantial and sustained cooperation with the EU and its MS on return, readmission and sustainable reintegration; (v) and/or the country/region is willing to cooperate with the EU and its MS to support well-managed legal migration or the implementation of the Global Compact on Refugees (or durable solutions for refugees).The action implementation modalities will depend on the concrete intervention agreed for each country. The action foresees that a mix of direct and indirect management will be used.