================
Project Overview
================

Context
=======

The **Bridges** RAG (Retrieval-Augmented Generation) platform was developed for
the International Organization for Migration (IOM) in Cameroon to facilitate the
socio-economic reintegration of internally displaced persons (IDPs), returning
migrants, and expatriates. It connects vulnerable populations to relevant
economic opportunities — employment, vocational training, and entrepreneurship —
using artificial intelligence to match each beneficiary's profile to the most
relevant openings.

Objectives
==========

The platform was designed to meet the following objectives:

* Provide **personalized recommendations** for economic opportunities based on
  each beneficiary's profile, skills, location, and available capital.
* **Index and search** thousands of opportunities (employment, training,
  entrepreneurship) efficiently using semantic vector search.
* Use generative AI (**Google Gemini 2.0 Flash**) to analyse profiles and
  generate relevant, explainable recommendations.
* **Track recommendation history** and interactions to support continuous
  improvement and impact measurement.
* Manage a **content security classification** scheme
  (:green:`GREEN` / :yellow:`YELLOW` / :red:`RED`) so that sensitive data is
  handled appropriately throughout the pipeline.

Target Beneficiaries
====================

The platform serves several official IOM beneficiary categories. The three
primary categories handled by the recommendation engine are:

.. list-table::
   :header-rows: 1
   :widths: 25 40 35

   * - Category
     - Description
     - Specific needs
   * - ``IDP`` (Internally Displaced)
     - Persons who fled their region of origin due to conflict or disaster
     - Local reintegration, rebuilding livelihoods
   * - ``RETURNING_MIGRANT``
     - Persons returned to Cameroon after a stay abroad
     - Skills valorization, reintegration
   * - ``EXPATRIATE``
     - Foreigners residing in Cameroon
     - Economic integration, local opportunities

The full data model additionally recognises ``FORMER_ARMED_GROUP_MEMBER``,
``AFFECTED_COMMUNITY``, ``CROSS_BORDER_TRADER``, and ``DIASPORA_MEMBER``
categories for reporting and partner workflows.

Actors and Use Cases
====================

The diagram below shows every actor and their interactions with the platform,
using official IOM terminology. Actors include the **Beneficiary**, the
**Reintegration Expert**, **Government / NGO / Private-Sector Partners**, the
**IOM Administrator**, and two automated actors — the **AI-Powered
Recommendation Engine** and the **AI Agent Assistant**.

.. mermaid:: _diagrams/use-case.mmd
   :caption: Figure 1. Use case diagram — actors and system interactions.

The platform groups functionality into subsystems such as Profile Management
(registration, profile completion, document upload, skills assessment, GDPR
consents), Opportunity Discovery, Recommendation Generation, Application
Tracking, and Partner Management.

Opportunity Types
=================

Recommendations are produced across the following opportunity types:

.. list-table::
   :header-rows: 1
   :widths: 35 65

   * - Opportunity type
     - Description
   * - ``PERMANENT_EMPLOYMENT``
     - Permanent salaried job
   * - ``TEMPORARY_EMPLOYMENT``
     - Temporary or seasonal job
   * - ``VOCATIONAL_TRAINING``
     - Professional / vocational training
   * - ``ENTREPRENEURSHIP``
     - Income Generating Activity (IGA) / business creation
   * - ``INTERNSHIP``
     - Professional internship
   * - ``APPRENTICESHIP``
     - Apprenticeship placement
   * - ``PROFESSIONAL_CERTIFICATION``
     - Certification programmes
   * - ``BUSINESS_GRANT`` / ``MICRO_CREDIT``
     - Financing instruments for entrepreneurship

Worked Examples
===============

Example 1 — IDP with construction skills
----------------------------------------

**Profile:** Ibrahim S., 36, IDP from the North-West region, relocated to
Bafoussam. Skills: civil engineering and construction, six years' experience as
a site supervisor. Available capital: 3 M XAF.

**Recommendations received:**

#. *Site Supervisor — SOCADEM Bafoussam* — ``PERMANENT_EMPLOYMENT``,
   350–500 k XAF/month, relevance score **0.92**.
#. *Masonry business* — ``ENTREPRENEURSHIP``, investment 2–5 M XAF,
   relevance score **0.88**.

Example 2 — Returning migrant in healthcare
-------------------------------------------

**Profile:** Dr. Marie-Claire T., 41, returned from Belgium to Yaoundé.
Specialty: gynaecology-obstetrics, eight years' experience. Available capital:
20 M XAF.

**Recommendations received:**

#. *Senior Gynaecologist — Central Hospital Yaoundé* — ``PERMANENT_EMPLOYMENT``,
   1.2–1.8 M XAF/month, relevance score **0.95**.
#. *Private gynaecology practice* — ``ENTREPRENEURSHIP``, investment
   15–30 M XAF, relevance score **0.89**.