SDC Network Migration and Development

Face-to-Face in Dhaka, Bangladesh

The SDC migration network held its first f2f meeting in Dhaka, Bangladesh from February 4th to February 9th, 2012. Over 30 participants from SDC, partner organizations and other agencies attended the event to learn from each other, get to know new methods and bring the network ahead.

The f2f Blog provides broad insights into our discussions and reflections and offers useful summaries as well as video interviews with participants.

To visit the f2f blog click here.

New Publications

Climate Change, Environmental Degradation and Migration
2012
Author: IOM
This document is the result of a recent IOM workshop on interactions between climate change, environmental degradation and human mobility. It summarizes the workshop discussions through a series of main messages and makes proposals for future activities to take forward the conclusions of the workshop. The workshop was framed by the notion that a comprehensive approach to managing environmental migration would aim to minimize to the extent possible forced migration resulting from environmental factors; where forced migration does occur, to ensure assistance and protection for those affected and seek durable solutions to their situation; and, lastly, to facilitate the role of migration as an adaptation strategy to climate change.

Download (PDF, 612 KB):[en]

Protecting People Crossing Borders in the Context of Climate Change
April 2011
Author: Prof. Walter Kälin, Nina Schrepfer
The present study presents the background to current dialogues and approaches surrounding climate change related movements and sets the context before identifying the normative gaps in the present international protection regime as well as institutional and operational shortcomings. It argues that while a relationship between climate change, environmental events and displacement/migration exists, direct causalities are difficult to establish. The study explores general obligations of states at the three levels of mitigation, adaptation and protection. In exploring possible avenues, the study analyses existing approaches to address crossborder displacement and migration at the domestic, regional and international level as well as suggestions by private institutions. The study concludes with a summary of key points and recommendations to the Government of Switzerland.

Download (PDF, 361 KB):[en]

Remittance Markets in Africa
January 2012
Author: Mohapatra, Sanket; Ratha, Dilip (World Bank)
This book presents findings of surveys of remittance service providers conducted in eight Sub-Saharan African countries and in three key destination countries. It looks at issues relating to costs, competition, innovation and regulation, and discusses policy options for leveraging remittances for development in Africa.

Download (PDF, 4966 KB): [en]

Labour migration from Colombo Process countries Good practices, challenges and ways forward
2011
Author: IOM
This is the official background paper prepared by the International Organization for Migration (IOM) to inform the Fourth Colombo Process Ministerial Meeting held in Dhaka, Bangladesh in 2011. The report takes stock of current labour migration trends in the region, offers an analysis of good practices and identifies the challenges Colombo Process (CP) Member Countries face and their policy options in the immediate and long-term.

Download (PDF, 1878 KB): [en]

Migration in the Press

Kathmandu generates highest Jobs, World Bank report says

Kathmandu valley has created employment faster than any other city in the country due to migration pressure, according to a study.

The Himalayan Times, May 8th 2012

Filling the jobs migrants to the Gulf leave behind
The Nation (India), May 9th 2012

International Migration is a priority Ghana's development agend
GhanaWeb, Apr 26th 2012

Migration, Displacement and the Arab Spring: Lessons to Learn
Khalid Koser, brookings.edu, Mar 22nd 2012

Bid halted to cut aid to uncooperative countries
swissinfo.ch, Mar 13th 2012

Climate change could cause mass migration
news.com.au, Mar 13th 2012

Changing migration patterns: Welcome home
The Economist, Feb 25th 2012

European Court censures Italy over African migrants
BBC News, Feb 23rd 2012

Immigration: passport to a fresh development frontier?
The Guardian, Feb 20th 2012

City migration as a development problem? It's the ultimate urban myth
The Guardian, Feb 17th 2012

The brain-drain panic returns
The Independent (Uganda), Feb 10th 2012

Migrants’ New Paths Reshaping Latin America
International Herald Tribune, Jan 5th 2012

Russia’s migrants living on the edge
Financial Times, Dec 16th 2011

Perceptions of Migration Clash With Reality, Report Finds
New York Times, Dec 5th 2011

SDC Migration Projects

SDC's Migration Projects

CRIS - Reintegration of Migrants in their Countries of Origin

SDC is supporting C.R.I.S, a research project on the reintegration of migrants in their countries of origin. The European University Institute (EUI), which is in charge of the project, recently launched a website that makes available all research findings in the form reports and studis: http://rsc.eui.eu/RDP/

There is also a factsheet available on the project:

CRIS - Reintegration of Migrants in their Countries of Origin
2011
Author: SDC
As migration is no longer necessarily permanent, the return of migrants is an interesting field of research for gaining evidence on the impact of migration on the development of the countries of origin. A better understanding of practices, mechanisms, and the impact of certain policies would support the reintegration of migrants and maximize their positive impact on local development. This project’s aim is to give governments and other actor access to data on return and reintegration, and to provide analytical tools for policy making.

Download (PDF, 390 KB):[en]

Interested in knowing more about SDC's projects in the field of migration? This project map and the respective project list provides a useful overview ofSDC projectsrelated to migration. Thesedocuments are updated annually.