30 June 2011, New York, USA. The United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR)in New York organized the international workshop on “Migration Profiles (MP): Developing evidence-based Migration and Development Policies.” The other organizers were the International Organization for Migration (IOM), the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), and the MacArthur Foundation, all of which contribute to the 2011 Migration and Development Seminar Series. This workshop took place within the framework of the 2011 Global Forum on Migration and Development (GFMD), chaired by the Swiss Government and co-chaired by the Governments of Argentina, Moldova and Ghana. The workshop was held at the United Nations Headquarters in New York.
This workshop was intended for the diplomatic community in New York with an interest in strategic planning and policy coherence on migration and development. The information presented throughout the workshop provided an understanding of data and research for evidence-based policymaking and presented MP as a capacity building tool for strategic policy development. The workshop provided an opportunity to better understand the framework for aggregating existing data and information from international, national, and regional sources, in a systematic manner. Furthermore, it examined the capacity development contribution of MP to institutional and policy coherence, assessed its relevance, highlighted its challenges, and provided an informal space to further develop its framework.
National representatives of countries which already have or are in the process of implementing a MP such as Ghana, Argentina, Moldova, Brazil, Georgia, Azerbaijan, Philippines and Vietnam participated in the workshop. Mr. Godwin Odei Gyebi, a democragher from the Ghana Statistical Service, identified and analysed gaps in the current migration data collected in his country such as the absence of data disaggregated by sex and age and educational level. He highlighted how one of the most relevant challenges in preparing a MP is to access data which is often scattered among several national departments and ministries. He also stressed the importance of promoting open information and data sharing at the regional, national and international levels.
Following the discussion on migration gaps, Mr. Hernan Manzelli, representative of the Ministry of Interior of Argentina, spoke about the improvements made at the national level in collecting the necessary data to prepare a national migratory snapshot. Mr. Manzell, underscored the importance of the national census and the household permanent surveys as a significant provider of information on national migration trends. In this regard, he stressed how Civil Society plays a fundamental consulting role in collecting and developing migration strategies and policies in the country.
Ms. Daniela Morari, representative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Moldova, set the MP initiative within a wider framework of initiatives concerning migration related issues in the country. The Moldovan government is working to include in its policy actions the recommendations that initiatives such as the MP . As a country with a high level of emigration, “diaspora”, the Moldovan Government is trying to attract Moldovan expatriates by inter alia: matching their private investments; creating structures to help children left behind (40% of children have at least one parent abroad); and, supporting children and families that live abroad (20% of Moldovan children reside abroad). Also, it is strengthening relationships with Moldovan communities abroad which in many cases remain the only source of information due to the lack of communication with foreign institutions and it is planning to improve the accessibility and dissemination of migration data collected.
In light of these experiences, Mr. Richard Morgan, as representative of the Global Migration Group (GMG), underscored the relevance of GMG’s work on data, research and policy coherence as reflected in its Working Groups (WG) on Mainstreaming Migration into Development Planning and Data, Research and Policy Coherence. He emphasized the need to improve implementation and evaluation of Migration Profiles as an important tool not only for the development of better migration data but particularly as a process that enhances national capacities in response to migration and development related issues.
To conclude, the workshop outlined the foundation for the preparation of country Migration Profiles. The discussions in the workshop provided an excellent opportunity to identify and to develop strategies to address data gaps and produce sustainable evidence based data and policies to manage migration effectively.