Migration and development

1

• Migration and development
• The Road Ahead?
• Trygve G. Nordby
• European Migration Network
• Oslo 18 June 2012

2
The discourse

• Does less development lead to more migration?
• Does more development lead to more migration?
• Can migration stimulate development?
• Or is the MD nexus ruled by the Doris Day
  principle Que sera sera (whatever will be will
  be)?
• More migration than development and more
  development than Human Rights

3
The international process on MD

• General scepticism against wider intl. debate
• Sovereignty and lack of institutions and arenas
• Global Commission on Intl. Migration 2005
• High Level Dialogue in UNGA 2006
• Global Forum on Migration and Development, Bru
  07, Man 08, Hel 09, Mex 10, Gen 2011, Maur 12
• THP Global Hearing on Ref. and Mig. 2012
• New High Level Dialogue, UNGA 2013
• Sweden 2014, Turkey 2015

4
Trends(2012 Hague Global Hearing on Refugees and
Migration)

• Migration will increase - due to demography,
  economic disparities, climate change, conflict
  and poor governance
• Migration has become more complex blurred
  distinction between legal-illegal and
  forced-voluntary
• Migration is more temporary and circular than
  before
• South-south migration is increasing

5
Trends (continued)

• Migration is increasingly an urban phenomenon
• New technological opportunities
• Communication, Biometry, etc.
• More public debate on migration
• New stakeholders more assertive in the debate
  business, big cities
• But also Increased negative public mood towards
  migration

6

• Our approach to migration can make us stronger
  or weaker
• Migration is an opportunity
• Cecilia Malmström, EU Commissioner

7
OperationaI opportunities I

• Financial support to diasporas' development
  projects in countries of origin.
• Better conditions for effect of remittances
• Training programs designed to prevent negative
  brain drain
• Strengthening of migration management structures
  in countries of origin
• Facilitating and securing sustainable development
  in context of return

8
Operational opportunities II

• Increased research and build up of evidence based
  competencies on MD
• Increased cooperation with NGOs, business and
  diasporas
• Legal reforms to facilitate increased mobility
  and circle migration
• Establishing more bilateral agreements
• Strengthening of Migrant Rights

9
When no MD synergy appear

• Conflict of interest between domestic ministries
  (control, readmission) and development ministries
  (altruism, country of origin focus)?
• Difference in professional cultures?
• Conflict of interest between sending and
  receiving countries (export of labour vs. control
  of borders)?
• Human Rights vs. economic exploitation
• General xenophobia?

10
Assumptions I

1. MD needs to be defined by migration as well as
   development actors as a joint program area.
2. Governments need to establish and resource cross
   departmental Task Forces
3. Need for more evidence based competence on
   Migration and Development
4. Research institutions, NGOs and diasporas need to
   be fully involved

11
Assumptions II

1. The transnational nature of MD needs to be fully
   accepted politically and legally
2. MD cannot be advanced by narrow domestic motives
   of reducing immigration or increasing return to
   certain developing countries. This may even ditch
   the process.
3. Migration and development is not a quick fix.
   This has to be done in a very long term
   perspective

12
Beyond discussion

• Great potential for enhanced MD efforts and
  results in countries of origin and destination
• Lack of sufficient institutions in countries of
  origin and destination
• Lack of internal coherence
• Great need for evidence based policymaking
• Insufficient rights regimes to meet the
  vulnerability of many migrant workers
• Room for private and social movement actors

13
Up for discussion

• Will the concept of increased mobility rather
  than increased migration lead to less focus on
  integration and migrant rights?
• Could a new UN agency for migration help focus
  and implementation of MD?
• Could biometry give assurance of state control
  and open up for increased migration?
• Highly skilled vs. low skill labour migration
• Who should pick up and throw the dices?