Dear all,
We would like to seek your collaboration to gather information on initiatives by local authorities that seek to capitalize the development potential of migrants. ‘Local authorities’ include all levels of government below the central government, including regions, provinces, districts and municipalities. This information will feed into a global mapping exercise that is currently being undertaken by the European Commission-UN Joint Migration and Development Initiative (JMDI) ( http://www.migration4development.org/ )
Of particular interest are ongoing initiatives in migrants’ regions of origin, that are implemented by partnerships of local authorities and domestic NGOs, international and diaspora NGOs, the private sector, and municipalities in the countries of residence of the migrants (e.g., city-to-city partnerships).
We are looking for a wide range of projects that could be connected to remittances, trade, protection of human rights, investment, philanthropy, skills and knowledge transfer, etc. Initiatives may aim at social and economic development in the migrant’s region of origin in the broader sense. Some projects may also affect the migrant community in their country of residence and their integration into the host society. For more information, please see the information below.
We invite you to share with us all information on such projects and initiatives in any country and region of the world. If possible, kindly provide us with contact information of the implementing organizations.
In addition, please feel free to send this call for information to your networks of researchers and practioners.
Please send your ideas, feedback and information at your earliest convenience to [log in to unmask]
We thank you very much for your highly appreciated support.
Best regards,
Daniel
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Daniel Naujoks, Ph.D.
Research Consultant
EC-UN Joint Migration and Development Initiative (JMDI)
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www.migration4development.org
Background information: Mapping Local Authorities’ Practices in the field of Migration and Development
It is increasingly recognized that local governments are critical to achieve development as their involvement contributes to stronger demand-based, rather than supply-based cooperation activities. Thus, many institutions—such as the EU, UNDP, ILO, OECD and the World Bank—have emphasized the important focus on local authorities for local development and local economic development (LED).
Research conducted and commissioned by the Joint Migration and Development Initiative (JMDI) has reached some interesting findings which have shown the centrality of the role of local authorities in the field of migration and development.
Several of such practices of civil society organizations and local authorities are synthesized in the JMDI handbook ‘Migration for Development: A Bottom-Up Approach’ and the JMDI report ‘From Migration to Development: Lessons Drawn from the Experience of Local Authorities’.
Some creative local authorities have put in place innovative projects, often in anticipation of national and international debates. The good practices identified by the JMDI show the importance of efficiently linking civil society initiatives with local development agendas in order to achieve sustainability and development impact. Successful local authorities’ interventions were found to be the results of strong partnerships with a range of stakeholders from the civil society, including the social partners and the private sector.
However, the conducted research evidenced that the existing knowledge and understanding of such practices is very limited. In light of these findings, the JMDI is engaged in deepening its outreach, knowledge and working relationships with local authorities in order to fully capitalize on their positive contribution in the field of migration and development. As a first step, the JMDI is conducting a mapping of practices of local authorities in partnership with civil society organizations.
The mapping exercise
For this mapping, we are looking for ongoing initiatives by local authorities that seek to capitalize the development potential of migrants. ‘Local authorities’ include all levels of government below the central government, including regions, provinces, districts and municipalities.
Of particular interest are initiatives in the migrants’ regions of origin, that are implemented by partnerships of local authorities and domestic NGOs, international and diaspora NGOs, the private sector, and municipalities in the migrants’ countries of residence (e.g., city-to-city partnerships).
We are looking for a wide range of projects that could be connected to remittances, trade, protection of human rights, investment, philanthropy, skills and knowledge transfer, etc. and that aim at social and economic development in the source region in the broader sense.
Of particular interest are:
** Initiatives using innovative methodologies.
** Initiatives that follow an integrated approach including social and environmental, as well as rights and economic issues.
** Initiatives that contribute to further promoting gender equality.
** Initiatives that are related to South-South migration.
** Initiatives that have strong and sustainable effects on local economic development, including employment, importance for SMEs (Small and Medium-sized enterprises) and the value chain (i.e., on companies and persons in the supply chains and distribution networks).
This is, however, not an exhaustive list. The mapping includes the widest possible range of initiatives and development objectives. Some projects may also affect the migrant community in the country of residence and their integration into the host society.
Joint Migration and Development Initiative
The European Commission and the United Nations launched a Joint Migration and Development Initiative (JMDI) in 2009 that reflects the emerging acceptance of a strong nexus between migration and development. The programme, fully funded by the European Commission and run out of UNDP Brussels, also represents a major innovation as a first joint UN project of its kind not only with the European Commission, but also in its approach to inter-Agency working. Four agencies – IOM, ILO, UNHCR and UNFPA - are directly engaged in the management and direction of the programme and contribute their institutional knowledge, expertise and extensive networks to ensure its success.
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