Presently, except at the airport, migration-related data at the land and lagoon-maritime borders of the country are collected manually and controls of travel documents are carried out with the naked eye. Consequently, it is extremely challenging to obtain accurate and reliable data to allow evidence- based policy making and planning.
The objective of this project is therefore to provide technical and logistical support to the Emigration and Immigration Direction in order to strengthen its capacity to collect, analyse and utilize migration data — ultimately aiming to enhance Benin’s migration management capacities. This effort will also allow IOM to highlight critical data gaps and propose ways to address long-term data collection and management practices.
More concretely, this project will equip the border post of Igolo and the Immigration Directorate with the Migration Information and Data Analysis System (MIDAS), as well as solar panels to address the lack of electricity in this area. In addition, the project will provide capacity-building to immigration officials on the use of MIDAS.
In the long term, this project will support evidence-based policy making in Benin and will include support to mainstreaming migration data into migration and related policymaking and planning processes.