Belgium – An IOM report presented this week in Brussels assesses how migration data is collected in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC), sub-regions and countries.

The report, Rapid Assessment of Data Collection Structures in the Field of Migration in Latin America and the Caribbean, provides a descriptive analysis of current data collection in the region and provides specific analyses for each of its four sub-regions and countries: (1) the MERCOSUR region, which includes Chile and Venezuela; (2) the Andean region; (3) Central America, Mexico, Panama and Belize; and (4) the Caribbean. 

The last few decades have been characterized by key developments in the design and implementation of several information systems in the field of international migration at the regional and sub-regional levels in the LAC and the European Union (EU). 

Although data collection structures in the region and sub-regions became more diversified towards the end of 1990s and the beginning of 2000, the LAC region still lacks a comprehensive evaluation of the data collection structures available at national and regional level.

IOM’s project aims to fill this gap, particularly concerning the production of quantitative data on international migration in the LAC, and offers an analysis of the types of statistical information on migration available in these countries.

The study looks at current data collection systems and assesses whether the information collected by different bodies at national level meets the necessary quality requirements in terms of coverage, pertinence, completeness, accuracy, comparison, coherence, opportunity, punctuality, accessibility and metadata dissemination.

The authors also describe the political and legal framework where international migration statistics are generated, the bodies in charge of producing the statistics, their organizational and data production modalities, the indicators they elaborate and share, and the criteria applied for the evaluation of the quality of the statistical information they produce.

The report is part of the IOM project “Strengthening the dialogue and cooperation between the European Union (EU) and Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) to establish management models on migration and development policies,” implemented by IOM, in partnership with the International and Ibero American Foundation for Administration and Public Policy (FIIAPP). It is financed by the European Union.

The full report in Spanish and an Executive Summary in English can be downloaded from:

http://www.iom.int/files/live/sites/iom/files/pbn/docs/Estudio-Evaluacion-rapida_FINAL.pdf

http://www.iom.int/files/live/sites/iom/files/pbn/docs/Rapid-Assessment-Executive-summary-eng.pdf

For more information, please contact

Olivier Grosjean
IOM Brussels
Tel: +32 2 287 71 12
Email: ogrosjean@iom.int