Greater policy coherence between migration and development agendas
is needed if migration is to achieve its full development
potential, according to IOM’s latest Migration Research
Series report.

The report, Migration and Development: Achieving Policy
Coherence is being launched today in the Philippines’
capital, Manila, where the second Global Forum on Migration and
Development is currently taking place and during which one of the
three main themes being discussed is Policy and Institutional
Coherence and Partnerships.

According to the report, policy coherence and coordination at a
State level requires more and deliberate efforts and concerted
decisions by governments and remains a major challenge.

This lack of coherence at an institutional level is partly due
to the intrinsic tensions between development and migration
agendas. Migration is indeed a core domestic priority for receiving
countries, which usually pushes international development
commitments into second place.

This is particularly true with temporary migration, brain drain
and skilled labour migration, where policies in receiving countries
are based on identified needs, with little consideration for the
impact of those policies on development.

At the working level, countries of origin and destination have
different approaches and priorities when it comes to making
migration more development-friendly.

For destination countries, the report notes that temporary
migration schemes can be beneficial as they provide the labour
force needed, help combat irregular migration whilst at the same
time, offer secure migration channels for migrants and greater
dividends for sending countries through increased remittance
flows.

When it comes to mitigating the impact of the brain drain on
countries of origin, the report states that codes of conduct for
ethical recruitment appear unworkable. Compensatory measures and
skills replenishment schemes should therefore be considered to
counterweigh immediate losses suffered by developing
countries. 

As for sending countries, the report says that although they are
now beginning to acknowledge the synergies that exist between
migration and development, the technical capacity is often lacking
at an institutional level to integrate migration into comprehensive
development agendas.

At the working level, coherence may occur as a by-product as
migration policies that were not intended in the first place to be
development-friendly may still generate positive development
effects.

The report calls for more attention to be focused on harnessing
the development potential of remittances and diaspora engagement
through increased awareness in government ministries with
responsibilities towards development and poverty reduction
strategies.  

Taking into account the fact that the migratory process can
threaten the rights of migrants, the report looks at policy
measures that governments could take to promote the rights of
migrants, including the provision for the protection of migrant
workers at a national and international level and the adherence to
universal human rights standards.

The report concludes that migrants who enjoy the protection of
labour standards and human rights will be in a much better position
to contribute to home country development than those leading
irregular lives in an environment characterized by exploitation and
abuse.

To access the report, please go to: "paragraph-link-no-underline" href=
"http://www.iom.int/jahia/Jahia/cache/offonce/pid/1674?entryId=19847">http://www.iom.int/jahia/Jahia/cache/offonce/pid/1674?entryId=19847

For more information please contact:

Frank Laczko

IOM Geneva

Tel: + 41 22 717 9416

E-mail: "mailto:flaczko@iom.int">flaczko@iom.int

or

Jobst Koehler

Tel:  41 22 717 9260

E-mail: "mailto:jkoehler@iom.int">jkoehler@iom.int