While unprecedented mobility restrictions have been adopted by governments in the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) region to reduce the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic, human mobility has not halted but rather moved further underground. Travel restrictions have impacted the ability of organized criminal groups and human smugglers and traffickers, but they are quickly adapting to exploit vulnerable populations and gaps in border control. The absence of research limits evidence-based policy making and the effectiveness of operational responses to counter smuggling and trafficking, which protects migrants, and provides appropriate law enforcement responses. The objective of this intervention seeks to contribute to strengthening the protection measures and national responses to trafficking in persons and smuggling of migrants in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. This includes specific impacts on women, children and youth, as well as the evolving routes, stakeholders, modus operandi, as well as needs and vulnerabilities of migrant populations of focus.