House of Commons - International Development

Select Committee on International Development Memoranda

MIG17

International Organization for Migration

International Development Committee Inquiry into
"Migration and Development"

Written Evidence from the
International Organization for Migration (IOM)

November 2003

1. Introduction

1.1 Rising Migration Flows

Migration has become an increasingly important feature in a globalizing world where not only more people are on the move, but also the frequency and the different modes, channels and directions of mobility have expanded and extend into every corner of the world. This trend is not only set to continue but to increase.

Over the last 35 years, the number of persons living outside their country of birth has more than doubled to stand today at over 175 million people.[1] Worldwide, one in every 35 persons is a migrant. While the majority of international migrants originate from developing countries, it is not an exclusively "South-North" phenomenon. Significant migration flows occur also between developing countries, in particular between the low- and middle-income.[2]

Besides the magnitude of migratory flows, the patterns of migration have also changed considerably. Together with globalization - especially as regards trade liberalization, global economic integration and electronic means of communication - the awareness of existing life and work opportunities in other parts of the world has also spread. Coupled with wider and easier access to international transport, this has led to greater population mobility. Although progress in liberalizing the movement of persons has not proceeded at the same pace as the liberalization of trade in goods and capital, regular and irregular labour migration plays an important role in the international economy.

More nationals of more countries are on the move, and more countries are affected by migration than ever before. The rising share of women in migration flows, estimated to account for 47.5 per cent of all migrants, has been widely reported, although the implications of this growing trend for policy makers have not yet been fully developed.

Many countries also experience significant internal migration, mainly from rural to urban areas, either as a consequence of population pressure on limited or diminishing resources or, indeed, driven by social and political upheavals. Thus, for instance, some 4.3 million people moved internally in Vietnam during the period 1994-1999, far exceeding the 300,000 who went overseas during the same period.[3]

Such developments present a challenge to policy makers to adjust migration policies to take account of these changing patterns. Primary areas of intervention include familiar issues such as border control, labour migration, international protection, and the management of irregular migration. Increasingly, though, attention is also focusing on the nexus between migration and major policy areas, including health, trade and demography, as well as development.. Regarding the implications of this increasingly important policy area, the task at hand is not simply a matter of doing a bit more or a bit less of what has been done before. Rather, the challenge is to redefine the management of migration for the benefit of both developing and developed countries and their economies.

1.2 Migration Can Contribute to Development

The links between migration and development are widely acknowledged to be complex, and many commentators argue that there is a lack of solid information about the ways in which migration affects development and development affects migration. Traditionally, much of the focus has been on the negative effects of migration on development and has followed two main themes:

To identify and address the root causes of migration, and
to attempt to mitigate the negative aspects of migration related to development (viz. brain drain, depletion of the labour force, rural exodus).

Increasingly, however, the international community is beginning to pay more attention to the positive effects of international migration on home country development.

Migrants are rightly considered as potential agents of development able to strengthen cooperation between home and host societies. Migrants can contribute to development through investment and remittances - but also through their skills, entrepreneurial activities, and support for democratization and human rights.

Today, there is growing recognition of what has been termed brain gain, where skilled emigrants are considered a potential asset and not necessarily a net loss to the home country. Indeed, highly skilled migration often benefits both receiving and sending countries. Moreover, through international migration, important transnational networks are being developed, which can act as agents to facilitate cultural, political and economic exchanges and ensure sustainable links between countries of origin and destination. This realization is leading governments and civil society organizations to undertake increasing efforts to develop activities and partnerships with migrant and diaspora communities abroad in order to establish and reinforce such linkages with the aim of fostering development at home.

1.3 Migration and Poverty

The relationship between migration and poverty is a complex one. Migration can help to reduce poverty, while poverty itself is also a cause of migration. Although not all migrants are from among the poorest segments of their societies, the process of migration itself does affect the poorest, both directly and indirectly, and there remains significant potential to harness the benefits of migration to improve the livelihood of the poor.

Research is still being conducted to determine the real and potential impact of migration on poverty reduction and development. Research by the World Bank and other institutions points to a positive correlation between migration and poverty reduction. A recent study of 74 low and middle-income developing countries reveals that, on average, a 10 per cent increase in the number of international migrants in a country's population can lead to a 1.6 per cent decline in the poverty headcount, and that a 10 per cent increase in the share of remittances in a country's GDP can lead to a 1.2 per cent decline in poverty.[4]

However, although migration can be an effective tool in the fight against poverty in less developed countries, it does not follow that this is always the case. To harness the possibilities migration can offer, it is necessary to create an appropriate policy and programme environment to maximize the chances for migration to alleviate poverty in countries and regions of origin. The challenge for governments is to facilitate migration that is most likely to lead to a reduction of poverty, while also acting to protect migrants from abuse and exploitation. Indeed, among the most serious and dangerous risks facing migrants who have been driven to migrate to escape poverty is their vulnerability to the false promises of jobs and opportunities by traffickers. Most of the cross-border trafficking which occurs in the world today involves the movement of migrants from poorer to richer countries in search of better opportunities. Few migrants are trafficked from rich countries to developing countries.

2. Recommendations

2.1 Integrate Migration into Development Frameworks

The current U.N. frame of reference for development is set by the eight Millennium Development Goals. The international community has defined development targets to be achieved by 2015, and indicators for the progress of the respective target. The eight goals are as follows:

Goal 1: Eradicate extreme poverty and hunger

Goal 2: Achieve universal primary education

Goal 3: Promote gender equality and empower women

Goal 4: Reduce child mortality

Goal 5: Improve maternal health

Goal 6: Combat HIV/AIS, malaria and other diseases

Goal 7: Ensure environmental sustainability

Goal 8: Develop a global partnership for development

Over the next decade, the international community will work towards the achievement of these goals. However, the role of migration in relation to these goals has not yet been clearly defined, particularly as concerns the reduction of poverty, and there is seldom any specific reference to the contribution migration can make to development. It is necessary, therefore, to integrate migration management approaches more explicitly and coherently within a broader context of economic and social development frameworks.

Undoubtedly, migration management should be given an important place in any strategy aimed at achieving the Millennium Development Goals. In addition to poverty reduction, economic growth and private sector development, better migration management can contribute to promote gender equality and to combat the spread of diseases such as HIV/Aids and malaria (corresponding to millenium development goals 1, 8, 3 and 6, respectively), provided that appropriate policy approaches are in fact developed and implemented.

From an IOM perspective, the problems related to international migration and development could be much more efficiently and comprehensively dealt with if relevant migration management concerns were to be integrated into this framework. Such an approach would make it possible to identify common priorities and possible contributions to be made by migration management towards the achievement of the set goals. Governments worldwide face the challenge of making migration more orderly, more productive and of greater benefit to all concerned. The timely development of national, regional and multilateral frameworks for migration management that establish the right balance between the interests of all concerned is a key element in this equation.

The regional consultative processes on migration[5] instituted by governments worldwide during the last decade offer valuable insights on what can be done to develop a common approach on migration and development issues and the means to achieve this. In several regional meetings of this kind, governments have acknowledged the importance of the migration-development nexus in their deliberations and plans of action. Indeed, migration and development is a key theme on the agendas of such established regional consultative processes as the Regional Conference on Migration (Puebla Process), the Western Mediterranean Cooperation Process (5+5 Process), the Migration Dialogue for Southern Africa (MIDSA) and the Migration Dialogue for Western Africa (MIDWA).

At the European level, the EU Member States have acknowledged the principle that an effective EU asylum and immigration policy must necessarily involve cooperation with the countries of origin and of transit. This goes beyond the general endeavour of trying to understand and to influence the causes of migration; rather it calls for the adoption of a responsible attitude towards the effects of emigration on the countries of origin. Indeed, the Spanish, Greek and Italian EU Council presidencies have each reiterated the need for closer cooperation, trade expansion, development assistance and conflict prevention as a means of promoting economic prosperity in the countries concerned, and to reduce the underlying causes of migration flows. This clearly states the need for closer cooperation among EU and third countries in managing international migration.

2.2 Ensuring that Migration Contributes to Development

The effects of international migration on developing countries can be both positive and negative. The departure of highly skilled migrants is often referred to as a loss, or brain drain, for the country of origin, and as a benefit, or brain gain, for the country of destination. The negative effect in this case goes beyond the loss of skilled manpower, and includes the loss of return on the investment made by the country of origin towards the training and education of its nationals. This is particularly acute in such sectors as health care, that have a direct impact on the ability of developing countries to maintain and improve the quality of life of their citizens. However, it is also increasingly acknowledged that the emigration of the highly skilled is not necessarily a net loss, and that it may in fact benefit both receiving and sending countries. Available evidence shows that countries of origin stand to benefit through the inflow of remittances, but also from access to knowledge, new technologies and new markets through the linkages to their migrant communities, as well as the eventual return of their expatriate skilled manpower and their superior training and skills, management experience, their ties to foreign institutions and networking capacity acquired while abroad.

The promotion of international migration has been an implicit or explicit policy goal in many developing countries. Many are adopting policies, legislation and structures to actively promote the foreign employment of part of their workforce. Such policies are pursued by the governments of, e.g., Bangladesh, El Salvador, India, Jamaica, Mexico, Nicaragua, Pakistan, the Philippines and Sri Lanka.

Despite the actual and potential benefits of international labour migration, unmanaged and indiscriminate international recruitment of skilled workers can have a profound negative impact on countries of origin with fragile economies and skills shortages, particularly in such sectors as health and education. As more EU countries seek to attract highly skilled labour migrants, concerns about brain drain have resurfaced.

Governments have adopted various countervailing measures to counter the potential negative effects of skilled emigration on countries of origin. Until the late 1980s, the problem was often addressed by policies focusing on measures to reduce the outflow of the highly skilled labour force from developing countries, or to balance their negative effects through taxation.[6] Today, the emphasis is rather on improving the regulation of the recruitment of migrants from developing countries, the creation of incentives to promote return migration and to maximize the development contribution of migrant communities, including the management of remittances.

Some destination countries, including the U.K., have adopted codes of good conduct for the health sector recommending that recruitment be conducted in consultation with countries of origin to avoid the loss of essential skilled workers. It has been suggested that governments in the developed world should also establish guidelines for potential employers of international migrants regarding recruitment, training and the acquisition of skills. Other policy options to be considered include the identification of developing countries most vulnerable to skill losses, and the establishment of a list of countries not to be targeted by employers seeking to recruit overseas workers. Better regulation of international recruitment agencies and the introduction of guidelines for the ethical recruitment of workers from developing countries is another policy option being discussed.

Another policy area of concern is the regulation of student migration. Student mobility has grown significantly in recent years, including students from developing countries. Developing countries therefore have an interest in creating incentives for students to return and use their acquired skills at home, thereby increasing the home country's potential to acquire skilled professionals. The introduction of safeguards to limit the risk of brain drain and to ensure an adequate rate of return of expatriate students could ease the concerns of countries of origin, which may otherwise be tempted to restrict the international mobility of their students. One of a number of possible approaches to minimize brain drain would be to provide for a greater number of scholarships with conditions attached regarding the return of the students.[7]

Whether a country experiences brain gain rather than brain drain depends in part on the successful utilization of the potential of diaspora networks, and the knowledge and experience of returning migrants. There is growing recognition that skilled emigrants need not necessarily constitute a permanent loss to their countries of origin, and that they can play a very positive transnational role. The challenge is how best to design policies and programmes to facilitate and harness the potential benefits of that positive role.[8]

2.3 Maximizing the Development Contribution of Diasporas

There is growing global awareness that migrant diasporas may contribute in several important ways to the social and economic development of their country of origin. Modern communication and transportation technology makes it easier for migrants to maintain links with their home countries, and also facilitates the transfer of skills and funds. Often it is the migrants themselves who serve as the most effective link between the sending and receiving countries. Diasporas often organize themselves and form associations that are able to promote the flow of investments and know-how to their home countries. The challenge for policy makers in developed and developing countries is to create an environment conducive to enhancing the contributions by migrant diasporas to development. Host countries could encourage initiatives to create migrant associations on their territories, while home countries could facilitate the creation of networks among their expatriates to help maintain close linkages with the home communities and assist in the transfer of know-how, information and development initiatives.

2.4 Improve the Management of Remittances for Development

One of the most important linkages between diasporas and the home country is forged through the transfer of remittances. In recognition of this, one of the consequences of migration being examined in greater depth today by numerous governments and international organizations is the potential benefit of remittances to development.

The total value of remittances transferred through official channels more than doubled between 1988 and 1999. According to the World Bank, in 2002 remittances to developing countries stood at USD 88 billion - considerably higher than the amount of official development assistance for that or any other recent year. Based on trends in the first half of 2003, remittances are projected to exceed USD 90 billion in 2003.The real figure is likely to be much higher given that many migrants remit through informal channels. Although large countries are the main recipients of remittances, the amounts going to smaller countries represent a higher share of GDP.

There is a considerable literature on the reasons why migrants send money home,[9] but there is less research and knowledge on how to develop mechanisms to reduce the cost of sending remittances and to ensure that remittances are sent through reliable financial channels, including banks and credit institutions. Barriers to the official transfers of funds are currently the greatest obstacles to maximizing the benefits of remittances. Official bank transfers are often complicated and lengthy, if not altogether inaccessible to migrants who are unable to open bank accounts in their countries of residence either because of their temporary situation, or legal status. Frequently, the only alternatives are private companies, and these generally charge high fees. The average charge for the transfer of remittances to developing countries is around 13 per cent and often exceeds 20 per cent of the amount transferred.[10] High transfer fees create an incentive for migrants to send their remittances through informal channels, but these are often unreliable and money can be lost or stolen in the process.

Policy makers have been concerned with four major issues relating to the management of remittances:

How can the transfer of remittances be made cheaper and easier;
How to ensure that remittances are transferred through more reliable channels;
What use is made of remittances, and
How to best harness the development potential of remittances?

Several measures have been taken to address transfer issues, including:

Mandatory remittance requirements (e.g. Korea);
Attracting remittances through foreign currency accounts and bonds (e.g. India);
Pre-departure counselling and advice to migrant workers (e.g. Philippines);
Simpler transfer procedures and expansion of financial networks (e.g. Bangladesh);
Home country incentives to encourage remittances through formal channels (e.g. Pakistan);
Reduced transfer fees (e.g. Mexico, IRNeT credit union service).

There is a need to take stock of the various measures that have been tried in different parts of the world to manage remittances more efficiently and to see whether any successful approaches that have been found to contribute to development and poverty reduction could be replicated elsewhere.

2.5 Facilitate the Return and Reintegration of Migrants

Recent research suggests that only a relatively small proportion of skilled migrants from developing countries working in the U.K. return to their countries of origin.[11]

Policies to encourage return migration may be able to significantly reduce the negative effects of the brain drain. Returning migrants who bring back their skills and work experience acquired abroad can invest their knowledge in the home country and thereby contribute to economic and social advancement.

Returning migrants and migrant diasporas can be an important source of foreign direct investment. Governments can foster return migration and maximize the investment potential of the experience, skills, networks and financial capital of return migrants by introducing policies which streamline investment procedures for interested returnees, involve return migrants more actively in policy making, and encourage return migrants to contribute to, and network with, public sector institutions so that their contributions do not remain confined to the private sector.

Means to encourage diaspora participation in the domestic economy should also be investigated. Some governments are considering special investment procedures and incentives to attract investment by diasporas, and to develop and institutionalize the diaspora network for their contribution to investment, research and training. Some governments offer returning migrants reintegration assistance to facilitate their return as well as to ensure that returns and reintegration, in fact, prove to be durable. In many cases institutional capacity building is required to facilitate such efforts.

Nevertheless, it remains difficult to assess the overall effects of return migration on local development as there is generally much less information available concerning the characteristics and implications of the return of skilled workers to developing countries of origin, than the outflow of persons from the developing world.

The IOM Return and Reintegration of Qualified Nationals programmes have for many years supported the social and economic advancement of developing countries. Programmes in Africa, Asia and Latin America have sought to foster national human resource development and to counter the negative effects of brain drain. In collaboration with governments of the country of origin, IOM identifies and selects suitable candidates, finances their return and ensures their reintegration into both professional and personal environments, thus contributing to rebuild and strengthen a depleted human resource base.

Many other measures have been adopted to promote the permanent return of highly skilled migrants. These initiatives include specific incentives (e.g., tax exemptions, financial assistance with moving costs or seed capital to establish a business, citizenship rights for spouses and children), or the creation of more attractive opportunities in the home country.

However, available experience has also shown that such measures are sometimes difficult to implement, particularly when the economic and political conditions in the country of origin are not attractive to returnees. A challenge regarding the return of skills is how to reach out to and encourage members of diasporas to return, even if only temporarily, and to facilitate the sharing of their skills by the home community. An example of such an approach is the IOM Migration for Development in Africa programme.

IOM Programme for Migration for Development in Africa (MIDA)

One way to promote and take advantage of brain circulation is through programmes such as the IOM programme for Migration for Development in Africa (MIDA), launched in 2001. This programme involves the temporary or permanent transfer of vital resources and skills to support the development of countries of origin. The programme works by promoting a legal status for the diaspora in destination countries and reallocates the resources and skills of African migrants through a variety of actual and virtual transfers. Countries that have already taken formal steps towards inscribing MIDA in their National Indicative Programme (NIP) are Benin, Cape Verde, Democratic Republic of Congo, Ghana, Kenya, Rwanda and Uganda.

UK Voluntary Return and Reintegration Programme

Another area that requires stronger intervention concerns support for the reintegration of returnees. IOM studies suggest that relatively little reintegration assistance is currently available to migrant workers returning to developing countries. Yet, IOM experience suggests that the provision of reintegration assistance can help ensure that returns are in fact durable.[12] In line with this approach, IOM launched a Voluntary Assisted Return and Reintegration Programme in 2002. The purpose of this programme is to facilitate the sustainable return of asylum seekers by identifying potential training activities and employment opportunities, or by assisting in the creation of small businesses in countries of origin, depending on the needs and profile of the returnees and the resources and local circumstances. Reintegration assistance is provided in conjunction with IOM offices in countries of origin, and local partners are identified throughout the implementation of the programme. In addition, mechanisms have been set up to monitor and evaluate those assisted.

The introduction of reintegration assistance has been welcomed by those seeking to return home. To date, returnees have been assisted with training schemes such as computer, hairdressing and language classes. Small business schemes have also been supported through the purchase of materials for farming initiatives, carpentry and sewing shops and many more.

2.6 Reducing the Risks of Migration for Poor People

Trafficking in women and girls from developing countries is a serious and growing concern to many governments. Trafficking is fuelled among other factors by changes in the global economy and major economic disparities between and within countries, exposing poor people, especially women and children, to the risk of trafficking and economic and sexual exploitation. A recent study on trafficking in South Asia by the Asian Development Bank found that the most commonly identified push factor driving the trafficking process is poverty. Despite this, trafficking often does not receive sufficient priority in strategies aiming to combat poverty in different parts of the world. For example, combating trafficking is not articulated as a specific objective in any country strategy paper in South Asia. There is an urgent need to "mainstream" trafficking into the work of development agencies and for measures intended to reduce poverty to also target those most vulnerable to trafficking.

Poverty is also a major factor driving irregular migration and migrant smuggling. The number of irregular migrants continues to increase despite rising spending on enforcement measures in developed countries. The absence of viable regular migration opportunities can lead individuals to fall back on smugglers and traffickers to help them access developed countries. As a result they are often caught in conditions of personal insecurity and exploitation. The money paid for the services of criminal networks is lost for the development of home countries. In the absence of legal low-skilled labour migration channels, hundreds of thousands of workers are engaged in illegal work in Europe.

The failure to adequately address such push factors as poverty in developing regions further feeds this trend, although not all irregular migrants originate from the poorest parts of the developing world. IOM favours a comprehensive approach to manage irregular migration.[13] Such an approach includes a range of measures, including foreign direct investment, where possible, development assistance and better protection of the rights of migrants. Another key component is the creation of temporary and targeted labour migration channels to provide viable and attractive alternatives to irregular migration for migrants from developing countries. More legal entry routes will not stop all attempts at irregular entry and residence in a country, but should have at least two positive effects: one, such policies, if well targeted and well understood could reduce the incidence of illegal entries and residence and, two, bilateral labour agreements can act as an incentive for labour-sending countries to assume more responsibility to counter irregular migration.

2.7 Migration and Trade: Enhancing understanding of the development potential

of Mode 4

Within the framework of the General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS) which came into force in 1995 and applies to 144 countries, one of the four possible ways of trading a service is through the temporary movement of "natural persons". In recent years there has been a growing interest on the part of developing countries to liberalise movements under GATS Mode 4, in order to provide greater opportunities for persons in developing countries to obtain temporary work in developed countries.

IOM, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development and the World Bank held a seminar on trade and migration in Geneva on 12-14 November 2003. The meeting brought together internationally for the first time trade and migration officials for an informal exchange of views on the relationship between migration and trade, in particular the supply of services via the temporary movement across borders of "natural persons", or Mode 4 of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS).

One of the conclusions of this meeting is that GATS mode 4 is relatively broadly, yet poorly defined. It is at present difficult to know precisely what kinds of movements are taking place under Mode 4 and what impact these movements are having on sending and receiving countries. Research in the area of Mode 4 remains in its infancy. However, it is clear that the financial, human and social capital that is gained by migrants abroad will potentially bring positive benefits to countries exporting labour services, particularly if migrants return to or maintain substantial links (including economic links) with their countries of origin. Temporary labour migration, and Mode 4 movement within it, potentially enhances benefits for countries of origin in four main areas:

Increasing brain circulation
Maximizing remittances
Use of Mode 4 to enhance other forms of trade
Promoting labour exports

2.8 Improving Data on Migration and Development

Information and data on migration from and to developing countries are relatively scant and unreliable. More and better information is essential for policy makers to address migration and development challenges more effectively. In particular, more and more specific research and data collection in developing countries is needed if the impact of both migration and return migration is to better understood and factored into programmes to assist countries of origin to develop and retain, and further improve their national resources, including human resources.

In the U.K., recent research suggests that it is very difficult to assess the impact of immigration from developing countries since there is no annual survey of work permit holders.[14] There is also a lack of information about the role migrant communities play in shaping migration flows to the U.K. or how they contribute to development in their country of origin. Consideration should be given to preparing an annual report on migration from developing countries to the UK to promote a better understanding of trends in migration from less developed countries to the UK.

Such gaps in the available database seriously limit a clear understanding of the different ways in which diasporas and expatriate networks can contribute to development and better migration management. Few governments maintain regular statistics on their expatriates. Even in the case of remittances, where there is a great deal of information, there are several problems with the comparability of the data collected. On the one hand, official remittance data collected by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) may underestimate the size of flows because they fail to capture informal remittance transfers. On the other hand, official remittance figures may also overstate such flows, as other types of money transfers, including illicit ones, cannot always be distinguished from remittances.[15] Improving the quality of data on remittance flows and their impact on development is one of the key recommendations emerging from a recent DFID/World Bank conference on migrant remittances, held in London, 9-10 October 2003.

Some limited data sets on migration exist (maintained, for example, by OECD, EUROSTAT, the UN Population Division) as well as certain limited data sets relevant to development (such as those developed by the World Bank, IMF, UNDP). However, despite the acknowledged importance of the migration-development nexus, any action undertaken to date to aggregate existing data and to fill the gaps with essential new data has been limited.

2.9 Conclusions

International migration has enormous development potential for the countries of origin, especially for the least developed among them. It can contribute to the reduction of poverty at the local and national level, improve sustainable human development and reduce the economic vulnerability of these countries. Therefore, migration management is an important element in a strategy aimed at achieving the Millennium Development Goals.

Destination countries have traditionally sought to reduce and/or restrict international migration. Today, however, the need for more immigration to support their demographic and labour needs is being increasingly acknowledged. This fact creates the opportunity for the international community to reconcile migration policies and development strategies.

The important elements of a comprehensive approach include:

Ensuring that migration is incorporated into development frameworks and anti-poverty strategies.
Effective management of remittances;
Mobilization and involvement of diasporas and transnational networks in development strategies;
Facilitating the return and reintegration of migrants;
Targeted and comprehensive labour migration programmes.

Today, policy makers have a real opportunity to create a win-win situation in the field of international migration management for the benefit of migrants, governments and communities in countries the world over.

IOM Activities Concerning Migration and Development

Migration and Development: A Key Focus of IOM Activities

After half a century of worldwide operational experience, the International Organization for Migration has become the leading intergovernmental organization working with migrants and governments to establish humane responses to migration challenges. IOM believes that international migration presents an opportunity for cooperation and development. IOM counts 102 Member States and 33 Observer States. The Organization has more than 165 offices around the world.

Development has long been a topic of interest to the International Organization for Migration. IOM recognized the complexity of the relationship between migration and development already early on. Indeed, the resolution to establish a Provisional Intergovernmental Committee for the Movement of Migrants (PICMME) from Europe,[16] adopted in 1951, underlined the existence of "a close relationship (…) between economic development and immigration". Already in the 1960s, ICEM, as IOM was subsequently called, developed specific "Migration for Development" programmes to enhance development through migration.[17] Today, the relationship between migration and development is an increasingly important focus for IOM activities. This, in part, also reflects the growing number of African and Asian countries that have joined IOM over the years.

The IOM approach

The key assumption of IOM is that international migration, if effectively managed, can contribute to the growth and prosperity of both countries of origin and destination. In this sense, migrants are considered as potential agents of development who strengthen cooperation between home and host societies. While the focus of IOM activities, therefore, lies on the strengthening of the positive aspects of migration, the approach is sufficiently inclusive and adaptable to also tackle aspects of root causes and alleviate negative consequences of migration. IOM activities relating to migration and development can be broadly structured into the areas of international policy dialogue, policy-oriented research, and migration management programmes, including technical cooperation, and operations.

The overall aim of IOM is:

To harness the potential of international migration for development within a context of orderly movement.

In the course of the last four years alone, IOM has implemented migration projects directly linked to development in more than 30 countries in Africa, Central Asia, the Caucasus, South Asia, South-east Asia, and south-eastern Europe.

1 IOM, World Migration 2003: Challenges and Responses for People on the Move, World Migration Report Series Vol.2, Geneva. Back

2 Ibid. Back

3 "Migration and Migration Policy in Asia: a synthesis of selected cases", Ronald Skeldon, 2003. Back

4 John Page and Richard Adams, "The Impact of International Migration and Remittances on Poverty", World Bank, forthcoming, 2004. Back

5 See IOM, 2001, "The Role of Regional Consultative Processes in Managing International Migration". Back

6 "Connecting Migration, Brain Drain and Capacity Development", Carlo Lopes, UNDP Bureau for Development Policy, 2002. Back

7 OECD, Trends in International Migration, 2001, p. 115. Back

8 "Policy Research on Migration and Development", David Ellerman, World Bank Working Paper 3117, August 2003. Back

9 Richard Black, "Soaring Remittances Raise New Issues", Migration Information Source, Migration Policy Institute, June 1, 2003. Back

10 L. B. Lowell and R. de la Garza, 2002, "Sending Money Home: Hispanic Remittances and Community Development", Rowman and Littlefield, Oxford.

Back

11 Allan Findlay, "From Brain Exchange to Brain Gain: Policy Implications for the UK of Recent Trends in Skilled Migration From Developing Countries", ILO, Geneva, 2001. Back