Making migration work for development

The report is a summary of six years of investigation into migration policy and practice. It encompasses thematic and regional reviews of emerging migration issues and policies as well as targeted empirical field research in a number of countries in West Africa, South Asia, the Middle East and South-East Europe.

The Centre's findings indicate that, for migration to have its full developmental impact, the most beneficial policy change would be to reduce barriers to migration, at all levels and particularly for the poorest. This paper examines the changing dynamics of migration, impacts of migration on poverty and livelihoods, new initiatives in international migration, and how the findings in relation to the development of policy on migration.

Key findings include:

• poor people are more likely to move over shorter distances, either within or between poor countries
• one of the least visible forms of migration, but one of particular importance in poor communities, is that of children and young people who move without their parents
• where poor people have a greater choice in terms of migration destinations, the net effect on inequality is more likely to be positive
• access to formal social protection for migrants is highly patchy
• skilled migration is largely a symptom, not a cause, of underdevelopment
• diaspora engagement can contribute to the development of countries of origin but this is a highly politicised arena