SWAC/OECD Webinar Series: Identifying the Factors Driving West African Migration
Thursday 27 September 2018, 15:00-15:45 (CEST, UTC+2)
The influx of thousands of migrants arriving on European borders in recent years has amounted to a serious humanitarian situation, and placed pressure on EU governments to urgently identify workable solutions. Migration from West Africa makes up a large share of the total number of migrants landing on Europe’s shores. This number has increased sharply in recent years due to a combination of political crisis, economic hardship and the impact of protracted internal conflicts in countries such as Mali and Niger.
Understanding the characteristics and motivations behind migration through the Central Mediterranean route is highly relevant for European governments, who have invested significantly in security measures and development assistance to prevent further migration in recent years. In addition, migration to Europe has significant implications for development assistance in West Africa.
A webinar based on the findings and policy implications of the SWAC West African Paper ‘Identifying the Factors Driving West African Migration' took place on Thursday 27 September 2018.
The webinar featured a presentation by the paper's co-author, Jessica Anderson (Adjunct professor, the Institute for the Study of International Migration, Georgetown University). Panel remarks were made by Nelly Robin (Geographer, Research Fellow, French Institute for Development, IRD) and Claudia Natali (Regional Labour Migration and Development Specialist, International Organization for Migration, IOM).
Key discussion points included:
- Motivations behind West African migration
- Identifying key factors for migration at country level with a focus on Nigeria
- Assessment of potential policy actions to mitigate rising migration
Watch the webinar:
- Institute for the Study of International Migration, Georgetown University
- International Organization for Migration (IOM)
- IOM West and Central Africa
- Sahel Research Group, University of Florida
Related reading:
- Identifying the Factors Driving West African Migration (OECD West African Paper)
- Food issues: demographic, urban, migration and security challenges (brochure)
- Migrations: investing in border controls is not the solution (Richard Daniziger for the iD4D Blog)
- Migration and Africa: Driving better policy choices by changing the conversation (Faten Aggad, OECD Development Matters blog)
- World Migration Report 2018 (IOM)
- Economic Development in Africa Report 2018: Migration for Structural Transformation (UNCTAD)
- Towards an Effective and Principled EU Migration Policy (Human Rights Watch)
- Drivers of Migration and Urbanization in Africa: Key Trends and Issues (Mariama Awumbila, Centre for Migration Studies, University of Ghana)
- Groundswell: Preparing for Internal Climate Migration (infographic, The World Bank)
- The story of Amedy, Senegal (video, IOM-UN Migration)
- How immigrants Contribute to Ghana's Economy (OECD Development Centre)
Initiatives:
- EU: Programme: Améliorer la gestion des défis migratoires (ProGEM)
- Swiss Agency for Development: Global Programme Migration and Development
- GiZ: Migration for Development Programme
- Belgium: Réduction de l’émigration rurale dans le bassin arachidier (Sénégal) - Capitalisation de la phase pilote
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