Global Forum on Migration and Development

GFMD - Manila 2008 Follow Up Actions

Overview

Of the 33 outcomes proposed by governments, some 20 were identified as action items that could be implemented within 12-24 months (note there are actually only 17, because a number are duplicates or have been merged (13/15/ 20; and 16/19 respectively).

Some of the proposed studies were carried over from Brussels; some have been completed; others have been included in the work plans of the proposed Working Groups (e.g. two studies already implemented in 2009 by the WG on protecting and empowering migrants for development research on cost-benefits of regular/irregular migration; and a workshop on assessing impacts and impact indicators under the WG on data, research and policy coherence).

Ten of the recommendations have been implemented since the Manila meeting, and were either reported on in Athens (1, 3, 9, 11, 13/15/20, 16/19, 18) or will be reported on in Mexico in 2010 (e.g. the WGs; the GFMD survey, if continued; and the census actions).

Two items (5 and 8) already exist and just require updating by the relevant organization. A number of the recommendations are likely to form part of the work plans of the proposed Working Groups.

Two process-related recommendations not listed below were also re-confirmed in Athens:

• Policy and institutional coherence should stay firmly on the GFMD agenda.
• The GFMD should continue being a venue for informal exchange among RCPs, inter-national fora and initiatives, and regional integration processes, including via the GFMD website.

Recommendations for action:

1. Set up a Working Group on Protecting and Empowering Migrants for Development, which could conduct a study on the actual links between protection for migrants and their capacity to contribute to development. Philippines and the UAE established the WG and implemented a work plan of three studies in 2009 linked to the RT discussions in Athens, two of which were from this list of Manila recommendations.
2. Develop a compendium of best practices at national, regional and international levels on protecting migrants, which may be replicated and monitored on a continuing basis. No action yet.
3. Monitor and evaluate GFMD outcomes/proposals and recommendations. The Taskforce monitors outcomes to a certain extent, for continuity and linkage. The Swedish survey of FOFs also provides qualitative feedback on new policies and thinking in the GFMD, as did the 2009 survey by the working group on policy coherence, data and research.
4. Prepare a catalogue of good practices in joint arrangements to support and empower migrants and diaspora in their contributions to development. No action as yet.
5. Establish a standard lexicon or dictionary of termsthat will cover the migration process, to promote greater commonality of understanding. This already exists in a form. IOM could be requested to coordinate with other IOs and revise its Glossary.
6. Create ‘banks’ of projects that could be supported by diaspora groups. No action as yet.
7. Undertake assessments of some pilot circular migration schemes (e.g. Mauritius-France) to highlight best practices and enrich the below Compendium of good practices. This was discussed further in 2.2 in Athens, and subsequent EU and IGC discussions have taken place on this. Assessments of pilots like Mauritius-France will likely form part of ongoing GFMD RTs.
8. Expand and update the Compendium of Good Practice Policies on Bilateral Temporary Labour Arrangements prepared for Spain and Morocco by OSCE, IOM and ILO, and include contact information on persons in countries with experience in these types of program. No action as yet. OSCE/IOM/ILO could be requested to update it.
9. Complete the project begun in 2007 to assess how to lower the costs of migration through low cost migrant loans involving the Bangladesh Government, banks, financial institutions and NGOs. This was completed in 2009 by Professor Philip Martin; funded by the Netherlands; and reported on in RT 2.1 in Athens.
10. Compile informationfor all governments on available websites and other information vehicles regarding jobs abroad and/or available supply of labour that facilitate “matching” and regular forms of labour migration. No action yet.
11. Explore how international and other organizations inform migrants; and assess how Migrant Information Centres (e.g. in Mali) are working to achieve better informed migration. This was implemented by IOM in 2009 at the request of, and with funding from, the UAE. It was part of the 2009 work plan of the WG on protecting and empowering migrants for development.
12. Conduct targeted research on costs-benefits and impacts of regular and irregular migration on development for developing countries with significant inward and outward migration flows. Not implemented, inter alia because not linked to the Athens RTs. It could form part of the work of RT 3 and/or the WG on data, research and policy coherence.
13. Organize a meeting for heads of regional consultative processes, possibly in Bangkok, to share information on migration and development-related activities and achievements. This was organized by Thailand and Australia in 2009, and reported on in Athens (see also 15 and 20).
14. Establish a systematic method of data collection and analysis of trafficking (eg. based on IOM’s CTM database; and expand this to include e.g. the economic circumstances of the victims). No action as yet; could be part of the agenda of RT 3 and the WG on data, research etc.
15. Explore what the discussions in the GFMD and RCPs can learn from each other about good practices between origin and host countries, including capacity building and international cooperation to curb people trafficking and smuggling. This follows up on Brussels; and can form part of the work of RT 3 and the WG on data, research etc. It was also partly covered in the RCP workshop in Bangkok (see also 13 and 20).
16. Set up a Data and Research Working Group to bring together government experts from developing and developed countries, international agencies and academia to consider how to improve data and research. This would act as a clearing house of up-to-date data and research, and policy initiatives, promote comparability and accessibility of existing activities, advise GFMD meetings on the most relevant findings and recommendations, and identify ways to take forward data and research-related conclusions from GFMD meetings. A combined working group on policy coherence, data and research was set up in 2009 under the chairmanship of Switzerland and Morocco.
17. Set up a GFMD Platform or Working Group on Policy and Institutional Coherence, using the GFMD website to ensure on-going exchange and stimulate the identification and dissemination of best practices in policy and institutional coherence. This would also ensure that these critical issues remain on future GFMD agendas. A combined working group on policy coherence, data and research was set up in 2009 under the chairmanship of Switzerland and Morocco.
18. Individual states should ensure that adequate and appropriate migration questions are included in all censuses of the 2010 round of national censuses. This was again recommended at the GFMD in Athens and followed up by the working group on policy coherence, data and research, including an information note presented by the GFMD Chair at the February 2010 Friends meeting, calling upon governments to consider implementing these recommendations.
19. he survey on policy and institutional coherence should be conducted again, perhaps every two years, and include open-ended questions to supplement the yes/no questions in the current survey. This was continued by the working group on policy coherence, data and research in 2009, with a report to the Athens GFMD in RT 3.
20. Hold a meeting of Chairs and Secretariats of Regional Consultative Processes (RCPs), possibly in Bangkok in the first half of 2009, to share experiences and lessons learned. The meeting was sponsored by Australia, organized by IOM, and held in Bangkok. Its results were presented in RT 3 in Athens, 2009 (See also 13 and 15).

based on last update of 22 April 2010
GFMD Task Force