Objective 1: Collect and utilize accurate and disaggregated data as a basis for evidence-based policies

Ghana's Shared Growth and Development Agenda (GSGDA) 2010 - 2013 identifies the major policy thrust for migration by, inter alia: establishing a comprehensive institutional framework for the management of migration, harmonizing legislation on migration, creating a comprehensive database on migration, mainstreaming migration into the national development policy framework and building the human, technical, and logistical capacity of migration institutions for better migration management.  

Portugal's Action Plan for the Integration of Immigrants (in its second edition) embodies the "whole of government" approach at the heart of mainstreaming: it tackles integration issues across different sectors (employment, health, education, etc) across distinct target groups (descendants of immigrants, family reunification, older migrants, etc) and across the government (involving 10 ministries).

This Handbook presents the One-Stop-Shop approach as a holistic strategy for mainstreaming the provision of immigration services and facilitating migrant integration process.  The One-Stop Shop promotes the idea that integration is a two-way process, where the receiving society actively engages in ensuring the integration and adaptation of migrants.

At the request of the Governments of Netherlands and Switzerland, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the Migration Policy Institute (MPI) developed this handbook as a tool for policymakers and practitioners to help them reach out to their diaspora and develop meaningful partnerships with them in their home and host countries. The handbook reflects the outcomes of a survey implemented jointly by the IOM and MPI among GFMD focal points, as well as the discussions within the GFMD on how to engage the diasporas and migrant communities.