Mainstreaming Migration into Development Planning

International migration has been an integral part of the historical and contemporary experience of most Jamaicans and is a feature of the country’s demographic landscape. The Government of Jamaica (GoJ) has recognized that with a population of approximately 2.7 million at home and a relatively large diaspora in destination countries, international migration has the potential to contribute to economic growth while reducing poverty and improving the well-being of individuals in countries of origin, transit and destination.

The main push factors for Moldovans migration are of economic nature, mainly poverty, lack of employment opportunities and low salaries.  The main countries of destination are Russia (over 40 per cent) and Italy (over 25 per cent). Other preferred destination countries are also: The United Kingdom, Portugal, Greece, Ireland, Ukraine, Turkey, Spain and others.   

The ASEAN Framework Agreement on Services (AFAS) was signed on 15 December 1995 by the ASEAN Economic Ministers, allowing for Mutual Recognition Agreements (MRA) in various professions and an agreement on the Movement of Natural Persons (MNP) 

To support UNCTs in the Global South, the Global Migration Group (GMG) conducted an extensive consultative process involving all GMG agencies and working groups, the UN Development Operations Coordination Office, and civil society organizations. The outcome of this process is a comprehensive Guidance Note on Integrating Migration and Displacement into UNDAFs that introduces UNCTs and government partners to the various programmatic links between sustainable development, migration and displacement.

SDC and GIZ have joined forces and created a practice-oriented training course about the interplay of migration and development, making use of their mutual practical experience and involvement in international dialogue processes on migration.

Balancing conceptual and practice oriented modules, this 3-day training session is designed to learn actively how to turn migration into an effective development tool.  Information on coming trainings will be shared in a soon future.

The M&D Mainstreaming Guide primarily aims to help the local governments of CALABARZON (Laguna, Batangas, Cavite, Rizal and Quezon) in integrating M&D into their local planning, and provide them with a sample menu of services that their localities can provide for the migrants and their families. It will also provide pertinent information on international migration, issues of migrants and the national government agencies involved in M&D initiatives so the LGUs could link up with them.

This handbook responds to the gap between talk and action, acting as a step-by-step guide for policymakers, giving practical meaning to the concept of Migration and Development.

The handbook is primarily concerned with international migration, and with national development processes and instruments in developing countries. The primary target audiences for this handbook are those interested in or responsible for facilitating a strategy for integrating migration into development planning processes of developing countries.

Migration is one of the defining features of the 21st century and significantly contributes to economic and social development everywhere. As such, migration will be key to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).