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• Envisioning the future and learning from the past: adapting to a changing environment in northern Mali

  Posted: 17 May 2013 14:39:50 GMT

  In West Africa, rural livelihoods that dependon natural resources develop coping and adapting strategies to face climate variability or change, and economic or political changes. The former Lake Faguibine in northern Mali has experienced drastic ecological, social, and economic changes. Forests have emerged on the former lake and have become important for local livelihoods.
  
  This paper analyses the coping and adapting strategies of forest- and livestock-based livelihoods facing ecological changes. Results from field research at different levels indicate that most local strategies are based on diversification including migration within the livestock production system or in complement to it, with differences according to gender, age, and ethnicity. Political discourses, cultural identities, and past experiences influence and shape adaptation strategies at the local level. The sustainability of the observed strategies depends on the access to natural resources and the sustainable management of these resources, which in turn depends on institutions at local and national levels.
  
  Many local strategies are reactive to external events but would need strategic support from higher levels to move from coping to adapting. Examples are the development of institutions and technical actions for natural resource management, as well as development actions supporting local strategies and sustainable investments. Researchers, practitioners and development planners will need simple methods and tools for understanding and analysing local adaptation perceptions and actions to achieve an effective support of sustainable and gender-equitable local adaptation and to avoid mismatches between strategies proposed by local and by sub national and national actors.

• Adolescent girls and migration in the developing world

  Posted: 16 May 2013 13:04:37 GMT

  Migration is transforming our world: by the end of this decade, most developing countries will have more people living in cities than in rural areas. Most migrants are in their early to mid-20s. Substantial numbers of adolescent girls are also on the move. Because of their age and gender, migrant girls are especially vulnerable to risks such as exploitative employment. But more evidence is needed on how to maximise migration’s benefits and minimise its risks for adolescent girls.
  
  This policy brief provides a summary of key findings and recommendations from the the Population Council report, Girls on the Move: Adolescent Girls & Migration in the Developing World, from their Girls Count series. By providing a road map for policy makers and programme planners, the report focuses on the need to increase the visibility of migrant girls, reduce their vulnerability, and realise their full potential.

  Main recommendations include:

  • prepare and equip girls before they migrate - with knowledge of their rights, life skills, IDs, and other portable assets

  • reduce the risk of trafficking and exploitation by connecting girls with safe places to stay and trusted individuals and by building support networks

  • ensure health and education services are sensitive to age, sex, and migration status

  • prepare girls for success

  • design girl-only approaches to reach domestic workers, child brides, and sexually exploited girls

  • develop qualitative and longitudinal studies to shed light on migrant girls’ experiences

  • maximise the benefits of migration by increasing adolescent girls’ visibility in policy and advocacy

   

   

  

• Our cities, our health, our future: acting on social determinants for health equity in urban settings. Report to the WHO Commission on Social Determinants of Health from the Knowledge Network on Urban Settings

  Posted: 17 Apr 2013 15:30:36 GMT

  This report summarises the social determinants of health in urban settings and provides guidance and examples of interventions that have been effective in achieving health equity. It is divided into 7 sections. Section 1 provides an introduction, and Section 2 discusses urbanisation and the urban setting as health determinants. Section 3 describes the urban health situation, including disease burden, infectious diseases, injuries, violence, mental health, substance abuse, noncommunicable disease and nutritional disorders. Section 4 presents key issues and challenges in achieving equity, such as environmental health threats, occupational hazards, urban health impacts of global resource depletion and environmental change, health care systems and emergency services, gender and women's issues, and other vulnerable groups. Section 5 presents a broad spectrum of interventions, and Section 6 provides approaches and policies to make interventions happen. Section 7 provides conclusions and recommendations.

• Hidden cities: unmasking and overcoming health inequities in urban settings

  Posted: 17 Apr 2013 12:42:32 GMT

  This report exposes the extent to which urban poor suffer disproportionately from a wide range of diseases (malnutrition, diabetes, tuberculosis, human immunodeficiency virus infection) and health problems (homicide), which can be traced back to inequalities in their social and living conditions. It also provides evidence-based information and tools to help municipal and health authorities tackle health inequities in their cities. The case for action is juxtaposed with personal stories and photos illustrating the issues of urban health equity in six countries. Stories of municipal and national authorities who are taking action to reduce inequities also are featured.

• Whither gender in urban health?

  Posted: 17 Apr 2013 12:18:17 GMT

  The past decade has witnessed the rapid expansion of the field of urban health, including the establishment of an international society of urban health and annual conference, the publication of several books and the growing popularity of a peer-reviewed journal on urban health. Relatively absent is an emphasis on the role of gender in urban health, despite scholarly and theoretical work on gender and place by feminist demographers, sociologists, public health researchers and others. This essay examines the treatment of gender within urban health and, drawing on insights from the social sciences, offers suggestions as to how urban health researchers might adopt an intersectional and gendered approach that will advance our understanding of the production of urban health for women and men.

• Addressing climate change and migration in Asia and the Pacific: final report

  Posted: 08 Apr 2013 18:36:50 GMT

  Asia and the Pacific is the global area most prone to natural disasters, both in terms of the absolute number of disasters and of populations affected. This report aims to identify policy and other responses to impacts of environment events on human mobility within the Asia and Pacific region.
  
  The report points that countries and populations of Asia and the Pacific will be affected in different ways, leading to various migration patterns and scenarios. Accordingly, conclusions include:
  

  • climate-induced migration needs to be addressed as part of the development agenda given the major implications of migration for the sustainable economic and social development of Asia and the Pacific
  • interventions are needed both to address the situation of those who have migrated, as well as those who remain in areas subject to environmental risk
  • correspondingly, governments should adopt policies and commit financing to social protection, livelihoods development, basic urban infrastructure development, and disaster risk management
  • the private sector can also play a large role in terms of tackling the challenge of climate-induced migration, yet an adequate framework is needed
  • on the other hand, it is important to recognise that migration, if properly managed, can also be a way for people to cope with environmental changes

  The paper states that international protection frameworks need to be strengthened, with specific arrangements developed for resettlement or relocation. Moreover, greater funding commitment and contributions of governments around the world will be required.
  
  The document also emphasises that more targeted, policy-relevant research is needed on the interaction between the environment and migration.

• Facing the challenge of environmental migration in Asia and the Pacific

  Posted: 04 Apr 2013 22:16:35 GMT

  Migration driven by environmental factors is emerging as a serious concern, one that demands urgent attention from decision makers. The current paper addresses this issue in the context of the Asian and Pacific countries.
  
  The paper highlights that Asia and Pacific region is expected to be one of the global regions most severely affected by climate change. However, climate change will not necessarily create a distinct category of migrant, but rather can be expected to interplay with other drivers of migration. Therefore, climate-induced migration should be addressed in the broader context of migration more generally, and as part of the development agenda.
  
  Conclusions are as follows:
  

  • with timely policies and investments, migration can be used as a tool of climate change adaptation, but appropriate policies and programs need to be formulated and put into operation
  • a key priority is to strengthen the resilience of communities to make migration an informed choice rather than an act of desperation
  • governmental tools to boost community resilience include social protection, comprising labour market measures and social safety net programs, and the disaster risk management
  • urban planning should include incentives for people to settle in less vulnerable areas, and portable social benefits for incoming migrants
  • the particular vulnerabilities of women must be taken into consideration when designing policies and program
  • although most climate-induced migration will be internal, international cooperation will be essential to effectively address cross-border migration

  
  Policy recommendations made:
  

  • invest in the knowledge base on the likely impacts of climate change on human mobility
  • lower information, financial, and regulatory barriers to emigration, and expand international labour migration opportunities through bilateral accords that provide worker protections
  • in cases where communities must relocate, draw on good international practice in resettlement, involving communities in the decision making

  

• Behavior of Remittance Inflows and its Determinants in Banglades

  Posted: 26 Feb 2013 09:00:48 GMT

  At present, remittances play a crucial role in the economy of Bangladesh. At the macro level, it helps to relieve our foreign exchange constraint, stabilize the exchange rate movement, and improve the balance of payments. A comfortable foreign exchange reserves can be maintained through increasing growth of remittance which can contribute to overall macroeconomic stability and reduce aid dependency. Besides, remittances are used to pay for imports bills and to repay foreign debt. At micro level, remittance has a beneficial impact on household consumption, reducing poverty reduction and self employment. It also improves country’s creditworthiness. However, it has been more stable source of foreign earnings than both FDI and foreign aid. The paper examines the determinants of remittance inflow by applying ordinary least square method (OLS). The paper finds that in the short run there exists a positive relationship between domestic exchange rate and remittance and some regu

• The Micronesian exodus

  Posted: 03 Feb 2013 18:35:07 GMT

  Micronesia has the highest per capita net emigration rate in the world. This paper provides an overview of the Micronesian migration experience, and shows that a range of public policies can shape a country’s experience with migration.
  
  The paper presents the following findings:
  

  • the exodus of citizens further complicates the region’s development challenges, not just in terms of ‘brain drain’ but also the impacts on population growth and inward migration
  • pull factors include potential for improved living standard, safety and security, political and religious freedom, family reunification and return to ethnic homeland
  • all things considered, there is very good reason to believe that the Micronesian exodus will continue

  
  However, the author argues that governments can do more to balance the outflow of migrants, by investing more in education and growing the local economy at home.
  
  Conclusions are as follows:
  

  • the primary policy aim should be to develop attractive employment prospects locally, and ensure school leavers are equipped with the necessary skills to meet the demands of a growing local labour market
  • investing in quality and fee-free higher education may also provide more options for young people to stay in the region
  • on the other hand, improved options for choice migration not only serve the personal interest but may also contribute to the national interest through more and higher remittances
  • furthermore, developing and maintaining links with the population living overseas would enable local governments, business and institutions to draw on the expertise of the diaspora

  
  In the final analysis, the document states that there is no need to apply artificial brakes on migration. Integrating education, employment and migration policies can grow the domestic labour force, and ensure individuals can migrate with better skills thus opening more opportunities in overseas labour markets.

• Applying the concept of human security to research on the consequences of mining-induced displacement and resettlement

  Posted: 01 Feb 2013 12:07:36 GMT

  The development of international mining projects is one of the most visible consequences of globalisation. But developments in the mining industry are the cause of about 10.3 percent of all displacements in the world. This means that more than a million people per year may be resettled as a result of resource extraction in various parts of the globe. Countries displaying the greatest growth rate of this phenomenon include India, China, Ghana, and many other African counties. The most burning issue is the establishment of large open-pit mines in developing countries, such as the Tarkwa Mine in Ghana, and the Tedi and Porgera Mines in Papua Island.
  
  The impact of mining on the dynamics of internal displacements remains a topic rarely analysed research. Authors are more concerned with displacements induced by the construction of large dams and the creation of national parks or by ongoing urbanisation processes. Instead of contributing to the well-being of local communities, the extraction of resources leads to a growing number of resettlements, environmental destruction, and a deterioration of the situation of marginalised groups.
  
  The consequences of the aforementioned problem do not diverge significantly from other categories of development-induced displacements such as oil-induced displacement, dam-induced displacement, or conservation-induced displacement. The analysis of internal displacement has become the focus of different fields of study. Sociology, social anthropology, human rights and development studies, and even philosophy are amongst disciplines particularly useful in the exploration of the consequences of development induced displacement.
  
  Research into this category of displacements, now under development for more than 40 years, has prompted the creation of specific theoretical concepts (i.e. the IRR model). The notion of human security also appears to be a useful scientific tool for more in-depth social analyses. Classification included in the Human Development Report published in 1994 distinguishes seven basic aspects of human security: economic security, food security, personal security, health security, environmental security, personal security, community security, and political security. Extraction of mineral resources leads to substantial threats to each of these aspects. An application of the aforementioned classifications to the research on the consequences of mining-induced displacement and resettlement helps to understand the broader context of problems encountered by the displacees. However, it should also be supplemented by two specific categories: gender security and cultural security.

• The concept of human security as a tool for analysing the consequences of development-induced displacement and resettlement

  Posted: 22 Jan 2013 13:22:09 GMT

  The consequences of development-induced displacement are the subject of research undertaken by experts from many disciplines. In addition to the specialist theoretical concepts (IRR Model; Colson-Scudder Four Stage Model), and useful general approaches (human rights, sociology, anthropology) an analysis on the basis of human security and development plays an increasingly important role. The classification of seven categories of human security, included in the UNDP Human Development Report, published in 1994, may be a valuable research tool for all specialists dealing with displacement studies. This fact is reflected by the growing scale of publications analysing the intersection of environmental changes, conflict, and displacement (Suhrke, Westing, Myers). At least a few authors (Caspary, Bharali, Ozerdem & Jacoby) pointed out the usefulness of the concept of human security in the analysis of development-induced displacement and resettlement. Despite a stagnation of research in human security, observed in recent years, its application in the research of very dynamic global problems (such as famine and displacement) is still worthy of consideration.
  
  The aim of this article is to consider the application of the most influential human security concepts to DIDR research. Taking into account the most influential human security classifications, the author tries to analyse the major problems facing displaced people. This analysis helps to determine what actions can help to improve the situation of displaced persons and to minimise the risks that affect them. Its connection to established models of analysis (IRR) can be helpful in specific development decisions in avoiding the problems typical for previous resettlement.

• Climate security: a holistic approach to climate change, security and development

  Posted: 17 Jan 2013 22:02:03 GMT

  The understanding of the implications of climate change has broadened in recent years, covering a complex web of development and security issues. In the meanwhile, Pacific island countries remain on the frontline, vulnerable not only to rising seas but also the global responses to the emerging climate security threats.
  
  This paper finds that:
  

  • climate change amplifies many of the Pacific existing development challenges beyond the obvious environmental concerns - addressing climate change is about securing Pacific future
  • migration, both internally and externally, is likely to be the biggest consequence of climate change in the Pacific region
    
  • in this context, the movement of people from coastal homelands to urban centers because of climate-induced impacts will put increasing pressure on already over-taxed physical and social infrastructure
  • ongoing geopolitical competition in the Pacific will also play into climate change security scenarios, particularly as aid and resettlement programs may be used as leverage to gain influence

  
  The author notes that the prevailing adaptation approach in the Pacific islands doesn’t meet the threat of climate change to these islands. However, factoring in a holistic approach to climate change to the post-Millennium Development Agendas has the potential to bring real benefits for Pacific islands security and wellbeing.
  
  Recommendations include:
  

  • investing in education, health care and poverty alleviation measures is encouraged to be seen through the lens of climate change adaptation
  • Pacific leaders should be more pointed in their criticism of major industrial powers who continue to feed the problem of carbon emissions regardless of its impact on the rest of the world
  • Pacific islands should move away from the rhetoric of vulnerability to emphasise the value they offer to the world (e.g. they have 60% of global tuna stocks)
  • climate changes implications should be adequately discussed when formulating the new global development goals

  

• The state of environmental migration 2011

  Posted: 09 Jan 2013 09:00:53 GMT

  This report is the second volume in an annual series, which aims to provide regular assessments on the changing nature and dynamics of environmental migration. This volume focuses on cross-border displacement and the securitisation of migration. It finds that in some cases the lack of protection standards and legal status of those displaced aggravates a situation where quotas, walls and externalisation processes of migration control considerably limit possibilities of migration. Written by students of the Paris School of International Affairs (PSIA) of Sciences Po, the presented case studies analyse the migration flows that were induced by some of the most dramatic events of 2011, both sudden disasters and slow-onset events. The Institute for Sustainable Development and International Relations (IDDRI) and the International Organization for Migration (IOM) initiated, supervised and edited the volume.

• On climate migration and international trade

  Posted: 08 Jan 2013 09:00:55 GMT

  Climate migration is plagued by vagueness, both in terms of the numbers of potential migrants, as well as their legal rights. This article provides a legal analysis of climate migration and examines its potential impact on international trade. The paper argues that although climate migration has become one of the most widely discussed areas of climate change adaptation, there is, as yet, no solid understanding or agreement of its potential scope. The article first explores the legal options for climate migrants and then provides an analysis of the potential link between climate migration and international trade. It concludes that even though recent trends show cause for optimism with regard to the World Trade Organization's adjudicatory bodies' approaches, true security would lie in the agreements themselves embodying specific exceptions aimed at accounting for the implications of climate change-induced migration, rather than existing frameworks being extended to address these issues.

• Where the rain falls: climate change, food and livelihood security, and migration

  Posted: 05 Dec 2012 09:01:10 GMT

  This comparative study highlights that rainfall variability and food insecurity are key drivers for human mobility. The empirical research is based on eight country case studies, including a 1,300 household survey and participatory research sessions involving 2,000 individuals. The results reveal that migration is an important risk management strategy for vulnerable households. Land scarce households trying to cope with food insecurity send migrants during the hunger season to find food or money to buy food. Migration is often temporary and seasonal, if migrants are successful, but can be permanent if options cannot be found to deal with rainfall variability and rural food insecurity. The report states that the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities – both in terms of minimising pressure on vulnerable populations and providing adaptation options – must underlie policy negotiations on climate induced migration and subsequent implementation at all levels.

• Remittances to transit countries: the impact on Sudanese refugee livelihoods in Cairo

  Posted: 08 Nov 2012 11:29:45 GMT

  Transit countries are way stations or stopping points in the journey of migrants and refugees from their countries of origin to their intended destination countries. Many migrants and refugees become ‘stuck’, often for years, unable to either move onward or to return to their home countries.
  
  This study focuses on the significance of these transnational linkages, particularly remittances, for Sudanese migrants in Egypt. It aims to fill gaps in knowledge about the livelihoods of refugees in the urban centres of transit countries. ‘Stuck’ migrants engage in a range of social and economic activities that have implications both for their host countries, and, through their transnational links, for their home countries.
  
  The report concludes:
  

  • many Sudanese survive on a very small income and struggle to make ends meet
  • only a small minority can rely on remittances to help them out
  • however it is possible that non-refugee migrants, especially those with family members working abroad, receive higher levels of remittances
  • refugees in Egypt place them in the lowest economic stratum, and most cannot remit cash to Sudan
  • the study indicates entry points for both the international community and the Sudanese diaspora to support livelihoods, but more research is needed to understand better what effects such support might have
  • research suggests that coping strategies based on borrowing lead to debt and greater vulnerability, but more research is needed about the impact of debt.
  • mechanisms could be created that enable refugees to avoid borrowing, for example, providing emergency cash grants
  • while findings are specific to Sudanese refugees in Egypt, the research tools, mapping approach and methods developed, are replicable in other cities and in a future study could be used to compare the experience of other refugee populations in Cairo, such as the Iraqis and the Eritreans

  

• National Consultation on Institutional and Regulatory Reforms for Producing Nurses for Overseas Employment

  Posted: 06 Nov 2012 09:01:15 GMT

  The main objective of this paper is to identify ways of creating a competitive edge for Bangladeshi nurses for both local and international markets. The specific objectives are; To create opportunity for increasing the number of and quality of trained nurses in the country.To increase the share of professional and skilled migrants from Bangladesh vis a vis semi skilled and less skilled migrants.To minimise fraudulence and exploitation from overseas migration.To create opportunity for migration of women under less exploitative situation.The study covers issues related to the government’s migration policy; demand for nurses both at the local and international level vis a vis nursing education in the country. The study also focuses on the development of nursing education and the challenges the sector is facing in the training nurses as well as the experiences of Ghana and the Philippines with regard to nursing education and migration.

• Factors of Migration in Urban Bangladesh: An Empirical Study of Poor Migrants in Rajshahi City

  Posted: 01 Nov 2012 09:01:14 GMT

  This paper examines the factors of rural-urban migration in Bangladesh. It is found that the underlying cause of migration is mainly driven by economic and social factors i.e., unemployment, poverty, political and ethnic conflicts, religious etc. In the migration process the push factors are more active then pull factors, as poverty and unemployment always push the poor villagers to change their residence to the cities. After migration majority of the migrants comparatively improved their livelihoods in the city. Although poor migrants have contributed significantly to the economic growth and gained from higher wages in higher productivity areas, they remain socially and economically excluded from the wider benefits of economic growth such as access to food and education, housing, sanitation and freedom. The study results highlight the need to target migrant groups and urban poor within urban areas in the provision of availability of work and social care services.

• Surviving Pattern of Women and Children Migrants in Urban Bangladesh

  Posted: 31 Oct 2012 09:01:15 GMT

  Migration is a relevant phenomenon with important implications at three different levels: local, regional and international. On the wider level, migration is tightly related with globalization and with the workflow of human resources towards the host countries; on a local level, rural to urban migration is one of the most important aspects of the economy of the state. This paper analyses the situation of Bangladesh, with a particular focus on the causes and consequences of women and children migration, who move to big cities like Rajshahi to find work and to enhance their livelihood. The paper looks at the role of work in acquiring dignity, the filial duty in a traditionally hierarchically structured society and also women and children as active-decision makers in the migration process. The paper also focuses on the characteristics of migrant people, with sex and age disaggregated data, and statistics about the different families’ situations.

• Commitment to Development Index 2012

  Posted: 18 Oct 2012 09:01:20 GMT

  The Commitment to Development Index ranks 27 of the world’s richest countries on their dedication to policies that benefit the 5.5 billion people living in poorer nations. Moving beyond standard comparisons of foreign aid volumes, the CDI quantifies a range of rich-country policies that affect poor people in developing countries: Quantity and quality of foreign aid; Openness to exports; Policies that encourage investment; Migration policies; Environmental policies; Security policies; Support for technology creation and dissemination. Why does the CDI matter? Because in an increasingly integrated world, the behavior of rich countries can profoundly affect the lives of people in poor countries and because poverty and weak institutions in developing countries can breed public health crises, security threats, and economic crises that know no borders. Committing to policies that promote develop- ment and well-being is a global imperative.

• World disasters report 2012

  Posted: 18 Oct 2012 09:01:07 GMT

  The World Disasters Report 2012 aims to widen and sharpen the focus on the complex causes of forced migration and the diverse consequences and impacts for both affected populations and humanitarian actors. The report shows that, more than ever, the complex nature of disasters and conflicts is accompanied by the enormous potential to uproot large numbers of people. Other factors, such as population growth, rapid urbanisation, increasing poverty and inequality, hazardous and environmentally contaminated sites, climate change and new technological hazards all combine to accentuate vulnerability and increase the propensity for forced displacement to occur. The report draws attention to the diverse health needs of forced migrants and highlights how forced migration has urbanised. It calls for the mainstreaming of tools and strategies used for identifying vulnerability, promoting resilience and adaptation, and securing better access to protection for people susceptible to displacement.

• Environmentally-induced displacement: theoretical frameworks and current challenges

  Posted: 12 Oct 2012 14:32:17 GMT

  The aim of the current paper is to demonstrate environmentally-induced displacement as an increasingly important category of population movement that represents a new set of challenges to the international community.
  
  The paper enumerates the most common causes of environmentally-induced displacement as follows: chemical and radioactive contamination, sea level rise, deforestation, desertification, soil salinity, droughts, earthquakes and tsunamis, famine, diseases, floods, hurricanes, volcanic eruptions and wildfires.
  
  As a result, the document categorises environmental displacements in three types:
  

  • displacement that results from irreversible changes in the surrounding ecosystem
  • displacement that results from cyclical environmental factors
  • migration caused by natural disasters or man-made catastrophes

  
  Additionally, the authors mention the “environmentally conditioned migration of a totally voluntary nature”.
  
  Conclusions are as follows:
  

  • high transnational migration potential is characterised by drought and/or rising sea level
  • the emergence of certain global environmental processes, such as greenhouse gases emission and ozone depletion prompts the international community to take common and coordinated actions
  • the problem of environmentally-induced displacement in public international law is shaped through the activities of international institutions: initially only those associated with the UN system, currently also regional ones
  • however, international law is rigid and international institutions are working too slowly and not always adequately to the needs and dynamics of the threats that appear in many places of the world

  
  The paper finally states that Africa remains the continent with by far one of the largest number of environmental forced migrants worldwide. In this context, it notes that the desertification problem covers the whole of North Africa and many areas in other parts of the continent, while Africa in general is highly affected by flood.

• Oil-induced displacement and resettlement: social problem and human rights issue

  Posted: 12 Oct 2012 14:29:01 GMT

  Extraction and transportation of mineral resources today presents an increasing social problem, leading to environmental damage and causing population displacement on a large scale. This publication presents a broad view of displacement caused by the exploitation of oil, drawing attention to the political contexts of displacement and their relationship with indigenous people. The paper particularly focuses on 5 case studies in 5 developing countries: Nigeria, Sudan, Ecuador, Colombia, Burma.
  
  The author notes that:
  

  • there is a massive displacement associated with the processes of exploration of crude oil, notwithstanding the following steps of exploitation
  • in several cases crude oil production led to an uncontrolled spiral of large-scale displacement, organised violence, and many other social and environmental problems
  • indeed, the displacement caused by the exploitation of crude oil fits well with the issues of civil war and religious and ethnic discrimination

  
  The document recommends the following measures for dealing with the most negative environmental and social consequences of oil:
  

  • encouraging local communities to establish NGOs aimed at defending the interests of those affected by oil production
  • involving as many stakeholders as possible in project preparation and implementation of resettlement; programs of this type should be based on the cooperation of local communities, NGOs, government, and the corporate sector
  • encouraging firms to publicise reports on the implementation of resettlement plans, and accompanying resettlement by public infrastructure agreements governing subsequent access by communities to common goods
  • publicising negative practices in the media; western corporations do not care about opinion in developing countries because the information must reach developed countries before a difference will occur in their bottom line
  • making the problem of development-induced displacement and resettlement the subject of international cooperation

  
  Moreover, the paper stresses that the rights of local communities to participate in the distribution of profits from the exploitation of resources have to be guaranteed.

• The first climate refugees? Contesting global narratives of climate change in Tuvalu

  Posted: 09 Oct 2012 09:01:15 GMT

  This article explores the uncertain outcomes of climate change effects for different populations. It argues that understanding climate change requires broad conceptualisations that incorporate multiple voices and recognise the agency of vulnerable populations. In climate change discourse, climate mobility is often characterised as the production of ‘refugees’, with a tendency to discount long histories of ordinary mobility among affected populations. The paper shows that in Tuvalu migration as an everyday practice is paired together with climate refugee narratives. Tuvaluans are, thus, being used as the immediate evidence of displacement that the climate change crisis narrative seems to require. However, the paper argues that Tuvaluan conceptions of climate challenges and mobility practices show that more inclusive sets of concepts and tools are needed to equitably and effectively approach and characterise population mobility.

• Emerging Reality in Customary Land Tenure: The Case of Kachenga Village in Balaka District, Southern Malawi

  Posted: 18 Sep 2012 15:03:03 GMT

  Land is a source of food, employment and export earnings for many African countries. Apart from its economic importance, land also has a significant social value. Some sites are regarded as sacred and are treated with great respect as they may be associated with important events in the society's history, for example, its purported origins. Ultimately land provides a site where one will be buried at the end of one's earthly Life. This paper discusses land tenure changes that have occurred in one village in Balaka district, southern Malawi and the forces that have been at work. The current land tenure system departs in a number significant of ways from what is supposed to be the ideal situation. Among the important changes are the diminishing role of the group village heady-man as allocator of land rights, increasing importance of family heads as allocators of land rights and the development of an informal land market.

• The Marital Immigrant. Land, and Agricultue: A Malawian Case Study

  Posted: 18 Sep 2012 14:27:57 GMT

  The central and southern regions of Malawi predominantly follow matrilineal succession and inheritance and practice uxorilocal marriages. Women, rather than men, own the primary land rights. Colonial government officials and some Eurocentric scholars have argued that the system of uxorilocal marriages and female ownership of land rights are inimical to agricultural development principally because men lose the motivation to make long term investments in land which does not belong to them. This study of marital immigrants sought to investigate whether the location of land rights in someone other than themselves affected the wax they viewed agriculture and made farm decisions. It found that while short term decisions are not affected, long term investments are influenced by perception of security, understood in terms of marital stability.

• Migration and remittances in South Asia

  Posted: 02 Sep 2012 21:41:24 GMT

  Global migration flows have increased in magnitude and complexity due to economic and human security factors, both at sending and receiving ends. This paper explores the trends, nature and role of migration and remittances in South Asian economies.
  
  The authors note that South Asia has traditionally had a comparative advantage in the export of low-skilled labour at low cost, pointing that there has been a growth in migration from South Asia into new markets across the world.
  
  The document highlights that migration was considered a problem in the developing world, including South Asia, in the past for its negative implications for development in terms of brain drain and labour force depletion. However, migration has been a critical factor in South Asian economies as a source of employment and livelihood for workers, and as a source of remittances which provide a stable flow of external finance.
  
  Conclusions encompass:
  

  • migrants’ remittances represent a significant proportion of most South Asian countries’ gross domestic product (GDP) as well as foreign exchange earnings
  • still, remittance income may not always reach the poorest of the poor since the initial costs of migration are often prohibitively high for this segment of society
  • as a result, it is important for South Asian countries to improve the utilisation of remittances
  • in fact, greater utilisation of formal transfers ensures greater receipts of foreign exchange and also exposure of the poor to formal savings and financial systems
  • to improve the utilisation of remittances, South Asian governments are recommended to enhance formal channels of financial transfer of remittances by reducing the transaction costs of this process
  • in addition, they should improve knowledge and information among migrant households

  

• A decision framework for environmentally induced migration

  Posted: 09 Aug 2012 16:40:48 GMT

  Global environmental change is increasingly affecting ecosystems and the communities who rely on them. However, more work is needed to conceptualise and quantify migration responses to the impact of environmental change and degradation.
  
  This paper argues that reflecting on the manner in which the environment changes can help provide insights into the different mechanisms by which humans respond and adapt to environmental stress. However, it is noted that determining the extent to which environmental stress forces people to move is complex for at least two reasons:
  

  • deciphering which of the several push and pull factors influence a decision to migrate is difficult as multiple factors (e.g. social, political and economic factors) often act simultaneously
  • environmental degradation processes are often a consequence of the degradation of social, economic and political conditions and vice versa.
    

  The authors argue that considering the concept of social-ecological systems and the notion of ecosystem services is useful for understanding this complexity and can help to determine the extent to which ecosystem degradation plays a role in forcing people to migrate.
  
  The paper presents a decision framework for categorising people moving due to environmental stress and examines the circumstances leading to a decision to move, including the state of the environment and coping capacities or adaptive abilities of those individuals or communities affected.
  
  The authors hope that, following in-depth discussions and improvements of such a framework, it will become a useful tool for operational agencies that have to provide support to people who are displaced or migrate due to environmental stresses.

• Population aging: some economic and social consequences of population aging

  Posted: 03 Aug 2012 21:38:30 GMT

  The continued participation of older people in the economic life is a key factor to their own well-being as well as that of their nations on the whole. Covering Canada specifically, this paper looks at possible and appropriate policies that can accommodate the demographic fact of life.
  
  The paper observes that demographic change is gradual, seldom having any major effect in the short term, and is rarely considered in today’s important policy decisions. Thus, unless governments adopt a comprehensive, longer-term strategy to address a looming labour shortage and future health care demands, the consequences of population aging could be deleterious.
  
  Conclusions are that:
  

  • population aging is largely the result of demographic momentum, so policy proposals should address the consequences of these trends rather than attempt to change the trends themselves
  • yet, the growing diversity of circumstances among the elderly and the capacity of families to provide care across generations affect how the policy implications of an aging population will play out

  
  Moreover, the author introduces three policy proposals to address the population aging challenge:
  

  • retooling immigration systems to maximise economic benefits
  • encouraging older workers to remain in the labour force
  • increasing health care staffing and optimise service delivery

  
  Specifically, in order to reduce employment barriers for older workers, the paper suggests adopting a flexible policy of phased retirement, whereby older employees can gradually reduce their workweek. Identically, it also recommends reducing incentives for early retirement and increasing incentives for flexible working hours.

• Climate change, environment and migration in the Sahel: selected issues with a focus on Senegal and Mali

  Posted: 31 Jul 2012 09:22:28 GMT

  The micle research project investigates the social-ecological conditions of population movements in Mali and Senegal. The overall goal of the project is to contribute to a better understanding of the complex relationships between climate-related environmental changes and migration. This working paper provides a summary of selected issues analysed within the project, including: an outline of the current scientific debate on climate change, environment and migration; climatic and environmental conditions in the Sahel in general and Mali and Senegal in particular; the changing patterns of migration into and from West Africa; the most important international, regional and national policies concerning migration in both countries; and an overview of the conceptual approach of the micle project.

• ICT for Integration, Social Inclusion and Economic Participation of Immigrants and Ethnic Minorities: Case Studies from Spain

  Posted: 31 Jul 2012 09:20:32 GMT

  This report is one of the outcomes of the study ‘The potential of ICT for the promotion of cultural diversity in the EU: the case of economic and social participation and integration of immigrants and ethnic minorities’ carried out by the Institute for Prospective Technological Studies (IPTS) on the request of DG Information Society and Media, Unit H3 (eInclusion) of the European Commission. This report provides an analysis of ICT usage experiences in Spain. As in the other country reports, three cases were selected – two to explore the role of ICT for the digital and social inclusion and/or the socio-cultural integration of immigrants and ethnic minorities, and one to address aspects related to the labour market and economic participation.

• The Zimbabwean Documentation Process: Lessons Learned

  Posted: 30 Jun 2012 09:00:19 GMT

  Between September 20 and December 31, 2010, the Department of Home Affairs (DHA) carried out the Zimbabwe Documentation Process (ZDP). Intended as a model for similar documentation projects that the DHA plans to extend to other categories of Southern Africans, the process provided a path for regularising the status of undocumented migrants. It also provided an alternative to the asylum system, which Zimbabweans have turned to in large numbers. Many of these individuals have been waiting for extended periods for their asylum claims to be finalised.

• The causes and consequences of re-trafficking

  Posted: 29 Jun 2012 09:02:50 GMT

  Although there is a consensus agreement among international organizations, governments and academics regarding the seriousness and significance of re-trafficking as a problem, there has been very little research conducted into its incidence, cause or consequence.

• Climate change, vulnerability and human mobility: perspectives of refugees from the east and Horn of Africa

  Posted: 27 Jun 2012 09:01:40 GMT

  This study aims to understand the extent to which refugees and internally displaced persons (IDPs) have perceived, experienced and responded to climatic variability and long-term negative climatic change in the east and Horn of Africa. The report is based on discussions with 150 IDPs and refugees from Ethiopia and Uganda, many of whom were farmers and pastoralists from Eritrea, Somalia and eastern Sudan. Key findings include: many of the refugees interviewed had perceived discernible shifts in weather in their home countries over the past 10 to 15 years; where movement away from homelands was taken in response to worsening impacts of climatic variability, such movement was only taken as a measure of last resort and only after all efforts to adapt to the changing conditions had been exhausted; cross-border movement, as a direct response to climatic variability, was rarely mentioned.

• Climate change, migration and critical international security considerations

  Posted: 27 Jun 2012 09:01:10 GMT

  There are growing concerns that climate change will lead to large-scale population displacements and migrations in coming decades. Many security scholars worry that these may in turn contribute to violence and conflict in the most vulnerable regions. Are these concerns supported by scientific evidence? And if so, what options are available to concerned policymakers? In response to these and other questions, this report reviews the available scholarly reporting on climate change, migration and security and describes the legal and policy challenges facing the international community.

• Making migration a development factor: the case of North and West Africa

  Posted: 27 Jun 2012 09:00:43 GMT

  Migration can be a positive factor in the development of countries of origin through two main channels - remittances and return migration. But, in looking at five countries (Algeria, Mauritania, Morocco, Senegal and Tunisia) this report shows how the global financial crisis has aggravated the already difficult employment situation in North and West Africa. There is little incentive for migrants to return to their home countries, and this paper looks at how to make migration, employment and development mutually supportive.

• Rethinking “Ecological Migration” and the Value of Cultural Continuity: A Response to Wang, Song, and Hu

  Posted: 26 Jun 2012 09:06:10 GMT

  Comment by J.M. Foggin, in response to: Wang Z.M., K.S. Song, and L.J. Hu. 2010. China’s largest scale ecological migration in the three-river headwater region. AMBIO 39 (5–6):443–446. The author argues that Ecological Migration (EM) policy is all too often accepted with little critique in China. EM remains an untested social experiment at an enormous scale—with potential devastating long-term social, cultural, and possibly environmental consequences; some of them irreversible. For Tibetan pastoralists in the Sanjiangyuan region in southern Qinghai Province, the implications are clear. It is argued that the extent to which the policy is implemented should be constrained; new approaches should be further researched, trialed, and adopted where appropriate; and more accessible forms of service provision should be developed. With social concerns over EM raised EM should no longer be promoted regardless of consequences.

• Migration, a possible adaptation strategy?

  Posted: 25 Jun 2012 09:02:09 GMT

  The environment has always been an important factor in migration, however, the expected impacts of climate change transform the complex relationship that exists between environmental degradation and migration flows, whether forced or voluntary. Although we don’t know much about the way populations react to environmental degradation, 'climate migration' is generally presented as one of the most dramatic consequences of global warming. This conception reflects a deterministic vision of the phenomenon, in which migrants are solely presented as resourceless victims. However, empirical research shows that migration may also be a strategy that migrants adopt, if they are given the means to do so, in order to adapt to the degradation of their immediate environment.

• Climate-Related Displacement and Human Security in South Asia: A Review of the Social Science Research

  Posted: 24 Jun 2012 09:09:56 GMT

  Climate-related displacement is one of the key challenges facing South Asia in the coming decades. This paper reviews existing research and argues that one way to frame the contributions of social science research is to explore the issues in terms of a human security approach. Within this context, social science research would aim to increase understanding of which individuals, households, communities and populations are most vulnerable to the predicted increased frequency of natural disasters and environmental degradation caused by climatic changes. There is also a need to understand the reasons for this vulnerability. Without this human security focus, it is possible that vulnerable communities will be plunged into increased poverty by ill-conceived adaptation strategies and inappropriate social protection schemes. A human security approach also highlights the importance of local knowledge and participatory, community-based approaches and partnerships for socially relevant research.

• Migration and Health in SADC - A review of the literature

  Posted: 23 Jun 2012 09:02:45 GMT

  This review presents a synthesis of published literature relating to migration and health in the Southern African Development Community (SADC). To support this review, a set of key informant interviews with representatives of academic institutions and international organizations working on migration and health in SADC have been undertaken to supplement the findings from the literature. From the synthesis of available literature, and findings from the key informant interviews, eight key findings have emerged and recommendations are being presented to emphasize the importance of a public-health approach to research, intervention design and evaluation, and policymaking in relation to migration and health in SADC.

• Maternal Migration and Child Well-Being in Peru

  Posted: 19 Jun 2012 09:11:15 GMT

  Migration affects not only those who migrate, but may also have intergenerational effects on their children. Looking at those mothers with a history of internal migration who are part of the Young Lives project, and comparing them with suitable controls, we find that mothers’ migration has had a positive impact on the nutritional outcomes and cognitive achievement of their offspring. However, we also find that there are heterogeneous impacts, as different types of migration trajectory (rural to rural; rural to urban – to intermediate cities or to the capital, Lima) can be associated with the prevalence of different channels affecting child well-being. Those channels are the income channel, as migration may lead to new income-generating opportunities; the information channel, as migration may allow the mother to access more information about child-care and health-related practices; and the access to services channel, as migration may facilitate or hinder access to key public services.

• Migration and living conditions in urban slums: implications for food security

  Posted: 31 May 2012 09:06:53 GMT

  Migration to urban areas is a regular phenomenon but climate induced displacement forced to migrate to cities over the recent years is a matter of concern. Increased frequency and severity of natural disasters by climate change over the past recent years are not only displacing people physically but also exposing to enhanced poverty by threatening their livelihoods temporarily and permanently. Growing number of people rush to city’s slums creates urban crisis. Climate change threatens peoples’ access to food as they become socioeconomically susceptible. Displaced people living in urban slums are in search of better and secure life. But urban slums located mostly in low lying environmentally hazardous area coupled with inadequate facilities like food, shelter, sanitation, health care make their life even worse. Growing number of people in urban slums over the recent past creates extra pressure on existing systems.

• Migration and living conditions in urban slums

  Posted: 29 May 2012 09:06:51 GMT

  Migration to urban areas is a regular phenomenon but climate induced forced displacement to to cities, over the recent years, is a matter of concern. Increased frequency and severity of natural disasters by climate change over the past recent years are not only displacing people physically but also exposing them to enhanced poverty by threatening their livelihoods temporarily and permanently. Analysing secondary sources as well as primary sources to address the issue, this paper depicts the socio-economic condition of slum dwellers and their consumption patterns in Bangladesh, and suggests planned migration to lessen the exposure to further poverty and food insecurity in case of the urban poor.

• Refugees and IDPs after Conflict: Why They Do Not Go Home

  Posted: 29 May 2012 09:06:38 GMT

  This report reviews the challenges facing returning refugees and internally displaced persons after protracted conflict, questioning the common wisdom that the solution to displacement is, in almost all cases, to bring those uprooted to their places of origin, regardless of changes in the political, economic, psychological, and physical landscapes. While affirming the right to return, the report underscores insecurity, lack of economic opportunities, and poor services generally available in areas of recent conflict where people are expected to rebuild their lives, documenting cases of seriously flawed return efforts. Greater flexibility in determining the best solutions to displacement and more investment in alternative forms of reintegration for those who have been displaced is needed.

• Reconsidering the Role of Conflict in the Lives of Refugees ...

  Posted: 27 May 2012 09:06:03 GMT

  Based upon qualitative research with Somali refugees in two European host countries – the UK and the Netherlands -this paper explores the micro-level experiences and ongoing effects of the Somali conflict on their lives in exile. Challenging predominant macro-level framings of refugees in these settings, it supports a micro-level analysis of their experiences and lives. It analyses their ongoing connections with the conflict in Somalia, and reveals how this can affect aspects of their integration and emotional health while in exile, alongside social problems such as poverty, drug use and divorce.

• How People Face Evictions: Lessons from people-led initiatives

  Posted: 09 May 2012 09:06:01 GMT

  Forced and market-driven evictions are increasing dramatically worldwide, with devastating effects on millions of children, women and men across the globe. Despite this negative trend, however, many people-led initiatives have been successful in addressing this issue and reducing the number of evictions, developing new policies and proving that alternatives to forced eviction can be found. This project aims to document, reflect upon and share people-based initiatives and experiences of struggles against evictions, including how groups are securing rights to adequate housing, legal security of tenure and freedom from arbitrary destruction and dispossession, giving voice to people who are active on the ground and providing an opportunity for exchange and mutual learning.

• Activity Choices of Internally Displaced Persons and Returnees: Post-War Northern Uganda

  Posted: 18 Apr 2012 09:07:32 GMT

  This paper studies the effect of living in an internally displaced people’s (IDP) camp on economic activity choices in post war northern Uganda. As the decision to relocate from a camp is voluntary, camp residents may be different from returnees. The authors find a strong effect of camp residence on activity choices. Particularly, individuals in IDP camps are more inclined to cultivate and engage in trading, than those who returned. However they are less likely to make handicrafts and participate in any of the wide range of activities. The observation that individuals living in camps strive to ensure self-reliance underscores the need for livelihood interventions and other recovery programmes to target not only returnee households but also create opportunities for households still in displacement. This should be coupled with improvement of security around camps to foster increased economic activity.

• Riverbank erosion displacees in Bangladesh: need for institutional response and policy intervention

  Posted: 11 Mar 2012 09:04:07 GMT

  Environmental refugees are one of the most burning issues at this time throughout the world. Bangladesh, a riverine country, is suffering from acquit riverbank erosion which compels millions of her population to be displaced from their place of origin. As such, 283 locations, 85 towns and growth centers, along with 2400 kilometers of riverbank line in Bangladesh are vulnerable to erosion. The major rivers e.g., the Padma, the Jamuna, and the Meghna, erode several thousand hectares of floodplain making thousands of people landless and homeless every year. Along with the floodplain, Bangladesh loses several kilometers of roads, railways, and flood-control embankments annually. No other disaster is as disastrous as riverbank erosion and ‘Internally Displaced Populations’ (IDP) face many unavoidable problems at different stages of displacement. Displacement marginalized them in respect of livelihood patterns and psycho-physical troubles.

• Poverty reduction in a refugee-hosting economy: a natural experiment

  Posted: 10 Mar 2012 22:23:11 GMT

  The role of migration in reducing poverty in developing countries has been investigated mainly from the perspective of migrants and their relatives. This paper, however, reviews the way hosting households in Tanzania traced between 1991 and 2004, when their region had been affected by massive refugee inflows. The paper is sought to assess how migration may affect poverty in the hosting communities.
  

  The results indicate that although doubling the refugee inflows from Burundi and Rwanda had increased real consumption by 8% in the hosting community, the probability of getting out of poverty had also increased by 11%.
  

  Conclusions comprise: 

  • the large population inflows from Burundi and Rwanda improved the standards of living of the migrants themselves and their relatives in their village of origin
  • subsequently, forced migrants had a strong and positive impact on the standards of living of the hosting communities
  • indeed, the refugee inflows led to a sharp decrease in poverty in an economy experiencing a process of structural transformation 
  • indeed, the pro-poor nature of this development is found to be driven by improved agricultural labour productivity and possibly income diversification among the poor
    

  The document illustrates that there was an imperfect substitution between refugees and their local hosts and an increase in market size, while land availability was preserved. Furthermore, it clarifies that the role of health and transport infrastructure was certainly complementary to these market-based channels, but the relative importance of public policies would need to be further investigated.
  

  

• Gender & Development special issue: migration

  Posted: 03 Mar 2012 09:02:16 GMT

  All over the world, individuals and families set out daily on a journey to a new life in a distant place. Some migration is undertaken with little or no choice - men, women and children fleeing in the face of violence which threatens lives and security. This migration can be seen as ‘forced’ - defined widely as referring to ‘the movements of refugees and internally displaced people (those displaced by conflicts) as well as people displaced by natural or environmental disasters, chemical or nuclear disasters, famine, or development projects’.

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