ECUN J OINT M IGRATION AND D EVELOPMENT I NITIATIVE

M APPING AND ANALYSIS OF LOCAL AUTHORITIES PRACTICES

Inception Report (27 July 2012)
Daniel Naujoks and Christian Privat
A. Introduction and Objective
Local development and local authorities
Over the last one-and-a-half decades, the main actors in the field of development
cooperation have increased from only three categoriesnamely, multilateral,
bilateral and NGO actorsto a multitude of new actors, such as local and
regional governments, the private sector, foundations, entrepreneurs, unions,
universities and others.1 This has contributed to a notable change toward
demand-based, rather than supply-based cooperation activities. 2
The importance of the local level is echoed across the board by many
institutions concerned with development. At the level of the European Union
(EU), the role of local governments has been more fully recognized during the
2005 revision of the Cotonou Agreement. 3 In the 2011 Agenda for Change, the
EU aims "to work more closely with the private sector, foundations, civil society
and local and regional authorities as their role in development grows". 4
The First World Forum of Local Development Agencies in October 2011 has
emphasized that decentralization, understood as the devolution of political
power to the territories, bringing public administration closer to the citizens, has
been shown to be a useful method for democratic social and economic
development.5 Strategies to enhance local development and economic
development are supported by JMDI partner agencies, such as UNDP and the ILO,
as well other international development agencies, such as the World Bank and
1 UNDP ART Global Initiative, Annual Report 2010, p. 19.
2 Ibid., p. 21.
3 See the Communication from the European Commission Local Authorities: Actors for
Development. COM (2008) 626 final.

4 See Communication from the European Commission Increasing the Impact of EU Development
Policy: an Agenda for Change. COM (2001) 637 final, p.3. See also European Commission (2008),
Changing the World Locally. 25 success stories of development cooperation at local level.

LOCAL AUTHORITIES MIGRATION AND DEVELOPMENT PRACTICESINCEPTION REPORT

the OECD. These strategies include the use of private sector development
approaches and tools such as value chain development, linkages with
microfinance institutions, skills development, institutional capacity-building and
green jobs. The purpose of local economic development (LED) is to build up the
economic capacity of a local area to improve its economic future, and to improve
the quality of life for all. It is a process by which public, business and nongovernmental sector partners work collectively to create better conditions for
economic growth and employment generation. 6 It is found that local
governments have an essential role in creating favorable environments for
business success and job creation. To do this optimally, LED is undertaken
through partnerships between local government, business and community
interests.7
Migration and development
In the last two decades, the development effect and potential of migrants has
become an increasingly important and coherent field in economic and social
science research. Its significance has not only been highlighted in a growing
body of international research literature, but also in publications by international
organizations and institutions. The wider view of migration as a development tool
is supported by the increasing inclusion of migration aspects in countries
Poverty Reduction Strategy Papers, or PRSPs.
Depending on the conceptualization, there are four stages of migration
that may have developmental effects. The first is emigration. The second
consists of the interactions between the migrants and the homeland during the
migrants stay abroadso-called diaspora options. The third stage comprises
eventual return migration, and the fourth and last is re-migration, thus starting
the conceptual circle da capo.8
Issues related to out-migration, or emigration, are highly disputed. Best
known in this context is the example of brain drain, understood as the
emigration of a sizeable number of the best and brightest, which depletes the
country of origin of its talent. However, this is only one possible effect emigration
may have. It has been argued that legal and safe emigration, together with predeparture training will have the best effects on migrants, their countries and
regions of origin, as well as on the countries of transit and destination.
While migrants from a given country are abroad, the country of origin may
benefit in many ways. Activities by diaspora actors may have direct,
5 Conclusions of the First World Forum of Local Development Agencies (2011), Territory, Economy
and Local Governance: New Viewpoints of Times of Change, p. 38.

6 The World Bank (2006), LED Quick Reference Guide.

7 Ibid.
8 See Naujoks (2012), Migration, Citizenship and Development, Oxford University
Press.

LOCAL AUTHORITIES MIGRATION AND DEVELOPMENT PRACTICESINCEPTION REPORT

intermediary or indirect effects on the development of the source country. Direct

effects stem from activities, interaction and involvement that directly affect the
source countrys development. The most famous examples are remitting and
investing. Intermediary effects are effects by which diaspora members act as
agents for cooperation between third parties and actors in their home country.
Indirect effects are even further removed from direct actions and activities of
diaspora actors. The entire diaspora community (or significant parts of it) can
bring a change in the source countrys perception and appreciation. This is often
referred to as the branding value of migrants. This kind of diaspora
externalities might have positive effects for economic cooperation and
investment.
For the present research, direct effects by migrants are of particular interest. The
most important ways by which diaspora actors can directly affect their home
countrys development include remitting money, investing, getting involved in
trade or philanthropic projects, transferring knowledge, and bringing social
change in the country or its bureaucracy. 9
Previous research commissioned by the JMDI confirmed existing research
according to which migrants have the potential to contribute significantly to
social and economic development in both, host and home country. 10 It was found
that four thematic windows were particularly important to assess migrants
contributions and related policies.

Migrants remittances are recognized to be a very significant channel

through which diasporas contribute to local development and poverty
alleviation in their countries of origin. Policies and projects can aim at their
facilitation, reduction of transfer costs, and their productive investment.

Migrant communities are the binding element of the migration and

development nexus. Solid transnational networks of migrants communities
can serve to leverage the knowledge and perceptions of migrants and
diaspora members, their experiences and views, thus creating positive
synergies to undertake development initiatives. In this regard, initiatives can
attempt to capitalize on diaspora professional networks and other migrant
communities as institutionalized players.

Migrants capacities can be harnessed for development in countries of

origin, support to their professional and socio-economic reintegration,
mitigation of brain drain, etc. This includes individuals human capital
(education, training, skills and knowledge), financial and entrepreneurial
capital (Foreign Development Investments, trade, remittances, savings, startup of business investments, purchase of real estate and humanitarian

9 Ibid., Chapter 3.
10 JMDI (2011) handbook Migration for Development: A Bottom-Up Approach.

LOCAL AUTHORITIES MIGRATION AND DEVELOPMENT PRACTICESINCEPTION REPORT

support), social capital (networks, norms and values that facilitate

cooperation within and among groups), affective capital (commitment and
good-will deriving from the emotional engagement in home countries) and
local capital (willingness to invest/act in certain regions, which otherwise
would be overlooked).11

Migrants rights underpin and reinforce the positive linkages that can be
made between migration and development. Protection of migrant rights, both
in countries of origin (prior departure) and of destination is of fundamental
importance to realizing its full potential. Projects can in particular promote
migrants rights, enhance their application, and increase the protection of
vulnerable migrants.

Local authorities, migration and development

Since 2008, the European CommissionUnited Nations Joint Migration and
Development Initiative (JMDI) has funded migration and development initiatives
from civil society organizations in 16 target countries. 12 The programme also
worked on (1) setting up and reinforcing networks of actors working on migration
and development and (2) identifying good practices and sharing information on
what actually works at international level among those who are active in this
field with a view to (3) feeding into policy-making on migration and development.
The findings of the JMDI show that the effectiveness of migration and
development activities largely depends on the identification and establishment
of strategic partnerships between civil society organizations and governments at
decentralized levels. The most successful and sustainable migration and
development interventions identified by the JMDI are those with strong
anchorage with the local governments in countries of origin and destination, in
line with the essential local-to-local dimension of the migration and development
nexus. When local authorities share a common vision with civil society partners,
they develop a sense of ownership over projects that lead them to commit time,
energy and resources, which effectively contribute to the success and
sustainability of an M&D initiative.
This linkage is all the more important as the drivers and impact of
migration are often most strongly felt at the local level, be it in terms of effects
on the local labor market, the size and demographic of the local population, or
the need for public service provision. This is why provinces and local authorities
are strategic levels of governments to be involved, making consultations and
agreement with sub-national levels of governments particularly important for
civil society.
11 IOM, Engaging Diasporas as Development Partners for Home and Destination Countries:
Challenges for Policymakers. IOM Migration Research Series, N.26, 2006.

12 These 16 target countries were: Algeria, Cape Verde, Ecuador, Egypt, Ethiopia, Georgia, Ghana,
Jamaica, Mali, Moldova, Morocco, Nigeria, the Philippines, Senegal, Sri Lanka and Tunisia.

LOCAL AUTHORITIES MIGRATION AND DEVELOPMENT PRACTICESINCEPTION REPORT

As specific research commissioned by JMDI demonstrates, there are

several local authorities practices that seek to harness the development
potential of migrants.13 However, the conducted research shows that the existing
knowledge and understanding of such practices is very limited.
While there has been increased exchange of best practices and ideas at
the international level, inter alia through the Global Forum on Migration and
Development (GFMD) and regional consultative processes (RCPs), local
authorities generally work in isolation and have limited possibilities for exchange
and access to information about what is happening elsewhere.
The second phase of JMDI
The previous activities organized by the JMDI revealed that, in general terms,
local governments have not received the same level of attention as other
stakeholders, while their involvement and potential impact on the connections
between migration and development is crucial. Successful interventions of local
authorities are essentially the results of trial and error processes and are quite
often insufficiently institutionalized, which undermines their sustainability. Local
authorities also have an important problem of capacity to effectively link
migration and development at local level, and to engage in meaningful
partnerships with relevant civil society actors. Furthermore, they have very few
opportunities to learn from other local authorities accomplishments. In this
context, there is a need to support the transnational links between the large
diversity of local actors who are engaged in migration and development
interventions.
Against this background, starting in the end of 2012, the JMDI aims at
implementing activities designed to specifically target local authorities, as well
as civil society organizations that have a stake in local development and
migration issues. These activities will be funded over three years by the
European Commission and the Swiss Development Cooperation Agency 14 and
implemented by the JMDI in collaboration with its partners IOM, ILO, UNHCR,
UNFPA and UN Women.
For the next JMDI phase, South-South migration will receive particular
attention, and the establishment of capacities and networks between local actors
in the South will constitute a key priority.
Objective of the study
The study is placed at the intersection of the local, the national and the global
levels (see illustration below) and it attempts to assess local authorities
practices and training needs to successfully harness the potential of migrants
and migration for development. Apart from including different stakeholders at
13 JMDI (2011) From Migration to Development: Lessons Drawn from the Experience of Local
Authorities.

14 Funding is currently being finalized.

LOCAL AUTHORITIES MIGRATION AND DEVELOPMENT PRACTICESINCEPTION REPORT

the local level, this has to take into account the institutional and regulatory
framework at the national level, and stakeholders and actors from the regional
and national sphere. Thus, the mapping will take into account the levels of
decentralization and fiscal resources of local authorities that directly impact their
ability to implement the assessed initiatives. The study will also shed light on the
link between the national and the local level (vertical dimension) as well as the
local-to-local dimension (horizontal dimension). In addition, several international
stakeholders matter for such practices, namely migrants and migrants
organizations, actors of international development cooperation, at the national
and the local-to-local level, as well as international organizations. This
enumeration of involved actors is not exhaustive, but evidences the complex and
multi-stakeholders context of the study.

Local

Local authorities
Local NGOs/CSOs
Local businesses
Local
strengths/weaknesses/etc.

Global

Diaspora actors
Bilateral int. cooperation
for
Horizontal int. cooperation
(local-to-local)
Int. NGOs/CSOs
Int. organizations

National

Institutional framework
migration
development
decentralization
National NGOs/CSOs-

The objective of the study is to support the JMDI to map and analyze migration
and development practices of local authorities, especially those undertaken in
partnership with civil society organizations. This includes an assessment of the
training needs of local authorities to successfully initiate, implement and
evaluate migration and development initiatives.
The findings of this mapping will support JMDI in its next project phase to
identify up to ten projects or initiatives that could be enhanced and scaled up
through additional funding.
This inception report is structured as follows:

LOCAL AUTHORITIES MIGRATION AND DEVELOPMENT PRACTICESINCEPTION REPORT

A. Introduction and objective, which presents the links between local

development and local authorities, the links between migration and
development, the links between local authorities, the second phase of
JMDI, and the objective of the study.
B. Methodological framework, which provides definitions for some key
concepts, explains the main phases of inquiry, elaborates each phase
of the study with the relevant research methodology used.
C. Work Plan and organization of work.
D. Limitations, risks and possible constraints.
Annex 1: Criteria for the selection of focus countries
Annex 2: Questions for semi-structured interviews or questionnaires

LOCAL AUTHORITIES MIGRATION AND DEVELOPMENT PRACTICESINCEPTION REPORT

B. Methodological framework
In this methodological framework, we explain the main phases of inquiry,
provide definitions for some key concepts, and elaborate upon each phase of
the study with the relevant research methodology used.
Definitions
Local authorities: For this study, local authorities are a broad category that
includes the largest variety of sub-national levels and branches of
government, i.e., municipalities, communities, districts, counties, provinces,
and regions.
Practices: Relevant and ongoing practices by local authorities, including
initiatives, projects and programmes. Unless otherwise indicated, for the
purpose of this inception report, the terms initiatives, projects and
programmes are used interchangeably and as synonyms for practices.
Local Economic Development: The purpose of local economic development is to
build up the economic capacity of a local area to improve its economic
future, and to improve the quality of life for all. It is a process by which
public, business and non-governmental sector partners work collectively to
create better conditions for economic growth and employment generation. 15
Local development: The First World Forum of Local Development Agencies
concluded, local development has economic, social, human and
sustainability components, though there this no single, specific definition of
it.16 It is an umbrella concept that includes local economic development,
adjusting local development strategies to reach the Millennium
Development Goals (MDGs), and local governance. 17
Decentralization: Decentralization refers to a process involving the transfer of a
range of powers, competences and resources from the central government
to elected local (sub-national) governments and entails three inextricably
linked dimensionspolitical, administrative and fiscal. 18

15 The World Bank (2006), LED Quick Reference Guide.

16 Conclusions of the First World Forum of Local Development Agencies (2011), Territory, Economy
and Local Governance: New Viewpoints of Times of Change, p. 37.

17 UNDP (2012), unpublished, draft report, UNDP and UNCDF Interventions in Local Development
and Local Governance Areas in West and Central Africa.

18 European Commission strategy paper on decentralization (2009)

http://ec.europa.eu/development/icenter/repository/F25_decentralisation_fin_en.pdf (assessed on
23 July 2012). The World Bank defines decentralization as the transfer of authority and
responsibility for public functions from the central government to intermediate and local
governments or quasi-independent government organizations and/or the private sector
www1.worldbank.org/publicsector/decentralization/what.htm (assessed on 22 July 2012).

LOCAL AUTHORITIES MIGRATION AND DEVELOPMENT PRACTICESINCEPTION REPORT

Scaling up: Scaling up processes can take many forms, and range from a
national outreach covering the entire population to a policy reform spurred
by a successful pilot. This can imply replicating pilot project to more
communities or to extend it to the regional or even to the national levels in
order to impact a wider population. 19

19 UNDP (2012), unpublished, draft report, UNDP and UNCDF Interventions in Local Development
and Local Governance Areas in West and Central Africa. Scaling up entails the following
dimensions: social (social inclusiveness), physical (replication), political (policy and budget
commitments), and conceptual (changing the mind set and power relations-deep transformation of
power and administrative structures).

LOCAL AUTHORITIES MIGRATION AND DEVELOPMENT PRACTICESINCEPTION REPORT

Steps and activities

For the study, we would follow the following steps. Some of these steps occur
parallel, and we elaborate on each step in detail below.
(1) Elaborating a conceptual framework to link local governance, local
development and local economic development to concepts of migration
and development.
(2) Selecting five focus countries: Morocco, Tunisia, Senegal, Ecuador and
Philippines.
(3) Obtaining information on ongoing practices by local authorities in the field
of migration and development in the five focus countries.
(4) Assessing these practices and actors training needs by analyzing
documents and communicating via email and telephone with local
authorities, involved CSOs and other stakeholders.
(5) Based on the assessment in (4), choosing a limited number of initiatives
that will be visited and assessed more in detail during missions to the five
focus countries.
(6) Selecting other countries that are of interest with regard to local
authorities practices in the field of migration and development.
(7) Obtaining information on ongoing practices by local authorities in the field
of migration and development in these other countries.
(8) Assessing these practices and actors training needs by analyzing
documents and communicating via email and telephone with local
authorities, involved CSOs and other stakeholders.
(9) Producing a detailed report including programmatic and
recommendations, for both focus countries and other countries.

policy

We elaborate below upon each phase of the study with the relevant research
methodology used.
(1)Elaborating a conceptual framework to link local governance, local
development and local economic development to concepts of
migration and development
Based on reports and publications by the UNDP partner agencies and the
European Commission on local development, local economic development
and decentralized cooperation, as well as research literature on migration
and development, the research team will elaborate a conceptual framework
to link local governance, local development and local economic development
to concepts of migration and development.
This theoretical exercise will be supplemented by the empirical findings of
this study.

LOCAL AUTHORITIES MIGRATION AND DEVELOPMENT PRACTICESINCEPTION REPORT

(2)Selecting five focus countries

Based on a variety of indicators provided in Annex 1, information on the
importance of migration and development, inter-agency work in this area,
local authorities practices in this field and other relevant information was
compiled and discussed with JMDI-PMU, UNDP ART Global Initiative and other
resource persons, it was decided to select the following five focus
countries: Morocco, Tunisia, Senegal, the Philippines and Ecuador.
This selection appears to guarantee a wide range of different approaches and
experiences and it seems to increase the likelihood of finding local
authorities innovative initiative. In addition, existing networks in these
countries appear to facilitate the access to information. Below we provide
selected highlights of the importance that each country has and information
that underlies this decision.
Morocco
Morocco appears to be a natural candidate for the mapping. Both the
national, as well as several local governments have been active to harness
the development potential of diaspora actors and organizations.
The countrys national development strategy, the Plan de Dveloppement
conomique er social 2000-2004 (2000) published by the Kingdom of
Morocco, Ministre de la Prvision Economique et du Plan contains references
to migration, as does the Strategic Plan 2008-2012 (2008) published by the
Kingdom of Morocco, Ministry of Social Development, Family and Solidarity.
As of 2010, the number of emigrants exceeded 3 million, which corresponds
to 9.3 percent of the countrys population. The country is also of importance
for immigration to the EU, as several EU Member States host large
communities of Morocco-born persons, namely France (870.900), Spain
(737.800), Italy (277.000), Belgium (170.200), Netherlands (166.900),
Germany (99.000), United Kingdom (20.000).20
In addition, the UNDP ART Global Initiative has informed the research team
that Morocco would be of particular importance and that UNDP-ART would be
able to facilitate the contact to local authorities. Morocco has also been a
target country during the first phase of the JMDI; beneficiaries and partners
from that phase improve the access to the field.
A recent study commissioned by JMDI revealed that there are several
important ongoing activities to mainstream migration into national
development strategies, with important activities at the regional level,
particularly in the Oriental region.21

20 OECD data for 2008.

21 Draft Rapport Final sur Lintegration Regionale / Locale du volet Migration et Developpement au Maroc, by
Massimiliano Di Tota and Djelloule Markria, June 2012.

LOCAL AUTHORITIES MIGRATION AND DEVELOPMENT PRACTICESINCEPTION REPORT

Importantly, Morocco has an elaborated institutional framework to deal with

migration. In particular there is (1) the Ministry Charged with the Moroccan
Community Residing Abroad; (2) Interdepartmental Committees; (3) Hassan
II Foundation for Moroccans Resident Abroad; (4) Council on the Moroccan
Community Abroad. This facilitates the gathering of information and allows to
analyze the relationship between local authorities practices and these
institutions.
The following first evidence on local authorities practices in the field of
migration and development further justifies the selection of Morocco:

In Morocco, the Mutuelle des Marocains LEtranger (MUMADE), created in

2009, provides a legal framework that ensures medical coverage of
Moroccans abroad who have returned temporarily and/or permanently to
Morocco from a country of destination with which no bilateral agreement
exists.

The programme, Migrations and Dveloppement Economique dans la

rgion de lOriental (MIDEO), lasted from June 2008 to June 2011, and
involved chambers of commerce, regional investment centers, private
service providers, and the Hassan II Foundation, as well as other partner
institutions such as the Agency for the Development of the Oriental region,
diplomatic representations of Morocco in Europe, diaspora organizations in
Europe, and other donors. Among its accomplishments:

MIDEO successfully established an association of former members of

the Moroccan diaspora who are entrepreneurs in the region.

MIDEO started a process for establishing a federation of female

business owners in Al Hoceima province.

MIDEO promoted the region as destination for ecotourism by

organizing the visit of ten German travel agencies with ties to Morocco.
In November 2010, it established the International Network of
Moroccan Skills and Entrepreneurs in Nador (Rseau International des
Comptences et dEntrepreneurs Marocains Nador, RICEM Nador) to
encourage and attract foreign investment to help the growth of small
and medium enterprises (SMEs) in the province of Nador. Its 30
members are former members of the Moroccan diaspora who had
studied in Belgium, Spain, Germany, Great Britain, and the
Netherlands. RICEM Nador has developed additional partnerships to
encourage economic development in Morocco by capitalizing on
professional and financial networks.

To stimulate economic development, a number of municipalities link their

chambers of commerce and/or specific industries to those of another city.
For instance, Rotterdam established economic partnerships with Nador,
Morocco.

LOCAL AUTHORITIES MIGRATION AND DEVELOPMENT PRACTICESINCEPTION REPORT

The Agency for International Cooperation and Local Development in the

Mediterranean (ACIM) has developed a training programme for public
officers in Morocco to enhance their capacity to promote local microentrepreneurship through the mobilisation of their nationals living in
France.

The Directorate General of Migration and Volunteering within the regional

Ministry of Social Policy, Women and Migration, in Murcia, Spain has
embarked in the programme Exchange of Professional Abilities between
Murcia and Morocco in collaboration with the Moroccan community of
migrants living in Murcia. The project aims to enhance the involvement of
migrant communities in the development processes of origin territories by
harnessing the professional skills of Moroccan in Murcia, which is a needed
contribution to the rural development processes in the Eastern Region of
Morocco.

The Spanish Region of Catalunya and its Moroccan peers in Tangier

targeted unaccompanied minor migrants. The Maghreb Programme
established by the project addresses the needs of both unaccompanied
Moroccan minors in Spain, and potential minor emigrants in Morocco. In
order to build conditions conducive to the sustainable return of minors who
are in Spain, and to prevent minors emigration from home communities,
the programme offers vocational training on the premises of a training
centre established in the Tangier region. Inclusion in the labour market is
facilitated through agreements with European enterprises in the Tangier
region,

A social enterprise active in the agrifood sector in Emilia-Romagna, Nextia,

has supported a project for the recruitment and training of Moroccan
immigrants in Italy and for the start up, in collaboration with their local
associations, of small enterprises in the same sector in Morocco. The
project allowed for the transfer to rural areas in Morocco of the
cooperative model that has made rural development successful in EmiliaRomagna.

A number of actors in the Piedmont region of Italy and in the Moroccan

region of Chaouia Ouardigha, from which more than 60 per cent of
Moroccan immigrants in Piedmont originate, have initiated a large
programme for promoting employment and entrepreneurship in both
regions of origin and destination.

The Dutch municipality of Zeist advises its partner municipality in Berkane,

Morocco, on how to improve waste management.22

Other relevant facts include:

The EU is in the process of offering a Mobility Partnership to Morocco.

22 Edith van Ewijk and Isa Baud, Partnerships between Dutch Municipalities and Municipalities in Countries of
Migration to the Netherlands: Knowledge Exchange and Mutuality, Habitat International Vol. 33, No. 2 (2009): 21826.

LOCAL AUTHORITIES MIGRATION AND DEVELOPMENT PRACTICESINCEPTION REPORT

A review by the International Center for Migration Policy Development

(ICMPD) and IOM also identified special provisions to link migration and
development in Morocco.23

Morocco has successfully managed to protect their migrants by

negotiating bilateral social security agreements (for 89 percent of
migrants).

In the regions of Oriental and Tangier-Tetouan, decentralized cooperation

planning was established in collaboration with the UNDP ART Programme. 24

Tunisia
Also Tunisia is of particular importance for the mapping. The countrys 11th
Development Plan for the 2007-2016 decade published by the Government of
Tunisia (2006) includes references to migration. The country has created the
Ministry of Social Affairs, Solidarity, and Tunisians Abroad and the 651,600
Tunisian emigrants constitute 6.3 percent of the countrys population (2010). The
country also established external voting provisions that ensure the political
influence of emigrants. In addition, Tunisia has introduced a special category of
deposit accounts at commercial banks in countries of origin, where members of
the diaspora can deposit their savings.
Tunisia is also one of the four pilot countries for the UNDP-IOM-GMG project on
mainstreaming migration into national development planning.
The country is also of importance for immigration to the EU, as several EU
Member States host large communities of Tunisian-born persons, namely France
(370.600), Italy (85.200), Germany (26.000), Belgium (11.000). 25 Importantly, the
EU is in the process of offering a Mobility Partnership to Tunisia, which was a
target country during the first phase of the JMDI.
The following first evidence on local authorities practices in the field of migration
and development further justifies the selection of Tunisia:

In 2005 the Region of Sicily and Banca Antonveneta, in partnership with

the Tunisian Banque Internationale Arabe de Tunisie, inaugurated the
possibility for interested migrants to open a twin bank account, whereby
relatives in Tunisia could receive and retrieve remittances sent by migrants
in Italy.

The Agency for International Cooperation and Local Development in the

Mediterranean (ACIM) has developed a training programme for public
officers in Tunisia to enhance their capacity to promote local micro-

23 ICPD and IOM, The Moroccan Experience. Linking Emigrant Communities for More Development. Inventory of
Institutional Capacities and Practices.

24 UNDP ART Global Initiative, Annual Report 2010, p. 25.

25 OECD data for 2008, except Germany which refers to 2010.

LOCAL AUTHORITIES MIGRATION AND DEVELOPMENT PRACTICESINCEPTION REPORT

entrepreneurship through the mobilisation of their nationals living in

France.
In addition, a review by the International Center for Migration Policy
Development (ICMPD) and IOM also identified special provisions to link
migration and development in Tunisia.26
Philippines
The Philippines have been an engine for innovative policies with regard to
emigration, the protection of migrants, migration governance, as well as
migration and development. The Philippines global migration importance, its
position as a forerunner in migration policies, its degree of decentralization
and its focus on promoting a rights approach to migration make the country
a very promising focus country for the mapping.
In addition, JMDI partner agencies, such as the ILO, IOM and others, have put
a special emphasis on this country, and can facilitate the research.
The institutional framework includes (1) the Department of Labor, Overseas
Workers Welfare Administration; (2) Department of Labor, Philippine
Overseas Employment Administration; (3) Department of Foreign Affairs,
Office of the Undersecretary for Migrant Workers Affairs; (4) Office of the
President; (5) Commission on Filipinos Overseas; (6) Committee on Overseas
Workers Affairs.
The Medium-Term Philippines Development Plan 2004-2010 published by the
National Economic and Development Authority (2004) refers to migration.
Further, there are voting provisions for emigrants.
The Philippines is an important emigration country with more than 4 million
migrants abroad, which corresponds to 4.6 of the total population. Even
though the U.S. Australia, Canada as well as the Gulf region are the main
destination for Filipino migrant workers, EU Member States too host
significant and growing communities, namely Italy (121.000), United
Kingdom (101.000), Spain (36.500), France (13.400), Norway (12.300),
Austria (11.700), Netherlands (10.100), Sweden (8.600), Belgium (8.100) and
Denmark (7.400).27
Naga City is actively involved in mainstreaming migration at the local level,
which would provide a good opportunity for case study. This highlights the
growing importance of the local level in migration and development
activities.
With regard to alliances between the government, CSOs and the private
sector, the Business Advisory Circle is composed of government agencies,
nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), and private entities that can give
26 ICPD and IOM, The Tunisian Experience. Linking Emigrant Communities for More Development. Inventory of
Institutional Capacities and Practices.

27 OECD data for 2008.

LOCAL AUTHORITIES MIGRATION AND DEVELOPMENT PRACTICESINCEPTION REPORT

advice and guidance to Filipinos abroad who are interested in investing in the
Philippines. The Business Advisory Circle is a network of individuals and
organizations that help prospective overseas Filipino entrepreneurs set up
business partnerships in the Philippines. BAC has a technical working group
comprised of business advisers of many government agencies and NGOs,
including Go Negosyo, the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry
(PCCI), the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), the Philippine Franchising
Association (PFA), the Womens Business Council of the Philippines (WBCP),
and the European and American Chambers of Commerce in the Philippines.
These partners offer advice and support to businesses.
Senegal
West Africa is an important area for many aspects related to migration. 28
Senegal is an important country of origin that has created a Ministry of
Senegalese Abroad. This again may increase the possibilities for searching
for information and contacting authorities. In addition, there are provisions
for external voting, stressing again the voice of migrants in the country. At
the level of the national development plan, the TPRSP (07/316) from
September 2007 mentions the importance of migration, and the plan is
supposed to be reviewed in the period 20102012. Furthermore, Senegalese
projects received funding during the first phase of the JMDI.
The UNDP ART Gold programme is very active in supporting local
development, and can facilitate access to the field. The decentralization of
Senegal and its Decentralization Act that came into force in January 1997,
are additional reasons for inquiring into Senegals local practices in the field
of migration and development. In addition, Senegal issues consular cards to
its migrants (cartes consulaires).
The total emigrant stock is reported to be 632,200, or 4.9 per cent of the
countrys population. In Europe, France hosts the majority of Senegalese
migrants (108.300), followed by Italy (55.900), and Spain (55.200). 29
The IOMs MIDA project is operating in Senegal, and there has been a specific
Senegal-MIDA project, launched in Italy thanks to funding from the Ministry of
Foreign Affairs and implemented by IOM Italy in partnership with CeSPI (the
Centre for International Political Studies).30

28 Promoting government and civil society partnerships in migration and development in North Africa, Conference Report,
EU-UN Joint Migration and Development Initiative (JMDI), North Africa Regional Conference 27-28 March 2012 Tunis.

29 OECD data for 2008.

30 Sebastiano Ceschi and Andrea Stocchiero, Partnership Initiatives for Co-development: Ghanaian and Senegalese
immigrants and CeSPI-IOM research-action (strategy paper for Ghana-Senegal MIDA Project, IOM and Centro Studi di
Politica Internazionale, 2006), www.cespi.it/Prog%20MIDA/strategy%20paper%20English.pdf

LOCAL AUTHORITIES MIGRATION AND DEVELOPMENT PRACTICESINCEPTION REPORT

An existing mapping of Senegalese CSOs in Italy will also facilitate the search
for projects in Senegal and joint initiatives of CSOs and local governments. 31
In addition, the Centro Studi di Politica Internazionale provides training on
migration and development for authorities in Senegal. This may enhance the
potential to learn about training needs.
A review by the International Center for Migration Policy Development
(ICMPD) and IOM also identified special provisions to link migration and
development in Senegal.32
Foreign investors and Senegalese nationals residing abroad who would like to
engage in corporate activity in Senegal enjoy fiscal advantages in the project
setup period (three years), and the exploratory phase of an enterprise or
project (up to a maximum of five to eight years), and they also get discounts
on or exemptions from certain state taxes. Law No. 2008-47 includes fiscal
incentives relating to the creation of mutual savings and microcredit, which
can be of particular interest to Senegalese nationals living abroad.
The benefits of engaging local authorities in migration and development are
also emphasized in a project of Senegalese migrant communities building
partnerships with local authorities for development. The Veneto Regional
Authority in Italy and local authorities in Veneto region collaborate with
Senegalese local labour agencies and Chamber of Commerce to facilitate
rural development valuing the skills, relations and resources of migrants and
to strengthen the capacity of migrants to act as development agents through
entrepreneurship. This project involved: the creation of a financial instrument
for access to microcredit to support migrant investments; Support Centres for
Migrant Initiatives in Italy and Senegal to support migrants business ideas;
creation of a business forum and multi-stakeholder partnerships; creation of
the Central Equo System dedicated to the insurgence of cooperatives of local
producers in Senegal.
Ecuador
Ecuador has established external voting provision and the Plan Nacional para
el Buen Vivir 2009-2013 published by the Government of Ecuador (Spanish,
2009) with references to migration. The UNDP ART Programme has
contributed to the decentralization process and to the National Decentralized
System of Participatory Planning. 33 ART representatives recommended
Ecuador as an important focus country because of the level of information,
the involvement and facilitation possibilities of UN agencies, and the
innovative approach local governments show toward development. In 2010,
31 Ibid. Annex 5.
32 ICPD and IOM, The Senegalese Experience. Linking Emigrant Communities for More Development. Inventory of
Institutional Capacities and Practices.

33 UNDP ART Global Initiative, Annual Report 2010, p. 21.

LOCAL AUTHORITIES MIGRATION AND DEVELOPMENT PRACTICESINCEPTION REPORT

ART facilitated the creation of eight autonomous Local Economic

Development Agencies (LEDAs) in Ecuador. 34 It would be of particular interest
to assess their inclusion of migration related factors.
The innovative approach of Ecuador to questions relating to migration has
been evidenced by a few special policies, such as the decision to include the
principle of universal citizenship, the free movement of all inhabitants of the
planet, and the gradual elimination of the status of alien into Ecuadors
Constitution in 2008. Generally, Ecuadors policies seem to be based on a
rights-approach, and it will be of great interest to examine the ramification at
the local levels.
In addition, Ecuador is also a destination country, and it would be interesting
to assess the cooperation with Colombia and other neighboring countries
from the perspective of South-South migration and South-South cooperation.
As to migrant stock in the EU, Spain hosts the majority of Ecuadorian
migrants (479.100), followed by Italy (98.900). 35
(3)Obtaining information on ongoing practices by local authorities in
the field of migration and development in the five focus countries
As discussed in (2), the five focus countries of the study are Morocco,
Tunisia, Senegal, Ecuador and the Philippines. The first task will be to collect,
to the extent possible information on local authorities migration and
development practices in these countries. To this end, local authorities
practices will be sampled and assessed through a two-step mechanism. First,
we will compile information all available information on relevant practices. In
a second step, from this compilation, good practices will be identified ( (3)
below).
In order to set up the compilation, we will review several key documents and
contact sources and resource persons who can grant access to the field, and
provide information on such practices.

We will start by conducting a desk review of available information,

including the following key sources:
The examples selected in the JMDI Handbook Migration for
Development: A Bottom-Up Approach;
The JMDI report From migration to development: Lessons drawn from
the experience of Local Authorities;
Projects from the JMDI project database;
Other documents mentioned in the footnotes of this inception report,
as well as other sources of information.

34 Ibid., p. 35.
35 OECD data for 2008.

LOCAL AUTHORITIES MIGRATION AND DEVELOPMENT PRACTICESINCEPTION REPORT

We will then contact various sources via email and telephone,

including:
JMDI partner agencies (UNDP, IOM, ILO, UNHCR, UNFPA) in the field,
EC/EU representation in countries; UNDP-IOM GMG Mainstreaming
Migration focal points in the countries; JMDI partner organizations;
UNDP ART Global Initiative CTAs in the countries; MIDA Italy, other
contacts provided by JMDI;
Local Authorities Networks: Local Authorities Networks, Partnership of
public and private entities led by the Valencian Federation of
Municipalities and Provinces;
National governmental entities: GFMD focal points in each country.
Senegal: Ministry of Senegalese Abroad; Morocco: Ministry Charged
with the Moroccan Community Residing Abroad; Interdepartmental
Committees; Hassan II Foundation for Moroccans Resident Abroad;
Council on the Moroccan Community Abroad; Tunisia: Ministry of
Social Affairs, Solidarity, and Tunisians Abroad; Philippines:
Department of Labor, Overseas Workers Welfare Administration;
Department of Labor, Philippine Overseas Employment Administration;
Department of Foreign Affairs, Office of the Undersecretary for Migrant
Workers Affairs; Office of the President; Commission on Filipinos
Overseas; Committee on Overseas Workers Affairs;
Academic and business networks, such as the European University
Institute, CeSPi, Migration Policy Institute, Scalabrini Institute,
chambers of commerce, media contacts, NGO networks, etc.

JMDI will place an appeal for collaboration on the website of the JMDI
community of practice, asking participating practioners to share
information on relevant practices.

The aim is to contact as many resource persons as possible to have a wide

access to the field and to receive information about different practices and
initiatives. Given the short period of time available for the study, a
comprehensive approach to data collection is not feasible. Through using a
wide range of different entry points, we aim at gathering information on a
significant number of diverse practices.

(4)Assessing these practices and actors training needs by analyzing

documents and communicating via email and telephone with local
authorities, involved CSOs and other stakeholders.
Once the research team has gained knowledge about the existence of certain
practices by local authorities, the known practices will be assessed. For the
assessment, further research will be conducted. Data collection methods will
include review and analysis of documents, email correspondence, semistructured interviews. The principal research tools and techniques are:

LOCAL AUTHORITIES MIGRATION AND DEVELOPMENT PRACTICESINCEPTION REPORT

The analysis of documentary evidence will include project or

programme documents,
annual reports,
monitoring reports,
evaluations, previous reviews, internet presentations, news and media
items, academic publications and research reports, country strategic
plans and internal memoranda.
As it remains doubtful that many of the practices we attempt to
identify have been described extensively in documents, the main
instrument of inquiry will be semi-structured interviews. We will
identify key persons who can give us critical insights into the genesis
of the initiatives, their implementation, the partnerships, obstacles,
their impact and future developments. These persons include officials
at various levels of the government, especially the local authorities
project manager, but also CSO partner organizations and other indirect
beneficiaries, and direct beneficiaries, where applicable (not all
projects have direct beneficiaries), and approachable. Moreover,
experts and researchers who studied such practices or were involved
in their implementation are potential informants. Where possible,
interviewee selection should grant access to information with regard to
key groups, such as young people, women or below-poverty-line
households.
The concrete needs and possibilities will have to be decided on a caseby-case basis, considering also that the wide scope of the study and
the short time available for each country and initiative will allow only
to contact and interview a certain number of individuals, whose
availability for the interviews will be critical. In addition, factors such
as security concerns, lack of infrastructure, limited access to people
with information, sensitivities, and ethical considerations in terms of
working with vulnerable people will be considered in determining the
most appropriate data collection methods.
Only during the field trips in the priority countries, an extensive
sampling can occur (see (5) below). For telephone interviews and
email communication, only a fewer number of persons and viewpoints
will be considered.
The Annex 2 of this report contains a list of questions for semistructured interviews This list of questions will be reduced and
adjusted for telephone interviews, as generally an interlocutor
interviewed over the phone will have less time to answer the entire set
of questions. It is important to stress that semi-structured interviews
will remain open to ad hoc developments and shifts of focus during the
interview. This will enhance their potential for discovery and finding
new relationship and approaches.
The list of questions will be translated into French and Spanish.

LOCAL AUTHORITIES MIGRATION AND DEVELOPMENT PRACTICESINCEPTION REPORT

The list of questions that form the basis for semi-structured interviews
may also be used to send written queries in the form of
questionnaires to selected initiatives.
In order to supplement the findings of the qualitative research,
statistical data will be included into the analysis, including local,
regional or national demographic data, as well as social, health and
economic indicators.
(5)Based on the assessment in (4), choosing a limited number of
initiatives that will be visited and assessed more in detail during
missions to the five focus countries.
From all information obtained on ongoing practices by local authorities, the
research team will select a limited number of initiatives that will be examined
in-depth and through country visits. The selection of initiatives will be guided
by four overarching criteria for the assessment of practices.
First, it will be focused on whether initiatives are implemented by
meaningful consortia made of civil society organizations and local
authorities. Specific attention will be brought to initiatives that include
social partners and the private sector, who have a crucial role to play
in development processes.
The second major assessment criterion will be to choose practices that
are particularly promising to enhance local development. Given the
many different aspects of local governance and local economic
development, in particular its economic, social, human and
sustainability components, we highlight here criteria that are of
particular relevance:
o Does the initiative follow an integrated approach including social and
environmental, as well as rights and economic issues?
o In particular, what it the effect on:

Employment, job creation, importance for SMEs;

Sustainability and green growth;

Empowerment of vulnerable groups (such as women, children and

youth, extreme poor, etc.) and using a rights approach to
development.

To what extent did the initiative contribute to further promoting

gender equality?

Multiplier effects in the community;

Participation and governance:

LOCAL AUTHORITIES MIGRATION AND DEVELOPMENT PRACTICESINCEPTION REPORT

To
what
extent
helps
the
initiative
to
increase
stakeholder/citizen
dialogue
and
or
engagement
on
development issues and policies?

What is the effect of the initiative on local governance?

Effects of the project on the value chain, i.e., on companies and

persons in the supply chains and distribution networks.

o Initiatives using innovative methodologies.

The third criterion of the assessment process is to identify initiatives
that can be scaled up to reach larger impact and sustainability, and
replicated in different contexts.
The fourth criterion of the assessment process is to obtain variation
regarding the focus of the migration and development practices (with
particular emphasis on the four JMDI thematic windows), the diaspora
profile (socio-economic status, migration history, destination countries,
North-South, and South-South migration), and the level of government
involved. By assessing according to the principle of maximum and
minimum contrast, we will seek to discover similarities and differences
among the practices.
The selected practices will be assessed more in depth through field
missions. Access to the field will be facilitated through JMDI partner
agencies and contacts obtained during the sampling process (see (4)
above). The missions will allow for more in-depth exploration and yield
information that will facilitate deeper understanding of innovative
practices at local level, the observed changes (both intended and
unintended), and the factors that contributed to these results, as well as of
the training needs of local authorities and CSOs.
The principal research tools and techniques are:
The analysis of documentary evidence (described in (4) above);
Conducing semi-structured interviews (described in (4) above);
To get a firsthand experience of the initiatives, on the country
missions, the research team will conduct field visits and use direct
and participating observation. Where possible, applicable and with
the permission of the project team and relevant stakeholders, the
research team may observe the activities by participating in them,
such as, sitting in a training conducted by an initiative, attending a
pre-departure workshop, etc. This will give the research team a better
insight and understanding of the projects and their implementation.
Where appropriate, we will also use focus group discussions to
bring out more details of the initiatives. Bringing together different

LOCAL AUTHORITIES MIGRATION AND DEVELOPMENT PRACTICESINCEPTION REPORT

stakeholders of an initiative, such as several persons from the local

authority, partner NGOs and perhaps even beneficiaries of the
initiative, viewpoints and presentations that remain rather
uncontested in interviews due to the lack of information on the side of
the interviewer, can be discussed more in depth and thus, reveal
obstacles that are not part of the official project narrative. When
considering focus group discussions, the relationship between the
implementing partners should be paramount.
Often, it will be easier to organize a focus group discussion only among
NGO representatives. Oftentimes, key persons will not be available at
the same time, and the organization of focus group discussions may be
too time-consuming. If focus group discussions were to be held, they
would be rather informal in nature. The consultants would act as
moderators and would steer the discussion. Questions would generally
be of an open nature so as to generate a wide discussion and scope for
new discovery. The consultants would however steer the discussion to
critical points, especially on the working modalities of partnerships, the
impact of the initiatives, and the obstacles that had to be overcome (or
that the initiative continues to face).
In addition, life stories could provide an additional source of rich
information. Life story analysis could be used, if appropriate, to
illustrate and understand the impact a certain initiative has on the
livelihood of a person or a household or it could explain and highlight
the genesis of the initiative of a project itself. Whether life stories
would be incorporated into the research depends on whether such
stories would be reported to the research team or result from the
research on the ground.
The research team will ensure that the methods and the instruments
used to collect or record data are:
o
o
o
o

Consistent with quality standards of validity and reliability;

Culturally sensitive and appropriate for the populations concerned;
Valid and appropriate for the types of information sought and the
questions being answered; and
Perceived as credible, reliable and impartial by stakeholders.

(6)Selecting other countries that are of interest with regard to local

authorities practices in the field of migration and development.
To widen the outlook of the research, and to the extent possible within the
timeframe of the contract, in addition to the five focus countries, a desk
review will include about three to four countries, as well as a collection of
practices from anywhere in the world. The criteria to that will guide the
selection are provided in Annex 1.

LOCAL AUTHORITIES MIGRATION AND DEVELOPMENT PRACTICESINCEPTION REPORT

(7)Obtaining information on ongoing practices by local authorities in

the field of migration and development in other countries.
The sampling techniques are identical with those described for focus
countries (see (3) above). This will allow to identify and analyze a wide
range of initiatives in this field, and look into the context in which they
operate.
(8)Assessing these practices and actors training needs by analyzing
documents and communicating via email and telephone with local
authorities, involved CSOs and other stakeholders.
The scope of the research and the method employed to generate knowledge
are identical with those described for the focus countries (see (4) above).
(9)Production of a detailed report
The collected data will be analyzed and, to the largest possible extent,
triangulated and validated to verify and substantiate the assessment. The
analysis will conclude in a report. While the structure of the report will
depend on the conducted research, the following elements are envisioned:

Conceptual framework to link local governance, local development

and local economic development to concepts of migration and
development.

Results of the mapping and analysis of M&D practices at local level:

o

In all likelihood, the mapping will follow the structure of the four
JMDI thematic windows (communities, capacities, remittances and
rights).

The report will aim at highlighting commonalities and differences.

Special emphasis will be given to the institutional framework of such

practices, the importance of decentralization, rules and regulations,
and the potential for upscaling and replicability.

A number of successful practices will be highlighted as good

practices and their conditions for successful upscaling will be
assessed.

Training needs and preferences for local authorities and CSOs will be
spelled out.

The report will include programmatic and policy recommendations

to establish an enabling environment to better capitalize and link
initiatives arising from civil society organizations and local authorities.

LOCAL AUTHORITIES MIGRATION AND DEVELOPMENT PRACTICESINCEPTION REPORT

While policy recommendations will be highlighted, as this may also

contribute to JMDIs efforts to contribute to the High-level Dialogue on
international migration and development to be held at the UN General
Assembly in 2012, the establishment of policy recommendations is not
a major objective of the report. In particular, these will not be
disaggregated at the country level.

The report will also include an Annex with a short description of all key
practices by local authorities sampled. The format and structure of the
descriptions will follow the JMDI project database. The practices listed
in the annex will not necessarily be screened and assessed as good
practices.

The research team will submit a draft report and invite comments from the
JMDI Evaluation Committee and the European Commission. These comments
will then be included into the final report.

LOCAL AUTHORITIES MIGRATION AND DEVELOPMENT PRACTICESINCEPTION REPORT

C. Work plan and organization of work

The lead consultant will manage the study process and coordinate the work
of the research team. He will also be responsible for the timely delivery of
deliverables, including the outputs produced by the other consultant, and for
the coordination of the report drafting. The other consultant will support the
lead consultant in any task that may be needed for the completion of the
deliverables.
The lead consultant will conduct regular consultation with the other
consultant to ensure consistency of data gathering. The consultants will
use the same observation protocols and lists of questions to ensure they
record observations in a comparable way.
The research team will inform JMDI periodically about the progress of the
work.
The table below provides a tentative work plan to conduct the mapping and
analysis.
Phases and activities

Dates (all
2012)
1920 July

Mission to Brussels (Daniel)

Submit inception report

(Deliverable 1)

24 July

Receive comments and feedback on inception report

26 July

Resubmit final inception report

30 July

JMDI approval of inception report

4 August

Start reviewing documents and contact resource persons/institutions

to obtain information on ongoing practices in the five focus countries
(Morocco, Tunisia, Senegal, Ecuador and Philippines).

From 25 July
onward

Start reviewing documents and contact resource persons/institutions

to obtain information on ongoing practices in other countries than the
five focus countries.

From 25 July
onward

Field mission to Morocco

(Daniel)

2025 August

Field mission to Tunisia

(Christian)

2125 August

Selection of additional countries according to information received so

far and in conjunction with JMDI.
Field mission to Senegal

(Daniel)

Field mission to the Philippines

Field mission to Ecuador

(Daniel)

(Christian)

Submission of first draft report

(Deliverable 2)

25 August
1016
September
1723
September
1015
September
15 October

Receive comments from JMDI Steering Committee

23 October

Submission of final report

8 November

(Deliverable 3)

Endorsement of the final report by JMDI Steering Committee

15 November

LOCAL AUTHORITIES MIGRATION AND DEVELOPMENT PRACTICESINCEPTION REPORT

D. Limitations, risks and possible constraints

There are a number of limitations, risks and constraints to this study. These
include the following:

The research team consists only of two individuals whoafter the draft
inception is approvedare available for a total of 123 working days until midNovember, and who have to undertake five country missions. For obvious
reasons, this limits the feasible research activities.

The research team will contact the resource persons provided by JMDI and
use its own contacts, networks and resources to obtain information on local
authorities practices. Considering that very limited research has been
conducted on the topic, and that the research team has no own network of
local authorities to draw from, it cannot be guaranteed that a significant
number of practices will be identified. However, the research team will make
substantial efforts to gain knowledge about such practices.

The amount of information that can be gathered depends also on the

availability of staff of JMDI partner agencies, CSOs and local authorities for
information, support, field visits, etc.

The political transition, volatility and uncertainty in some countries could

make it difficult to meet with the proper interlocutors in government or at
local level, to consult with key external stakeholders, and to make field visits
in the regions.

The lack of quantitative information and availability of data.

The research team will aim at mediating these limitations through a thorough
preparation and triangulation of information with different sources.

LOCAL AUTHORITIES MIGRATION AND DEVELOPMENT PRACTICESINCEPTION REPORT

A NNEX 1
The following criteria guide the selection of countries for this study:
First evidence for proactive local authorities and the number of projects in
the country:
o The level of representativeness of the different projects to cover the four
thematic windows (remittances, migrant communities, their capacities,
and their rights);
o The projects that focus specifically on the local level and civil society or
other partners (i.e., private sector);
o The maturity of the projects or activities in that country, especially at
local level (local governance and local development);
o The wealth of experiences and the chances of their generating
interesting lessons, especially through the use of innovative methods and
approaches;
o The experiences already identified in the JMDI Handbook or the report on
Lessons drawn from local authorities;
o The strategic interest of the projects or activities, for the future
anticipated direction of the JMDI;
o The way gender equality (and perhaps the equity dimension and the
rights approach) have been used as cross cutting strategies, or as a
particular project focus;
o The focus of an initiative is of particular importance to inter-agency
collaboration or to the mandate of the JMDI partner agencies;
o Local authorities are involved in projects that focus on aspects of the
SouthSouth migration dimension.
Magnitude and relevance of migration
o The significance of emigration, return migration, remittances, and other
migration and development related indictors;
o The socio-economic composition of the (e)migrant stocks, so as to
diversify between labour migration, skilled, and highly-skilled migration
flows and their effects;
o Diversify countries of origin by their emigrants main countries of
destination. The receiving climate may have important influences on the
level of organization of diasporic actors, their ideas and values, as well as
their potential to act as agents of trade, exchange of knowledge etc. In
addition, local-to-local partnership may differ from country to country.
Thus, this diversification in migrants destination/country of residence
may lead to a more diverse set of practices.
Level of centralized decision making/decentralized structures
This refers to political, administrative, and fiscal decentralization.
Importance of M&D at the national level
o The countries where migration got added to PRSPs and the repercussions
at the local level;
o Congruence and synergies with the UNDP-IOM-GMG pilot project on
mainstreaming migration into national development planning, as well
as with the drafting of Extended Migration Profiles by countries,
together with IOM and other stakeholders.

LOCAL AUTHORITIES MIGRATION AND DEVELOPMENT PRACTICESINCEPTION REPORT

Countries where the UNDP ART Global Initiative (Articulation of Territorial and
Thematic Networks of Cooperation for Human Development), the City-to-City
initiative of the International Centre for Migration Policy Development
(ICMPD) and other initiatives that can facilitate the access to local authorities
and help to create synergies.
The cultural, ethnic, linguistic and geographical diversity of the local
activities.

LOCAL AUTHORITIES MIGRATION AND DEVELOPMENT PRACTICESINCEPTION REPORT