Vast dataset delivers insights on migration
European countries have been searching for policies to better manage migration from outside the EU. Sometimes, sweeping assumptions about the root causes of migration hinder effective management by failing to accurately assess why and when people choose to migrate. The EU-funded MIGNEX project addresses this issue by collecting and analysing data from 10 countries of origin or transit and disseminating results to stakeholders.
Diverse data collection
The MIGNEX consortium includes academic and outreach institutions in Africa, Asia and Europe. Together, partners conducted research in 26 local communities in 10 case countries to gain insight into the root causes of migration. These countries are: Afghanistan, Cabo Verde, Ethiopia, Ghana, Guinea, Nigeria, Pakistan, Somalia, Tunisia and Türkiye. According to project leader Jørgen Carling (PRIO): “The overarching objective of MIGNEX was to contribute to more effective and coherent migration management through evidence-based understanding of the linkages between development and migration.” Data collection took the form of 13 174 surveys, 104 focus group discussions, 516 key informant interviews and 168 policy expert interviews. The timeframe of the project - extended from five to six years due to COVID 19 - enabled ambitious data collection and analysis plans. It also meant MIGNEX was able to carry out a pilot data collection and fine-tune their tools. The diversity of the consortium contributed to the high-quality results achieved as well. In addition to standard approaches for analysing data, the project employed innovative approaches such as multi-level analysis, mediation analysis and qualitative comparative analysis.
Disseminating results
The project produced over 80 publications during its lifetime, and these materials are publicly available on Zenodo. The data gathered by MIGNEX will guide policy makers and academic researchers for years to come. The types of publication varied and were suited to specific audiences for specific purposes. The project published 10 policy briefs – short publications on specific findings relevant to policy makers. The 14 handbook chapters produced – while initially intended for internal use – proved very successful with academic and research audiences. MIGNEX published 29 scientific papers that provide foundations for conclusions that guide policy. Case study briefs document migration dynamics in each of the 26 research areas. The project’s approachable and targeted publications were successful in reaching policy audiences. Jessica Hagen-Zanker (ODI), who leads the Communication and Impact work for the project, shares: “One end-user at the European External Action Service showed us his marked-up copies of the reports as evidence of how much they have been using it, and also requested further copies to share with a visiting delegation from the African Union.” The MIGNEX policy conference was another successful avenue for disseminating the project’s results. Held in Brussels in April 2024, the conference convened 120 experts from around the world with the aim of promoting open policy dialogue. Wider MIGNEX policy impacts are outlined in this publication. Addressing the challenges of migration is difficult. As Carling says: “One of the main things we learned is that migration can mean different things in different contexts, and that the drivers and impacts of migration are more divergent than similar across research areas.” Whether migration is seen in a positive or a negative light depends, among other things, on the decisions of policy makers in the EU and beyond. Through evidence-based research, MIGNEX makes sure governments have the best information available to guide policy decisions. Learn more about MIGNEX from their Youtube channel.
Keywords
MIGNEX, migration, data collection, root causes, policy conference, migration policies
