CoMiDe – Consistency of Migration and Development Policy
“Migration has the potential to serve as an engine of growth and development for all parties involved – host and source countries and the migrants themselves” (8th Council of Europe Conference of Ministers responsible for migration, 2008). Only recently in Mid-April 2010 the Commission points out in its new communication “Getting the MDGs back on track” as one of its twelve points EU action plan the importance to use other EU policies like migration to act in coherence with development. Consistency in the context of migration is one of the main demands for development co-operation policies today. Because traditionally migration and development are treated as separate policy portfolios; but today migration and development are increasingly viewed through the prism of the many links that exist between these two fields. While development-oriented actions can help tackling the root causes of migratory flows, migration can contribute positively to development, including economic growth, social empowerment and technological progress and assure a rights-based approach to development cooperation programs. The project aim to contribute to consistency of development policy by making migration and development policy work together not against each other (e.g. European immigration policy takes up development issues); to contribute to the MDGs, especially poverty eradication through linking migration and development policy and thereby leading to more effective projects and policies and to contribute to media attention for development through media work (especially migration, development and other interested media).
The EU agreed to apply the Policy Coherence for Development approach in 2005 in 12 policy areas that should accelerate progress towards the UN’s Millennium development goals. Among them is migration policy. Based on these papers, the EU seeks to build synergies between migration and development policies that have a strong impact on developing countries, for the benefit of overseas development (“policy coherence for development”). An isolated development policy will not bring sufficient results. This approach is to be taken by both the European Commission and EU national governments. Building on the global momentum regarding migration and development, in September 2006 the United Nations dedicated a General Assembly plenary session to migration issues in the form of a High Level Dialogue on International Migration and Development (UN HLD): “The purpose of the high-level dialogue is to discuss the multidimensional aspects of international migration and development in order to identify appropriate ways and means to maximize its development benefits and minimize its negative impacts. Additionally, the high-level dialogue should have a strong focus on policy issues, including the challenge of achieving the internationally agreed development goals, including the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs)” (http://www.un.org/esa/population/migration/hld/index.html, 1 November 2007). On December 20, 2006, a UN resolution was passed to continue to deal with the topic while paying special attention to gender perspectives and to cultural diversity in respect to the Millennium Development Goals and to human rights. On February 12, 2010 the first High-Level Parliamentary Conference on Policy Coherence for Development and Migration, organized jointly by the European Parliament, the European Commission and the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) gathered participants from Europe, Africa, the Caribbean and the Asia-Pacific region. It stressed that the financial and economic crisis reinforces the urgent need for comprehensive migration policies with a global approach to development.
This project is following these policies to provide for the first time ever a unique opportunity to the project countries and to countries of origin, transit and destination to move towards a concerted approach to migration and development.
Contact:
Peace Institute – Institute for Contemporary Social and Political Studies, Ljubljana, Slovenia
Lana Zdravković
Metelkova 6
1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
Tel.: +386 1 234 77 20
lana.zdravkovic@mail.mirovni-institut.si / www.mirovni-institut.si
Project execution
– Research Reports on migration and development policy in project partner countries
Slovenia
Austria
Italy
Slovakia
European Good Practice Examples of Migration and Development Initiatives– »Bridging the Gap«: International Conference on Migration & Development (23. and 24. January, Albert-Schweitzer-Haus, Vienna, Austria)Among others, the conference presented contributions and international perspectives on migration and development by Madjiguène Cissé and Mignane Diouf (Senegal – Co-organizers of the World Social Forum in Dakar), by researchers such as Alex Asiedu (Ghana), Bernardo Venturi (Italy) and Thomas Faist (Germany). The presentation of European good practice examples of migration and development initiatives with a particular focus on Diaspora engagement was another highlight of the conference. Participants from Slovenia were: Blaž Slamič (Ministry of Foreign Affairs), Marjan Huč (SLOGA), Max Zimani (Global), Franci Zlatar (Slovene Philanthropy), Barbara Vodopivec (Humanitas), Eyachew Tefera (African Centre and Institute of African Studies) as well as Peace Institute collaborators Saša Panić, Maja Ladić and Lana Zdravković.
Programme of the conference
Report from the conference
Video-report from the conference – short (Africa TV)
Video-report from the conference – long (Africa TV)
– Workshop »Migration and development: African perspectives« (2. February 2012, Peace Institute Library, Ljubljana)
The aim of the workshop was introduction of and better networking between important actors in the field of migration and development in Slovenia. Marjan Huč (SLOGA), Franci Zlatar (Slovene Philanthropy), Barbara Vodopivec (Humanitas), Admir Baltić (Bosnian Cultural Association), Eachew Tefera (African Centre and Institute for African studies), Blaž Slamič (Ministry of Foreign Affairs), Marko Rančigaj (Ministry of Foreign Affairs), Janez Pirc (Institute for Ethnic Studies), Ibrahim Nouhoun (International African Forum), Goran Lukić (Confederation of Free Trade Unions of Slovenia) and others attended the workshop which was moderated by the collaborators of the Peace Institute: Lana Zdravković, Saša Panić and Maja Ladić.
– Public Lecture »Migration and development: African perspectives« (2. February 2012, City Museum, Ljubljana)
Mignane Diouf, collaborator of the Council of non-governmental development organizations / CONGAD – Conseil des ONG d’Appui au Developpement from Senegal and co-organizer of the World Social Forum, Dakar 2011 and Alex Asiedu, a lecturer at the University of Ghana and Chairman of the Department of Geography and the Centre for Migration Studies at the same university were sharing their knowledge and experiences on political and social situation in Africa today, when colonialism and racism are not yet outdated concepts. The lecturers had questioned the possibility of better linking the areas of migration and development.
Invitation to the round table
Photo Gallery
RTV SLO Studio City Report (6.2.2012, 33,30 min)
– Partnership Fair with non-governmental organizations (4. October 2012, Mestni muzej, Ljubljana)
Partnership Fair on migration and development – two fields that are interrelated and largely affect by each other have been organized in the frame of Slovenian Development Days, organized by SLOGA – Platform for Development Cooperation and Humanitarian Aid and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. We discussed the (in)coherence between migration and development policies, how does it operate in practice, which systematic changes are needed and how can NGOs (development on the one hand and migrant or diaspora organizations on the other hand) contribute to positive changes. Many NGOs involved in development cooperation projects may have already experienced how this mismatch of policies can lead to difficulties in the implementation or in achieving the objectives of the project. At the same time we are often faced with the difficulty of cooperation between development organizations on the one hand and migrant or diaspora organizations on the other hand – as they often see each other as competition, which can be an additional problem due to unsystematic and inadequate financing. Therefore, the primary purpose of the consultations was that different NGOs (development and migrant or diaspora organizations) share their experiences in the aforementioned fields, highlight problems that are commonly encountered, and on the other hand, share the positive practices that already (successfully) link fields of migration and development and possible ideas for collaboration with other NGOs on specific projects within these areas. Instead of competing with each other, we can cooperate with each other.
Peace Institute has also participated in Partnership Market, with other NGOs from the field of migration and development, in the frame of Slovenian Development Days on 5. October 2012: Sloga, International African Forum, Institute for African Studies, Association Global, Institute for electronic participation – InePA, IRD Slovenia, Slovenian Karitas, Association Voluntariat, Slovenian Philanthropy, ITF – Foundation for Strengthening Human Security, Association Edirisa Slovenia, Matafir – Association for Intercultural Cooperation, United Nations Association of Slovenia and Amnesty International Slovenia.>
Photo Gallery
– Interdisciplinary event »African experience« (27 February, Faculty of social sciences, Ljubljana) and round table discussion »What are we ‘developing’ in the concept of development cooperation and what is the role of migration?« (28 February, City Museum, Ljubljana)
Interdisciplinary event »African experience« on development, migration and gender equality from pan-African perspective and on reconciliation processes in Rwanda and South Africa started with the lecture Options for positive development, immigration and gender equality in Africa: a utopian dream or a possible objective? by prof. Gertrude Fester from South Africa currently lecturing at the Centre for Gender, Culture and Development in Rwanda. After the lecture, the projection of documentary film by prof. Vlasta Jalušić from the Peace Institute Save yourself? The life of a development project in Rwanda have been presented followed by the discussion on the reconciliation process in Rwanda (the case of gachacha courts) and in South Africa (the case of truth and reconciliation commission) with Vlasta Jalušič, Gertrude Fester and Vestine Mutangampundu, member of Nyamirambo Women’s Centre from Rwanda.
Invitation to the event, abstract of the lecture by Gertrude Fester, summary of the film and short presentations of the speakers
Photo Gallery
Video of the lecture
RA SLO, Val 202 (6.3.2013)
RA SLO, Val 202 (7.3.2013)
RTV SLO 1 (8.3.2013)
Round table discussion »What are we ‘developing’ in the concept of development cooperation and what is the role of migration?« discussed the understanding of the concepts of development and international development cooperation, which is more and more present also in Slovenian public discourse, and which officially represents the assistance that “developed countries” – countries of the global “centre” or “North” are donating to the political, economic and social development of the “developing countries” – countries of the global “periphery” or “South”. Speakers were: Vlasta Jalušič from the Peace Institute, Franci Zlatar from Slovene Philanthropy, Nikolai Jeffs from the Faculty of Humanities Koper and Gertrude Fester from Centre for Gender, Culture and Development from Rwanda. The discussion was moderated by Maja Ladić from the Peace Institute.
Invitation to the round table
Photo Gallery
– International conference on migration and development Developing developers: Migrants as Development Actors – A new way forward including international partnership fair Bridging the gap (5th and 6th of December 2013, City Museum Ljubljana)
The conference was attended by experts as speakers – both from governmental and from non-governmental sector – in the field of migration policy and development cooperation from Austria, Belgium, Ghana, Italy, Slovakia, Slovenia and the United Kingdom. The conference have been opened by the speeches of Michael Fanizadeh, VIDC – Vienna Institute for International Dialogue and Cooperation, Austria (project coordinators) and Slovenian actors: Dragoljuba Benčina, Directorate for Global Issues and Multilateral Political Relations, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Slovenia; Marjan Huč, SLOGA – Slovenian Global Action and Max Zimani, Zavod Global.
At the following panel, Gibril Faal, active in organizations Afford – African Foundation for Development and AEP – Africa-Europe Platform, United Kingdom spoken of migrants as development actors, Charito Basa, founder and activist of non-government organisation FWC – Filipino Women’s Council, Italy presented the engagement of the organization and the hard way immigrants generally have to go through, Angela Odai from the diaspora Support Unit, Ghana presented functioning of that government organization that provides assistance to the Ghanaian diaspora around the world .
In the afternoon hours, common partnership fair followed, bringing together participant of the conference and those of the Regional seminar on global learning, organized by SLOGA.
The second day of the conference, Nadja Schuster, VIDC – Vienna Institute for International Dialogue and Cooperation, Austria and Galya Terzieva, Society Development Institute, Slovakia presented the European Manifesto on Migration and Development, a strategic document that contains recommendations for improving the understanding of the concept of development cooperation and migration as a key element in this concept. Comments to the Manifesto have been contributed by Arthur Yenga, AEP – Africa -Europe Platform, Belgium. At the workshops which followed, participants could contribute comments and opinions to refine the Manifesto, which later was adopted, but now its promotion and attempt to force in all European countries is planned and desirable.
Programme of the conference
Programme of the Regional seminar on global learning TIA – There is an Alterntive
Photo Gallery
Video Report:
Welcome Panel
Panel Discussion: What is Development without Migrants?
Joint CoMiDe Partnership Fair with participants of SLOGA Regional Conference on Global Education TIA – There is an Alternative
Presentation of Central European Manifesto on Migration and Development
Workshop 1: Diaspora Engagement and Development Cooperation and
Workshop 2: Diaspora Entrepreneurship
Closing Session: How to Move Forward and
Endorsement of the Central European Manifesto
Ministry of Foreign Affairs Info: http://www.mzz.gov.si/nc/si/medijsko_sredisce/novica/article/6/32913/f713c25c22addae6d21a736a49c0126f/
RTV SLO TV Dnevnik Report (18.12.2013)
RTV SLO Studio City Report (9.12.2013, 33,50 min)
Radio Študent Report (5.12.2013)Broadcast RA SLO, Eppor si mouve – In vendar se vrti (23.12.2013)
– Manifesto on Migration and Development in Europe
The Manifesto has been adopted at the International Conference on Migration and Development “Developing developers: Migrants as development actors – A new way forward” on 6th December 2013 in Ljubljana and is the result of three years research in the field of consistency of migrant and development policies. It provides some recommendations for decision-makers and actors in these areas, with a focus on two priorities: engagement of migrants and / or diaspora and migrant and / or diaspora entrepreneurship.
– Media Campaign »Here I Am«
Video film »Here I Am«
The cycle of radio shows »Here I Am« on radio Val 202
1. broadcast: »Lajšanje vesti z razvojno pomočjo. Ali razvojna pomoč odraža dejanske potrebe držav v razvoju in v kolikšni meri je razvojno sodelovanje le PR globalnih korporacij?«
2. broadcast: »Mi, Slovenci, naredimo najboljši falafel«
3. broadcast: »Ne moremo živeti v zaporu!«
5. broadcast: Ibrahim Nouhoum ter Irena Zajc in Franci Jazbec
6. broadcast: E. J. Fagan: »Zahod namenja denar za pomoč, hkrati pa ga jemlje nazaj«
7. broadcast: Ronnie Barkan: »Zahtevanje svobode in enakosti je zame temelj vsega«
8. broadcast: Razvojna pomoč ni izvozni kredit!
Partners:
Funders:
Produced with the assistance of the European Union. The contents of this webpage are the sole responsibility of the "CoMiDe" project and can in no way be taken to reflect the views of the European Union. / The project is partly funded by European Commission, DG Development and Cooperation - EuropeAid.