Migration management and development policies
Subtitle: Maximising the benefits of international migration in West Africa
Publisher: International Labour Office
Published: 2006
Place of publication: Geneva, Switzerland
Format: Paperback
Number of pages: 82
Description: Preface
This report is presented as part of the ILO International Migration Papers that disseminate current research findings on global migration trends and seek to stimulate dialogue and policy development on issues of regulating labour migration. The importance and immediacy of more effectively regulating labour migration in Africa motivated the ILO to establish a programmatic Africa Labour Migration Initiative in 2002.

The evident starting point for this initiative was to expand the knowledge base as a proper foundation for effective technical cooperation and practical activity. As a result, a number of the English language edition of this report is included in a special series of regional and national studies from East, West and Maghreb Africa being published in 2006 as International Migration Papers. The original French language edition was published in 2004.

Migration has come to the top of the political and social agenda across all of Africa...
Table of contents: title: Foreword  v; title: Abbreviations  vii; title: 1. Introduction and objectives of the study 1; title: 2. Links between migration and development: an unresolved question 4; title: 2.1 Different theoretical approaches and conceptual frameworks 5; title: 2.2 Conflicting results of empirical research  6; title: a) Impact of migrant remittances to their country of origin  6; title: b) Implications of international migration for the labour market 7; title: c) Consequences of return to the home country  7; title: 3. Migration and development in West Africa  8; title: 3.1 Weakness of migration statistics 8; title: 3.2 Colonial past and increase in regional disparity 10; title: 3.3 Reorientation of intra-regional migrant flows  12; title: 3.4 Pattern of extra-regional and intercontinental migration 13; title: 3.5 Feminisation of migrant flows 14; title: 4. International migration, labour and poverty  14; title: 4.1 Growth and economic crisis  15; title: 4.2 Demographic trends  15; title: 4.3 Food insecurity and rural exodus 16; title: 4.4 Increase in unemployment and shortage of decent work 17; title: 4.5 Instability and political oppression 17; title: 4.6 Sociocultural determinants of migration  17; title: 5. Migrant remittances and their use  18; title: 5.1 Difficulties in evaluating real monetary transfer  18; title: 5.2 Methods of monetary transfer by migrants  19; title: 5.3 Size of migrant remittances 19; title: 5.4 Pattern of migrant remittances  22; title: 5.5 Use of resources derived from migration 23; title: 6. Return migration and the role of the diaspora 24; title: 6.1 Difficulties in estimating the volume of return 24; title: 6.2 Resources transferred by returning migrants  25; title: 6.3 Reasons for return and problems of reintegration 26; title: 6.4 Return and circulation of qualified workers  27; title: 6.5 Roles of the West African diaspora 28; title: a) Investment of financial capital 28; title: b) Availability of human and social capital 29; title: 7. Political and legal framework of migration in West Africa 30; title: 7.1 Views and policies of countries in the region 30; title: 7.2 Regional integration and free circulation of persons  31; title: a) ECOWAS Treaty  31; title: b) UEMOA Treaty 32; title: c) Application of the principle of free circulation 32; title: 7.3 Bilateral agreements 33; title: a) At regional level 33; title: b) At intercontinental level 35; title: 7.4 Regional consultative process 35; title: a) Adherence to the legal instruments for the protection of migrants and refugees  36; title: b) Promotion of exchanges to identify guiding principles 37; title: 8. Initiatives for more effective management of migration 38; title: 8.1 Establishment of a permanent observatory on international migration 38; title: 8.2 Management of human resources and adjustment to the labour market 40; title: 8.3 Organisation of the diaspora 40; title: 8.4 Promotion of official transfers and productive investment 41; title: 8.5 Aid for the return of nationals and their families 43; title: 8.6 Facilitating integration and reintegration 44; title: 9. Ideas and programmes for codevelopment  45; title: 10. Institutions and support programmes for migrants 46; title: 10.1 NGOs, OSIM and other organisations working with migrants 47; title: 10.2 PDLM – a local migration development programme  48; title: 10.3 MIDA - Migration for Development in Africa 48; title: 10.4 TOKTEN – Transfer of knowledge through expatriate nationals  50; title: 11. Conclusions and recommendations 51; title: Bibliography 56; title: Annex  72