This blog has been written in parallel with the release of the latest episode of The Migration Oxford Podcast titled "Global Migration Data: Making Sense of the Numbers".
Last week we explored how patchy the information on migration can be, and why. Good migration data is essential if migration is to be managed effectively. The Global Compact for Migration urges all countries to improve migration data to ensure that policies are “evidence-based”, but does not spell out in detail how could this be done. In this blog we suggest four ways in which to significantly improve data on global migration, at relatively low cost over the next decade.
1. Make use of existing data
A considerable amount of migration data is available at national level from administrative sources, surveys and censuses, as well as data arising from the use of new technologies. Given the limited resources often available for migration data, a useful first step would be for each country to comprehensively map out what data are collected already, analyse how this information is shared and used, and propose ways to make better use of existing data sources.
This will also require new partnerships between the public and private sectors. This is because today an increasing amount of data relating to the movement of people across borders is collected by the private sector. One promising approach to developing effective public-private data partnerships is to create “Data Collaboratives.” These collaboratives enable public and private actors to come together to develop an agreed framework to collect, process, analyse and use data.
2. Launch a new global migration survey and leverage existing surveys
One key way in which to boost understanding of the situation of migrants around the world, proposed by many scholars, would be to launch a “World Migration Survey”. Each country would conduct a nationally representative survey of migrants using at least a standard set of core questions. Conducting such a global survey could provide information on subjects that traditional migration sources fail to capture well, such as emigrant stocks, migrant flows, return migration and temporary forms of migration.
A less costly option in the short term would be to add more migration questions to existing surveys. The International Labour Organization (ILO) and World Bank, for example, has developed new guidance for NSOs on how to add questions relating to migrant recruitment costs to existing labour force surveys. If surveys are large enough to identify a representative sample of migrants, adding a simple question on country of birth or citizenship can help generate new information on migration.
3. Create a global migration data capacity development programme
While there have been many calls to enhance countries’ capacities to collect, manage and use migration data, there is as yet no comprehensive, coherent global migration data capacity building programme. Often guides are being produced but not being fully used because of a lack of investment in providing training. A new global migration data capacity-building programme is needed, which is focused on data collection, analysis and use as well as data protection.
4. Monitor progress made towards clear goals
A plethora of recommendations have been made over the years on how to improve migration statistics, but too often there has been little systematic monitoring of the implementation of such recommendations. What is needed is agreement on a broad set of indicators which could be used to monitor progress towards the implementation of recommendations which aim to improve the collection, analysis and responsible use of migration data.
Concluding Remarks
Little political priority is often given to collecting timely reliable data on migration. This means that spending can be low in this area. Aside from implementing these recommendations, much greater investment into data is needed. This supports policy and pays off: every US dollar invested in data leads to benefits of an average of USD 32.
There have been calls to improve global migration statistics for several decades, but UN recommendations are not binding and investment in improving migration data has been minimal. There is an urgent need for a global action plan to boost data on migration to improve policy responses and improve the lives of migrants.
