The production of empirical evidence and the correct use of data are fundamental for the proper design of public policies and decision-making at various levels. To achieve effective migration governance, States require a reliable and comprehensive evidence base that reflects the complexity and dynamics of the movement of people, and in turn, serves as a guide for the formulation of coherent policies and the construction of a well-informed public discourse.

The Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration sets out the need for such data; specifically, the first objective refers to the collection and use of “accurate and disaggregated data for evidence-based policies,” and the responsibility to ensure that such data allows for effective monitoring and evaluation of the realisation of commitments made over time.[1]

According to the International Organisation for Migration (IOM), States, the United Nations and the international community have made significant efforts over the years to improve the evidence base on migration. Many countries now have the technology and expertise to track inflows and outflows across their borders with a high degree of accuracy, and to collect other data on the movement of people.[2]

Some regions have made notable progress in harmonising and sharing migration data, often with the support of regional organisations and UN regional commissions. For example, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) publishes detailed information on mobility patterns recorded by or affecting its Member States. While at the global level, the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA) regularly produces official estimates of the global international migrant population through its data on international migrant populations.[3]

However, despite efforts, basic data on the population, flow, and characteristics of people in a situation of human mobility, as well as on the causes and effects of international migration, remain scarce or are not used to their full potential in many countries. Gaps remain with respect to essential migration statistics and topics that require the integration of data from different sectors, such as migration and health, return migration, migrant integration, as well as the determinants and consequences and impacts of migration.[4]

On the other hand, some international agreements entail monitoring and review requirements for Member States that depend on some form of reporting, as is the case for the assessment of progress in the implementation of the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration. While methodologies for measuring many of the migration-related Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) indicators have not yet been completed, many States are likely to struggle to produce adequate data sets. In addition, much of this work will rely on national statistical agencies, which may have limitations in dealing with migration data.[5]

Among the constraints that States may face with respect to these data, technical capacity emerges as a key challenge. While most primary migration data are collected at the national level, many countries do not have the resources or technical capacity to do this systematically, or to incorporate new data elements. Another problem that arises is the difficulty in collecting information from various sources, due to the lack of coordination between different government agencies.[6]

In order to contribute to the improvement of data quality and the adoption of better-informed response strategies, the Latin American and Caribbean Economic System (SELA) and the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) are jointly organising the activity “Virtual Training on Migration Data,” aimed at national authorities in the areas of migration, statistics, risk management system and environment of the Member States of SELA and scheduled to be held on 12, 13 and 14 September 2023.

The training will be a space for specialists in this area, representatives of the Member States, migration authorities, and representatives of regional and subregional organisations to analyse the progress made in terms of the management of the evidence base for the appropriate management of human mobility for sustainable development, as well as the challenges that still need to be addressed.

1. Provide essential information on migration data to decision-makers and institutional responders to support public policies on migration.
2. Provide guidelines to competent national authorities for capacity building in the collection, analysis and dissemination of statistical migration data.
3. Exchange successful experiences in the Latin American and Caribbean region on the management of migration data systems to achieve concrete results in governance and effectiveness for people in a situation of human mobility and their host societies.

1. Contribute to the strengthening of technical capacities of the Member States of SELA to improve the evidence base on human mobility and promote an effective management of the phenomenon, for the sake of sustainable development and the consolidation of more inclusive, just, and peaceful societies.
2. Support with relevant information the preparation of reports by the Member States of SELA on the progress made in complying with the relevant international agreements.
3. Generate a space for informed discussion with national authorities on the importance of producing timely, accessible, reliable, disaggregated, and comparable data, in order to move towards a better understanding of the dynamics of human mobility and the design of better-informed response strategies.
4. Prepare a document containing the conclusions of this Virtual Training, which will be useful for decision-makers at different levels, international organisations, academic institutions, and civil society organisations.

The training is aimed at representatives of Latin American and Caribbean countries in charge of: 1) the collection of migration data at the national level; 2) the design and implementation of public policies on migration; and 3) the preparation of monitoring and review reports on migration issues before international bodies. Therefore, it is requested to nominate four (4) officials who are linked to the national offices of migration, statistics, risk management system and environment, to participate in this training. Certificates will be awarded to participants who complete a minimum of 90 %of total attendance.

In order to ensure that the activity is conducted in a fair, participatory, dynamic and satisfactory manner, there will be a limited number of participants, and a prior selection of participants will be made. Applications will be received until Friday 25 August through the following link: https://forms.office.com/r/HRyKm0ncEk. For further information, please contact the Social Development Area of this Permanent Secretariat through the officials Mr. Gustavo Herrera, Coordinator of Social Development (gherrera@sela.org), and Ms. Daymar Martes, Social Development Analyst (dmartes@sela.org). More details about the event are available on SELA’s Web page (http://www.sela.org).

Draft Work Agenda