Original Language
English
Number of Pages
108
Reference Number
ENG0316
Date of upload

20 Oct 2015

Migration and development within the South: New evidence from African, Caribbean and Pacific countries

South-South migration is a traditional livelihood strategy for millions of people in the global South. Despite its importance, mobility between developing countries has only recently been targeted by researchers and policymakers.

Drawing from research commissioned by the African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) Observatory on Migration, this issue of the Migration Research Series provides innovative insight on the realities of South-South mobility and explores how these movements may challenge our traditional conception of the migration paradigm. Concepts such as return migration, the role of diaspora for national development and cross-border mobility have a specific meaning in the South–South context.

This publication draws attention to the often unexplored potential for development of migrants within the South and provides key recommendations to strengthen the relevance of migration research. These outputs come at a very significant moment for the international community in light of the United Nations High Level Dialogue on International Migration and Development, where the necessary integration of migration in the post-2015 development debate was discussed.

  • Acknowledgements
  • Foreword
  • List of acronyms
  • Executive Summary
    • 1. Introduction
    • 2. Spotlight on the ACP: Key findings of case studies by thematic area
      • 2.1 Migration trends in ACP: Labour migration in a South–South context
      • 2.2 The impact of South–South migration on development
      • 2.3 Diasporas in the South: Drivers of development
      • 2.4 South–South financial transfers
      • 2.5 Internal migration and displacement
      • 2.6 Irregular migration, smuggling of migrants and human trafficking
      • 2.7 Conclusion
    • 3. Enhancing migration data in the South
      • 3.1 Data as a key tool for effective policymaking and planning
      • 3.2 Existing statistical data and analysis on migration
      • 3.3 Data gaps
      • 3.4 Data analysis, reporting and sharing
      • 3.5 Data management capacity
      • 3.6 Data legislation and procedures
      • 3.7 Recommendations for enhancing availability and accessibility of migration data
    • 4. South–South migration: Towards a paradigm shift?
      • 4.1 Issues of definition: Is the South a useful category?
      • 4.2 Data and methodological specificities in the South
      • 4.3 Predominance of internal migration and its positive potential
      • 4.4 Importance of intraregional migration
      • 4.5 Emerging trends: Extraregional migration, the rise of regional and global hubs, and long-term transit
      • 4.6 Feminization is less pronounced
      • 4.7 Migrants are younger
      • 4.8 Remittances in the South are different, diasporas are overlooked
      • 4.9 Returns are more feasible and widespread
      • 4.10 Forced migration, crises situations and environmental influences are more likely
    • 5. Conclusion
      • 5.1 Main findings on mobility in the South
      • 5.2 Key recommendations: Making research policy relevant
      • 5.3 New policy challenges in the South
  • Endnotes
  • References
  • Annex 1: Matrix on the ACP observatory studies by topic and country covered