MiRPALThe Migration and Remittances Peer-Assisted Learning (MIRPAL) Network is a community of migration and remittance practitioners and experts

Third Annual ConferenceDushanbe, Tajikistan

May 21-23, 2012

 Sudharshan CanagarajahMIRPAL Coordinator, World BankEurope and Central Asia Region

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   CIS countries are among the nations with the highest emigration rates in the

World (Armenia, Kazakhstan, Moldova, Tajikistan, Kyrgyz Republic)

50 million migrants and the region account for a third of all developing country emigration

11% in ECA live outside their country of birth compared to 3% globally.

Russia is a major labor importing country in the CIS making it a second largest migration corridor in the World (only next to the US)

EU is becoming increasingly the major migration corridor with substantial challenges

Most ECA countries will experience dramatic population declines and as a result increasing dependency ratio and thus highlighting the importance of migration management

Why Migration Issues in CIS Important?

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Remittances represent a large portion of GDP in several CIS countries included in top recipients of remittances in the World (Tajikistan tops the World at about 40% of GDP in 2009 followed by Kyrgyz Republic, Moldova)

Remittance flows to CIS countries are large relatively to other resource flows (next to FDI, multiple times larger than ODA)

A sharp decline in remittances is one of the key factors behind slow and negative economic growth in CIS.

Migration and remittances are thought to be a major force of poverty reduction in less developed ECA CIS countries, source of FOREX and budget revenues (via remittance fueled imports/consumption).

Growing Importance of Migration and Remittances in CIS?

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   Started in 2009 with Moscow Protocol for CIS Migration Management

Response to Global economic crisis related migration challenges – third annual conference.

Every year since 2009 we have carried out 8-10 VCs, for 300 plus members with 20 plus experts invited.

MIRPAL supported with funding from WB internal resources, DFID TF (CARMP) and support of international/regional organizations (IOM, UN, EURASEC, etc) and national governments

9 countries have national coordinators, assistants to coordinators, WB country coordinators who manage the work with WB support from Washington DC

Moscow based think tank (Century 21) acts as secretariat of national chapters of MIRPAL community.

MIRPAL Background

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Policies and Programs for migration need to be results oriented: The role of the State – we can not achieve results with piece meal approach. We need to link migration to growth and development challenges. We need institutional reforms with capacity building.

Preparing Migrants for Jobs Abroad: Pre Departure is not just a concern of sending but also receiving countries. It is Skills.◦ win-win for all stakeholders: countries, agencies, IFIs, NGOs◦ win-win for all themes: growth , poverty reduction, employment

Protecting the Welfare of Migrants- Migrants are not an accident in economic history – they are integral for demographic transition and development agenda of all countries. Role of sending and receiving country needs attention.

Migration in CIS – Agenda for the Third Annual MIRPAL Conference

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4 key areas : Analytical and Research work; Knowledge management; Technical Assistance; and Advocacy and outreach.

2 dimensions: regional work in CIS and country-specific

work

MIRPAL has four key areas of involvement

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List of GDLN events at the world Bank website

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MIRPAL website www.mirpal.org

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The World Bank ECA Migration Website at www.worldbank.org/eca/migration

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The World Bank ECA Migration website: Publications