Developmental impacts of interventions to support legal migration

This report examines interventions to support regular, well managed, legal migration between low and low-middle income countries

Abstract

Question for this helpdesk report:

  • What is the extent of high quality (systematic review, impact evaluation) evidence on the developmental (positive/negative) impacts of interventions to support regular, well managed, legal migration between low and low-middle income countries?
  • Identify any gaps in research, and list key researchers/organisations working on this topic

There is very little impact evaluation evidence of the developmental outcomes of interventions to support regular migration. The review identified only one migration intervention (the New Zealand Recognised Seasonal Employment Programme) which had had rigorous impact evaluations conducted: the scheme was found to have positive impacts on employers, migrants and origin countries. Otherwise the evidence base in relation to migration interventions was found to be consistently weak. The literature highlights the lack of ‘an evaluation culture’ in relation to migration policies and programmes, despite growing numbers of interventions; it stresses the need for strengthened impact evaluation and makes recommendations to promote this. Research on migration and development as a whole, however, is growing, with a number of research organisations working on these issues.

Citation

Idris, I. (2017). Developmental impacts of interventions to support legal migration. K4D Helpdesk Report 110. Brighton, UK: Institute of Development Studies, 12p

Developmental impacts of interventions to support legal migration

Published 19 May 2017