Publications and Research Outputs

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IWMI/WLE

Assessment of Outreach and Engagement with Prospective Migrants by the Agencies Recruiting Labourers for Foreign Employment. This study was conducted to identify the gaps in policies and practices of labour recruitment in Nepal and assess the outreach and engagement of major formal labour intermediaries, private recruitment agencies (PRAs) and pre-departure orientation training (PDOT) centres, with migrant workers for providing information on human trafficking prior to departure. Read more..

Women’s Participation in Foreign Labour Migration and Spousal Violence: A Study on Returnee Women Migrant Workers in Nepal. While existing studies point to a high degree of physical and sexual violence against women in Nepal, there is a lack of studies assessing the extent of violence among women who participate in foreign labor migration. Read more..

A Media Analysis of Changes in International Human Trafficking Routes from Nepal. This study examined the media portrayal of different actors involved in human trafficking from Nepal to understand the reported changes in international routes of human trafficking from Nepal after 2015. Read more..

Examining migration governance: evidence of rising insecurities due to COVID-19 in China, Ethiopia, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Morocco, Nepal and Thailand.The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly changed the context of global migration. From a migration perspective, the pandemic is a source of insecurities that challenge migrants, their livelihoods and migration governance. Meanwhile, curtailment in movement has led to economic decline affecting labour markets. For migrant origin and hosting countries, this poses multidimensional development challenges.
Read more..

Migration, environmental change and agrarian transition in upland regions: learning from Ethiopia, Kenya and Nepal.
This paper analyses the relationship between cyclical labour migration and agrarian transition in the uplands of Nepal, Ethiopia and Kenya. It shows that while migration decision-making is linked to expanding capitalist markets, it is mediated by local cultural, political and ecological changes. Read more..

Examining migration governance: evidence of rising insecurities due to COVID-19 in China, Ethiopia, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Morocco, Nepal and Thailand.The manuscript ‘Examining migration governance: evidence of rising insecurities due to COVID-19 in China, Ethiopia, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Morocco, Nepal and Thailand’, authored by Asel Murzakulova (UCA), Mengistu Dessalegn (IWMI), and Neelambari Phalkey (UoB), was assessed by reviewers for the Journal Comparative Migration Studies, and was recommended for publication by the journal’s editor. The writing team worked on the requested revisions and consulted with the Steering Group before submitting the final version of the article at the beginning of July 2021. The paper is based on rapid research undertaken by the AGRUMIG consortium in 2020.

Policy Brief No. 70: The Impact of Climate Change Induced and Environmental Challenges on Migration Dynamics in Rural Kyrgyzstan.
Environmental disasters and climate induced challenges heavily impact people’s livelihoods, especially those in the poorest segments of society who lack the adaptive resources and capabilities to respond accordingly. Read more..

AGRUMIG Policy Briefs 3 & 4.
The third and fourth policy briefs in the AGRUMIG series, commissioned by the OSCE Academy in Bishkek have been published and are available on the AGRUMIG website. Policy Brief number 3, ‘The Precarity of Transnational Migration and the Covid-19 Pandemic: Addressing Female Return Migration in Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan’ can be accessed here. The Russian translation is also available. Policy Brief number 4, ‘Covid-19 and Migration Uncertainty in Kyrgyzstan: To Leave or Stay and Earn? can be accessed here.

AGRUMIG China Team publication ‘Mechanisation and efficiency in rice production in China.
Dr Shi Min, a member of the South China Agricultural University (SCAU) AGRUMIG team, has had a paper accepted by the Journal of Integrative Agriculture. The paper addresses the issue of mechanisation as a primary adaptation strategy – and is from AGRUMIG field sites. The findings confirm that mechanisation is unlikely to significantly impact yields, especially in fragmented plots – however, it is a necessity for dealing with labour scarcity. The paper’s policy recommendations regarding land transfer market development and mechanised chemical application also have relevance for AGRUMIG’s policy work in China. The full reference is: ‘Mechanisation and efficiency in rice production in China’ in the Journal of Integrative Agriculture 20(7): 2-14.

Comparative Migration Studies article acceptance.The manuscript ‘Examining migration governance: evidence of rising insecurities due to COVID-19 in China, Ethiopia, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Morocco, Nepal and Thailand’, authored by Asel Murzakulova (UCA), Mengistu Dessalegn (IWMI), and Neelambari Phalkey (UoB), was assessed by reviewers for the Journal Comparative Migration Studies, and was recommended for publication by the journal’s editor. The writing team worked on the requested revisions and consulted with the Steering Group before submitting the final version of the article at the beginning of July 2021. The paper is based on rapid research undertaken by the AGRUMIG consortium in 2020.

Nicol, A.; Abdoubaetova, A.; Wolters, A.; Kharel, A.; Murzakolova, A.; Gebreyesus, A.; Lucasenco, E.; Chen, F.; Sugden, F.; Sterly, H.; Kuznetsova, I.; Masotti, M.; Vittuari, M.; Dessalegn, M.; Aderghal, M.; Phalkey, N.; Sakdapolrak, P.; Mollinga, P.; Mogilevskii, R.; Naruchaikusol, S. 2020. Between a rock and a hard place: early experience of migration challenges under the Covid-19 pandemic. Colombo, Sri Lanka: International Water Management Institute (IWMI). 22p. (IWMI Working Paper 195). [doi: https://doi.org/10.5337/2020.216]

Dessalegn, Mengistu; Nicol, Alan; Debevec, Liza. 2020. From poverty to complexity?: the challenge of out-migration and development policy in Ethiopia. [Policy Brief of the Migration Governance and Agricultural and Rural Change (AGRUMIG) Project]. London, UK: SOAS University of London. 8p. (AGRUMIG Policy Brief Series 2)

Miletto, M., Caretta, M. A., Burchi, F. M. and Zanlucchi, G. 2017. Migration and its interdependencies with water scarcity, gender and youth employment. WWAP. Paris, UNESCO.

Sugden, F., Nansambu, D. 2017. A generation on the move: Voices of youths in the context of climate change, migration, and livelihood transition. Session report from the 11th International Community Based Adaptation Youth Conference.

Sugden, Fraser. 2016. Migration and rural change. Kathmandu Post, Apr 5th, 2016.

Sugden, Fraser; Saikia, Panchali; Maskey-Amatya, Niki; Pokharel, Paras. 2016. Gender, agricultural investment and productivity in an era of out-migration. In Bharati, Luna; Sharma, Bharat R.; Smakhtin, Vladimir (Eds.). The Ganges River Basin: status and challenges in water, environment and livelihoods. Oxon, UK: Routledge – Earthscan. pp.273-293. (Earthscan Series on Major River Basins of the World)

Amersinghe, P., Sugden, F. 2015. No place called home: Without water, people will continue to migrate elsewhere in search of employment. Kathmandu Post, Nov 22nd 2015.

International Water Management Institute (IWMI). 2014. Promoting productive gendered spaces for adapting to climatic stress: two case studies from rural Bangladesh. Colombo, Sri Lanka: International Water Management Institute (IWMI). 4p. (IWMI Water Policy Brief 36).

International Water Management Institute (IWMI). 2014. Women’s vulnerability to climatic and non-climatic change in the Eastern Gangetic Plains. Colombo, Sri Lanka: International Water Management Institute (IWMI). 4p. (IWMI Water policy Brief 35).

Sugden, F., de Silva, S., Clement, F., Maskey, N., Ramesh, V., Philip, A., Bharati, L. 2014. A Framework to Understand Gender and Structural Vulnerability to Climate Change in the Ganges Basin: Lessons from Bangladesh, India and Nepal. IWMI Working Paper.

Sugden, F, Maskey, N, Clement, F, Ramesh, V, Philip, A, & Rai, A. 2014. Agrarian stress and climate change in the Eastern Gangetic plains: Gendered vulnerability in a stratified social formation. Global Environmental Change. 29. 258-269.

Sugden, F. Shrestha, L. Bharati, L. Gurung, P., Maharjan, L. Janmaat, J., Price, J., Sherpa, T., Bhattarai, U., Koirala, S. Timilsina, B. 2014. Climate change, out-migration and agrarian stress: The potential for upscaling small-scale water storage in Nepal. IWMI Research Report 159.

Network

(Videos, Pictures and Infographics)

Adapting to climatic and societal change: voices from women and men farmers in Nepal (with English subtitles)

This series of films was produced by the group of men and women farmers from Dhanusha District on topics selected by them. Each films lasts around 10min

TV episodes Samudayako Aawaj (in Nepali and Maithili with Nepali subtitles)

These videos were produced by NEFEJ and broadcasted on two Nepali TV channels: Image Channel from July to October 2013 and NTV plus from November to December 2013. The 20 mn TV episodes include a short presentation, followed by the films directed by the farmers and the comments of experts and policy-makers on farmers’ films.

Publications and Research Outputs

(Videos, Pictures and Infographics)

Migration Matters Infographic

Positive Migration

Migration Related News at IWMI