You can read the policy brief here:

IDRC Research Chair for Ghana, Mary Setrana Boatemaa, co-authored article titled “Remittances, food insecurity, and coping strategies of West African migrants in Accra, Ghana”.

This study explores the connection between remittances and food security, as well as migrant coping strategies through a survey of 420 West African migrants in Accra. By examining the experiences of this migrant population, we aim to highlight the effect of remittances (both cash and food) and other socioeconomic characteristics on food insecurity scores. Thus, we highlight the vulnerabilities faced by some West African migrants in Accra and identify possible policy intervention and community support. Our study discovers important initial insights on reverse remittances to migrants (i.e. the flow of resources from the origin country to migrants abroad (Mobrand, 2012)), a subject that is limited in migration literature. The situation is compounded by a global pandemic with consequences across all the origin countries of the respondents. Most migrants, regardless of the type of remittance received, are moderate to severely food insecure. We also found that educated and employed migrants have lower food insecurity scores. Many who have stayed for longer periods in Accra are also less food insecure. In fact, the period of stay of migrants is likely to enhance the promotion of social ties with other migrants and citizens of the destination country and could provide a social safety net during crisis periods. However, we observe a statistically significant reduction in food insecurity given the duration of stay applies only to the pre-pandemic era. As expected, household size is associated with high food insecurity during and after the pandemic.

IDRC Research Chair for Ghana, Mary Setrana Boatemaa, co-edited this open access book titled “Urban Migrant Inclusion and Refugee Protection – Volume 2 Global Perspectives of Sanctuary, Solidarity, and Hospitality”.

This book offers the first comprehensive global overview of urban and local initiatives, policies, and practices towards including and protecting migrants in vulnerable situations and refugees. The chapters in this volume illustrate the various urban solidarity practices in different world regions, while highlighting important differences arising from geographical, political, geopolitical, economic and demographic contexts. The volume contains a mix of chapters that present comprehensive and state-of-the-art literature reviews and the results of empirical case studies that offer original regional perspectives of migrant and refugee inclusion and exclusion, and the policies, politics and rights of urban solidarity.

IDRC Research Chair for Ethiopia, Abebaw Minaye, co-authored article on knowledge and attitude of residents in the host and destination about trafficked children and their experiences.

Abstract

Child trafficking is a serious violation of children’s rights under international law, particularly the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC). Research on this issue in Ethiopia is limited, with few studies assessing public awareness and attitudes. This study aims to examine the knowledge and attitudes of residents in Wolaita Sodo town regarding in-country child trafficking using a mixed-methods approach with 448 participants. The research team collected data through structured questionnaires, focus group discussions, and in-depth interviews. For data analysis, the researchers used SPSS 26.0 software, applied descriptive and inferential statistical analysis wherever applicable, and analyzed qualitative data thematically. The findings revealed that the majority of participants (55%) lacked adequate knowledge about child trafficking, with the qualitative results supporting this finding. In contrast, 55.9% of participants exhibited positive attitudes toward child trafficking.

A significant correlation was found between knowledge levels and attitudes, with education and personal experiences playing a critical role. Multivariate analysis revealed that individuals with a first-degree education or higher were 3.25 times (1.21-8.81, p<0.05) more likely to possess a good knowledge of child trafficking compared to those who were less educated. Additionally, individuals with trafficked family members had 3.36 times (1.59-6.81) greater knowledge of child trafficking. In a similar vein, participants who had a first degree or higher educational qualification were 2.31 times (1.29-4.34, p<0.05) less likely to harbor negative attitudes toward victims of child trafficking and anti-trafficking initiatives compared to their less-educated counterparts. Furthermore, individuals with family members who had been trafficked were 0.44 times (0.47-0.27, p<0.05) less likely to display negative attitudes than
those without such experiences. Despite their positive attitudes, most participants lacked comprehensive knowledge of child trafficking, highlighting the gap between awareness and actionable understanding. This suggests that positive attitudes may not translate into informed action without adequate knowledge. The study recommends targeted educational initiatives to bridge this gap and improve public understanding and engagement.

The 3rd session of the UM6P Research Chair’s 2025 Webinar Series:
“Examining Labour Market Integration of Migrants and Refugees in the Global South�
Wed, Sept 17 | 2.30pm to 4pm (GMT+1)

Speakers: Jackline Wahba (University of Southampton), Gilda Borriello (University of Oxford), Imane Bendra (University of Antwerp), Muriel Juramie (UNHCR Morocco)
Discussant: Matthew Bird (IDRC Research Chair, Peru)
Moderator: Myriam Cherti (IDRC Research Chair, Morocco)

This Policy Brief is a result of Global South Perspectives on Internally Displaced People webinar organized by IDRC Research Chairs Network on Forced Displacement, 13 February, 2025. It featured Paula Gaviria Betancur, UN Special Rapporteur on the human rights of internally displaced persons (IDPs), and four IDRC Research Chairs, Abebaw Minaye (Ethiopia), Hiram Angel (Mexico), Sawsan Abdulrahim (Beirut) and Houwayda Matta Bou Ramia (Lebanon). The speakers reflected on some of the work priorities, methods and challenges presented in the report, specifically in the current geo-political context, and ask, what has changed and what has stayed the same given changing global dynamics over the two years since the publication of the report.

To view the full webinar and read the summary, click here.

Este informe de políticas es el resultado del seminario web sobre el cambio climático y los desplazamientos desde la perspectiva del Sur Global, organizado por la Red de Cátedras de Investigación sobre Desplazamientos Forzados del IDRC, el 30 de enero de 2025. Contó con la participación de Andrew Harper, del ACNUR, Amal El Ouassif (Marruecos), Desiree del Rosario (República Dominicana) y Opporutuna Kweka (Tanzania), y fue moderado por Luisa Felina Freier (Perú). El debate sirvió para reflexionar sobre la Conferencia de las Naciones Unidas sobre el Cambio Climático (COP29), celebrada en Bakú en noviembre de 2024, en lo que respecta al impacto del cambio climático en la dinámica de los desplazamientos forzados. Además de centrarse en el apoyo al Sur Global para proteger a sus pueblos y economías frente a los desastres climáticos y compartir los beneficios del auge de las energías limpias, uno de los objetivos de la COP29 era reafirmar las ventajas de los enfoques inclusivos que garantizan la participación significativa de las personas más vulnerables que se encuentran en primera línea del cambio climático. Dados los limitados avances observados en la COP29, el seminario web planteó si las nuevas formas de conocimiento local sobre la relación entre el cambio climático y los desplazamientos pueden apoyar un pensamiento innovador sobre mejores respuestas, y de qué manera.

Para ver el seminario web completo y leer el resumen, haga clic ²¹±ç³Üí.

Cette note d’orientation est le résultat du webinaire sur les perspectives des pays du Sud sur le changement climatique et les déplacements de population organisé par le Réseau de chaires de recherche du CRDI sur les déplacements forcés, le 30 janvier 2025. Elle a réuni Andrew Harper du HCR, Amal El Ouassif (Maroc), Desiree del Rosario (République dominicaine) et Opporutuna Kweka (Tanzanie), et a été modérée par Luisa Felina Freier (Pérou). La discussion a permis de réfléchir à la Conférence des Nations unies sur les changements climatiques (COP29), qui s’est tenue à Bakou en novembre 2024, et à la manière dont elle a abordé l’impact des changements climatiques sur la dynamique des déplacements forcés. Outre l’aide apportée aux pays du Sud pour protéger leurs populations et leurs économies contre les catastrophes climatiques et le partage des avantages du boom des énergies propres, la COP29 avait pour objectif de confirmer les avantages des approches inclusives qui garantissent la participation significative des personnes les plus vulnérables en première ligne face au changement climatique. Compte tenu des progrès limités observés lors de la COP29, le webinaire a cherché à déterminer si et comment de nouvelles formes de connaissances locales sur la relation entre le changement climatique et les déplacements peuvent favoriser une réflexion innovante sur de meilleures réponses.

Pour visionner l’intégralité du webinaire et lire le résumé, cliquez ici.

This fully online program is open to international students and offers flexible access to high-quality academic content. Courses are conducted in English. However, understanding English is the only language skill required, as students have the option to write their assignments in French, English, or Arabic.

Find more information, read the brochure on the program here. (French version available here.)

For any questions: houwayda.bouramia@usj.edu.lb.

We’re pleased to invite you to our second session in the UM6P Research Chair’s 2025 Webinar Series, titled “(Re)Framing Migration: Examining Migration Narratives in the Global North and the Global South.â€� The webinar will take place on Wednesday, July 9th, from 1.00 p.m. to 2.30 p.m (GMT+1), via this .

The session will explore how divergent narratives on migration in the Global North and Global South shape practice and policy responses, influencing both the governance and experience of migration and forced displacement. Please view the scene-setting brief introducing the webinar topic.

Our speakers for this webinar include:

• Nando Sigona, Chair of International Migration and Forced Displacement, University of Birmingham
• William Allen, Assistant Professor of Political Science, University of Southampton
• Gibril Faal, Visiting Professor in Practice, Firoz Lalji Institute for Africa, London School of Economics and Political Science
• Paula Banerjee, IDRC Research Chair on Gender and Forced Displacement, Asian Institute of Technology

The webinar will be moderated by Myriam Cherti, IDRC Research Chair on Forced Displacement at Mohammed VI Polytechnic University (UM6P).