The Joint Migration and Development Initiative (JMDI) of the European Commission and the United Nations had announced a call for proposals early this year (2009) to provide funding to projects that work on policy advocacy of the migrant populations and also to share information and best practices in the field. Migrant remittances, migrant communities, migrant capacities and migrant rights were the four priority areas were identified and the deadline for submission of project proposals was in March 2009.
JMDI has now announced the results of this call for proposals and out of the 547 projects received, it has awarded grant support to 55 projects to implement activities for a period of 18 months and each of the project has an average of €180,000. An overview of projects approved for funding is given at this link.
Since international donors are showing major interest in migrants and even considering using remittances as a tool for extending development aid to poor and low-income countries, it is expected that there will be more interest in funding projects of this kind. It will be useful for organizations to go through the list of the selected projects from where they can gather some ideas and put forth innovative proposals in future on migration.
Some interesting projects include: In Algeria, the ANV-Touiza Solidarite jointly managed project plans to build exchanges between Algerian Diaspora and civil society organizations. In the same country, another project “will provide pre-departure information on the rules, rights and obligations of migrants in destination countries, as well as on the dangers linked to the use of irregular channels of migration, organizing awareness campaigns and providing counseling so as to protect migrants from potential exploitation.” In Cape Verde, implementing project partners will work to utilize the skills and professional organizations of migrants living in Portugal for rural development. Another Cape Verde project, remittances of the migrants will be used for microfinance and other social development activities. Combing free software-based ICT and migrant skills is another interesting element of intervention in one more Cape Verde project. The Italy-based ALDA and the Moldova-based Europa TIME have partnered for establishing a free legal aid center for Moldovan migrant women in Italy. The Philippines project jointly implemented by CDMW, Netherlands and local organizations “will build and enhance the capacity of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) to plan and organize their eventual return (and reintegration), harness their skills and resources, and contribute to the development of the local economy in their home country.” In Bangladesh, a project will be implemented for providing financial literacy to people who receive remittances from migrants.
