Research and publications
The Global Migration Lab conducts multi-country comparative research projects that involve National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, key partners and migrant representatives to gather, analyse and interpret large qualitative and quantitative datasets collected from the frontlines.
Current research projects
The Global Migration Lab is planning a regional project to understand community perspectives and humanitarian impacts of climate change and mobility in the Pacific. The Global Migration Lab is also planning a follow-up global project on migrants’ access to essential services during the COVID-19 response and recovery. Subscribe to updates below.
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Previous research projects
Migrants’ Perspectives
Building Trust in Humanitarian Action
Trust is a foundation of humanitarian action. Yet, little is known about who migrants trust, and why, and how this impacts their ability and willingness to seek humanitarian assistance and protection.
To address this knowledge gap and inform strategies to increase the effectiveness of humanitarian interventions, the Global Migration Lab – in collaboration with the Movement – conducted research with over 16,000 migrants across the Americas, Africa, the Asia Pacific, and Europe.
This report provides key insights into migrants’ perspectives of, and trust, in various forms of humanitarian assistance and protection. The findings presented in this report highlight that trust cannot be assumed: it is only by placing migrants at the centre of humanitarian action related to migration and by being accountable to their needs, recommendations, and concerns that their trust can be built and maintained.
Locked down and left out?
Why access to basic services for migrants is critical to our COVID-19 response and recovery.
This flagship report of the Global Migration Lab focuses on how COVID-19 and related policy measures have affected access to basic services for migrants and impacted on a range of migrant groups across countries of origin, transit, destination and upon return.
Working with National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, migrants and partners across the world, the report shows how and why migrants have been disproportionately affected by COVID-19 and related policy measures.
Over 3,250 migrants - including people seeking asylum and refugees, undocumented migrants, migrants on temporary visas, returned migrants, migrants in transit countries and those stranded due to the pandemic were surveyed or interviewed, as well as over 150 key stakeholders.
Drawing on the direct experiences of migrants and data from across eight countries and additional regions, the report argues that it is in everyone’s interest to address barriers to basic services for migrants now and in future public health emergencies.
Additional case studies and research from report countries
Sight Unseen
A vision for effective access to COVID-19 vaccines for migrants.
This addendum builds on the findings from the Locked down and left out? Why access to basic services for migrants is critical to our COVID-19 response and recovery report. It aims to take stock of the current global trends with respect to COVID-19 vaccines access for migrants. It draws on publicly available data from a range of sources, including research organisations, governments, the United Nations, media and civil society organisations, complemented by insights and case studies from a survey of 52 National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (National Societies) working directly with migrants and host communities around the globe.
