News

Migration policy discussion is often future-focused. We look to how our future will be affected by changing migration routes, labour shortages, displacement, demographic change, integration, return, border management or the political debates surrounding migration. But an equally crucial question is: who will be dealing with these challenges tomorrow?

Behind every decision to work abroad is a person with different questions, circumstances and needs. Reliable information is essential, but it is most useful when it reflects the realities people face. Access to reliable, relevant information can help people considering work abroad assess opportunities, understand potential risks, and prepare for migration. For the Migrant Resource Centre (MRC) in Uzbekistan, working with organisations that have direct links to communities provides an additional perspective on the information and support different groups may need.

Following the political changes in Afghanistan in 2021, thousands of young Afghan women faced disruptions to their education and uncertainty about their future. Among them were female students who had already begun international scholarship programmes supported by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the European Union. Continuing their studies in Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan, they persevered, even as uncertainty about their education and future continued to grow.   

Applications are now open for scholarships to participate in the Migration Management Diploma Programme (MMDP), a three-month capacity-building programme offered by UNU-MERIT and Maastricht University for government officials and policy practitioners working in migration and asylum.

When Kyrgyzstan opened its first Migrant Resource Centre (MRC) in Osh in 2024, the location was a deliberate choice. The Centre was established not in the capital, but in the country’s second-largest city and the main urban centre in the south, where many prospective migrant workers begin planning their journeys abroad. It was the second MRC to open in Central Asia.

For many migrants, returning home begins with uncertainty. Some arrive after years abroad. Others return suddenly following detention, deportation, loss of employment or an unsuccessful migration journey. On arrival, they may have immediate practical needs and questions about what comes next, from contacting family and arranging onward travel to finding out what reintegration support is available.

For migrants experiencing exploitation abroad, accessing the institutions able to provide protection can be challenging, particularly when a response requires cooperation across borders. For Adaeze*, an urgent inquiry from Nigeria to Baghdad helped establish a connection between the Migrant Resource Centre (MRC) in Baghdad, Iraqi authorities and counterparts in Nigeria, supporting the response that enabled her to leave an exploitative situation and return home safely.

On 19-23 July 2026, the European Union Migration and Displacement Capacity Assistance Project (EU-MIDCAP) launched its Bangladesh Action (2026-01) in Dhaka, in partnership with the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Special Branch of the Immigration Police of Bangladesh. The activity marked the start of EU-MIDCAP support to strengthen the country’s integrated border management (IBM) capacity in line with international standards.

Safiq* left his home in Pakistan for work abroad, with the goal for upward stability in life. Like many, he made the familiar calculation that the sacrifices of distance and uncertainty would translate into something better for his family, over time. 

Ghana is quietly rebuilding two systems that decide whether people are recognised by the state: a child's birth record, and the protection owed to a refugee. Under two new Demand-Driven Facility actions implemented by FMM West Africa Phase II, the Ghana Births and Deaths Registry and Health Service are teaming up to close a registration gap that still leaves about one in four children under five without an official record. Meanwhile, the Ghana Refugee Board is turning a hard look at its own gaps into a plan for reform.

How does someone return home after years of living (or working) abroad, often with little money and their acquired skills not formally recognised, to a community that may see their return as failure?  The recently published Knowledge Paper “Reintegration realities: post-return challenges and experience across countries”poses this question.

For people considering employment abroad, a job offer can represent an important opportunity for themselves and their families. But when recruitment information is inaccurate or fraudulent, acting on an offer without verification can result in financial loss and expose prospective migrants to further risks.

The Migrant Resource Centre in Baghdad, along with Iraq’s Ministry of Migration and Displacement  and the Ministry of Interior, highlighted the experiences and challenges of victims of human trafficking and the importance of access to accurate information to protect their rights and safety.

The Migrant Resource Centre in Kyrgyzstan, in collaboration with local partners DVV International Kyrgyzstan and Youth of Osh, provided training to 46 young people to prepare for their journey to live and study in Germany. Between 27 July and 5 August in Bishkek, three groups received training sessions essential soft skills, critical pre-departure knowledge, and a fundamental understanding of their legal rights and responsibilities, thereby empowering them to navigate and thrive in their new environments effectively.

Like anywhere else, migration in Uzbekistan is not an abstract issue. It is a reality that affects families, individuals and communities, while also playing a vital role in the country’s labour market and economy. This is why, when we talk about protecting migrants, we must also address the risks associated with irregular migration, labour exploitation, migrant smuggling, and human trafficking. These, too, are not abstract issues.