The scale, visibility and impact of international migration has increased sharply in recent decades.
This is felt globally, regionally and locally and poses complex social and political challenges, as it impacts the lives of migrants, the countries of origin, countries of 'transit' or temporary residence, countries where people settle or resettle permanently, as well as the communities to which they return. There is a strong call for better management of migration processes, in all its forms, and for more international and regional cooperation in the framework of migration management, such as the Global Compact.
However, given the great diversity and complexity of the phenomenon, the often-irreconcilable interests of the different stakeholders involved and the high sensitivity and politicisation of the issue, progress in this area remains limited, with several policies even proving counterproductive.
UNU-CRIS conducts interdisciplinary, in-depth research on the nature, causes, and consequences of migration and migration governance, with special attention to the most vulnerable categories of migrants and the role of regions in migration governance.
This cluster also has a broader interest in the regional dimensions of social policies. It explores the potential of internationalising social policies and the (potential) contribution of regional organisations to formulating and implementing social policies.
