Moving the Migration Policy Agenda Forward (MMPAF) is a capacity-building programme designed for government officials working in migration and/or asylum and it is also open to other practitioners and students interested in managing migration and asylum policies.
MMPAF is a series of tutor-led online courses, which use various teaching and evaluation methods, including lectures and interactive sessions with participants. Special attention is paid to hands-on practical exercises, notably via the Problem-Based Learning (PBL) method.
This MMPAF programme will offer the following two online courses:
- Migration and Development
- Irregular Migration
Each course runs for one week, on a full-time basis. Each course is deliberately broken down into smaller learning blocks, making the learning process both structured and digestible. To ensure the programme’s quality, participants are required to commit 40 hours per week to the programme – including contact hours (for online sessions) and self-preparation – with particular attention paid to interactive exercises and practical workshops.
Eligibility criteria
- Be fluent in spoken and written English
- Hold at least a Bachelor’s degree
- Provide a valid copy of passport or ID
- Be sufficiently confident in computer skills to follow an education programme online
- Work as government officials in the field of migration and/or asylum in the countries from the EU Southern Neighbourhood, the Silk Route, Central Asia, Sub-Saharan Africa, and South Asia. Have full and written support from their employers stating that the applicant will not be expected to carry out their work duties for the duration of the MMPAF.
MMPAF Courses 2026
- 23-27 November 2026: Irregular Migration, with Dr. Lalaine Siruno
- 30 November – 4 December 2026: Migration & Development, with Prof. Khalid Koser
Applications to the course
The application call for MMPAF intake 2026 opens in September 2026. Further information about the call for applications, including the opening date and application deadline, will be announced in due course. Please visit our website and social media platforms for the latest updates and announcements.
The MMPAF is a capacity-building programme funded by the European Union (EU) through the Migration Partnership Facility (MPF) of the International Centre for Migration Policy Development (ICMPD). The programme is addressed to civil servants and policy practitioners working in migration management in the countries from the EU Southern Neighbourhood, the Silk Route, Central Asia, Sub-Saharan Africa, and South Asia.
Once the call for applications opens, applications will be accepted from the following eligible countries:
EU Southern Neighborhood Countries: Algeria, Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Libya Morocco, State of Palestine, Syria and Tunisia.
Silk Route Countries: Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iran, Iraq, Bangladesh.
Sub-Saharan Africa Countries: Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cabo Verde, Cameroon, Central African Republic (CAR), Chad, Cote d’Ivoire, Djibouti, Ethiopia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Kenya, Mali, Mauritania, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, Somalia, The Gambia, Uganda.
South Asia Countries: India, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, Pakistan.
Central Asia Countries: Kazakhstan, Kirgizstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan.
If you have any questions regarding the application process or the programme in general, please contact us at: mmpaf@maastrichtuniversity.nl