MRC - International Organization for Migration

Migration Response Center (MRC) Regional Meeting The Ambassador Hotel - Hargeisa, Somaliland 09-10 August 2016 - FINAL REPORT –

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1. Introduction to Migration Response Centers The International Organization for Migration (IOM), through its Regional Mixed Migration Programme in the Horn of Africa, operates a network of Migration Response Centers (MRCs) along irregular migration corridors in Ethiopia, Djibouti, Somaliland, and Puntland while supporting similar initiatives in Sudan and Yemen. The purpose of the Programme is to support stranded migrants and to build the capacity of governments to respond to the challenges of mixed migration. The Migration Response Centers in the Horn of Africa and Yemen are set up around IOM’s institutional priorities of: (1) Protecting migrants' basic rights; (2) addressing irregular migration drivers; (3) promoting safe, orderly and dignified human mobility, countering migrant smuggling and people trafficking; and (4) developing partnerships for growth and competitiveness; and (5) supporting governments as they build their capacities to respond to mixed migration At the highest level, the MRCs aim to provide direct assistance to migrants and support the governments in the management of mixed migration flows. Established in strategic locations along the key migratory routes, MRCs provide direct assistance, but are also systems to identify and refer migrants in need to specialized agencies offering shelter and protection from physical and psychological harm, as well as support services. IOM has put in place cooperation agreements with its partners, that set out the specific role and duties of each organization involved in the MRCs to ensure that migrants in need are offered immediate and longer-term assistance, through their referral to specialized services and on the basis of strong government ownership. 2. Meeting Background This meeting took place in the context of Phase VI of U.S Department of States: Bureau of Population Refugees and Migration (BPRM) support of the Regional Mixed Migration Programme in the Horn of Africa. A Regional Meeting was held in Hargeisa for Migration Response Center (MRC) focal points to cover a range of important thematic areas which are elaborated on in this report. Attending were staff and focal points from MRCs in Ethiopia, Djibouti, Somaliland, Puntland, and Sudan. 3. Meeting Objectives Through feedback and requests from MRC and IOM staff in the field, and in line with Output 2.1 of the project document, IOM brought key stakeholders together to share lessons learned, forge closer relationships, train on thematic areas, compile best practices, and identify gaps that need to be addressed. The MRCs represent a unique forum to not only assist migrants and build government capacity, but to capture key information from irregular migrants. The MRCs are the “front line” in which IOM and MRC interface directly with vulnerable migrants in need of protection. A large amount of useful data has already being generated that, over the years, has led to a significant body of knowledge and influenced program implementation and development. However, IOM’s knowledge management in MRCs needs streamlining and stands to benefit from advances in data collection technology. To respond to this, over the last several months, RO-Nairobi has worked closely with the country offices and MRCs to launch the “MRC Data Collection System.” This system is a smart phone-based application that will allow for migrant profiles and protection needs to be identified and organized in a comprehensive and region-wide manner. The set-up, training, and roll-out of this

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system was completed during this meeting with MRC focal points instructed in its operation during hands-on sessions. Complementing the MRC Data Collection System roll-out, each MRC gave a presentation to summarize current work, challenges, trends, and data from their location. Strengthening the understanding and practice of Awareness-Raising, Assisted Voluntary Return, Identification of migrant profiles and vulnerabilities, and showcasing Migration Health Division (MHD) best practices were some of the other objectives that were met during this meeting. 4. Participants # 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11

Name Craig Murphy David Musombi Dayib Askar Mohamed Omar Abdi Abdirahman Abshi Abdi Mohamed Abdi Aden Dr. Abdikadir Ismael Adam Abdillahi Mohamed Abdi Mohamed Ahmed Isse Barkhad Artan Gurhan

Location RO – Nairobi RO - Nairobi Hargeisa, Somaliland Hargeisa, Somaliland MRC-Hargeisa MRC-Hargeisa MRC-Hargeisa Hargeisa, Somaliland Hargeisa, Somaliland Bosasso, Puntland Bosasso, Puntland

Function IOM Regional Coordinator Information Management IOM Mixed Migration MRC MRC MRC IOM MHD Vice Minister, Ministry RRR1 Consultant Ministry RRR IOM Mixed Migration MRC

12 13 14 15 16 17 18

Mohamud Jama Muse Ali Al-Jefri Fatouma Ali Momin Abdoulkader Aboubaker Bililis Sisay Mulatu Eskinder Belete Gezhan Salih Idriss Omar

Bosasso, Puntland Obock, Djibouti Obock, Djibouti Obock, Djibouti Addis Ababa, Ethiopia Mile, Ethiopia Khartoum, Sudan

MRC IOM Mixed Migration IOM MHD IOM MRC IOM Mixed Migration MRC IOM – MRC

5. Summary of Sessions Day 1, 09 August 2016: 5.1 Global MRC Overview, Craig Murphy: In this session, the global context of mixed migration was presented with IOM’s global strategy to support governments and assist migrants. Specific reference was made to the October 2015 document “Addressing Complex Migration Flows” and discussion of the Migration Response Center (MRC) from the Migrant Response and Resource Mechanism (MRRM). Comparisons were made between the purposes that these structures serve, the historical trends in the Horn of Africa and Yemen, and the migratory routes to the Mediterranean from sub-Saharan Africa. Specific reference was made to the newly established MRRM in Agadez, Niger that serves the needs of vulnerable migrants from western Africa crossing the Sahara desert to North Africa, Mediterranean Sea and Europe. There are plans of expanding the MRRC presence in Sudan from Khartoum to a border area as well. The MRCs in Yemen, referred to as Migration Response Points (MRPs), remain operational but have been scaled down in the context of the current conflict 1

The Vice Minister and Consultant of the Ministry of Resettlement, Rehabilitation, and Reconstruction (MRRR) attended the opening ceremony and provided remarks of support and encouragement for this regional meeting. Page 3 of 15

due to limited access. The previously well-established MRC in Haradh, Yemen, on the border with Saudi Arabia, is not operational but plans are being made to re-start limited operations and services as conditions allow.

5.2 Mixed Migration Programme Overview, Craig Murphy: This session explained the background and history of IOM and government coordination that gave rise to the MRC “network” in the Horn of Africa and Yemen. The MRCs comprise a key component of the Regional Mixed Migration Program and were established to support the governments while ensuring the protection of migrants in vulnerable situations. MRC assistance to individual migrants is centered on the following procedure:

Register

Screen

Identify Profile & Needs

Assist and/or Refer

This process is guided by the MRC’s Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for Protection tailored to each location. This SOP provides guidance for responding to the needs of specific migrant profiles such as victims of trafficking, unaccompanied minors and separated children, medical vulnerabilities, and other needs profiles. When the MRC is not able to provide the needed assistance, the case is referred to a partner organization or outside entity such as a hospital or medical clinic, temporary shelter, or safe house. MRC activities are detailed below:

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Migrant Services: MRCs provide migrant registration, data collection, health referral services, and information counseling on the risks of irregular migration and the conditions for migrants en route and in countries of intended destination. Additional services include referral for assisted voluntary return operations, basic health care services and medical referrals, and distribution of Non Food Items (NFI) such as clothing, blankets, and necessities. 5.3 MRC Presentations from Hargeisa, Bosasso, Obock, Mile, and Khartoum: Representatives from the Migration Response Centers in Sudan, Ethiopia, Djibouti, Somaliland, and Puntland gave presentations on the following thematic areas: 1. Brief overview and history of MRC establishment 2. Nature of the arrangement between IOM-MRC-Government 3. Summary of data 4. Achievements up to present 5. Challenges and gaps 6. Recommendations This session allowed for open discussion and sharing of best practices, while making efforts to strengthen procedures at the MRCs. The political and security contexts, as well as relationship with the government authorities, are unique to each center. By taking stock of these thematic areas, a comparative analysis emerged which was beneficial to all participants, many of whom were interacting with other MRC colleagues in the region for the first time. Another significant advantage is that staff relationships were strengthened to facilitate future cross-border operations. 5.4 MRC Data Collection Processes, David Musombi: Understanding the methodology and practice of data collection and dissemination is of critical importance. Recognizing this, RO-Nairobi’s Information Management Specialist, David Musombi, provided an overview of the principles of effective data collection while applying it to the specific smartphone system established for the MRCs in the Horn of Africa. MRC Data verification/quality control, encoding, analysis and dissemination     

A first compilation of the data should occur directly in the field, as verification/quality control The registration database should be designed to minimize data encoding mistakes Data encoding can be done in the office or directly in the field An in-depth data verification/quality control should be conducted before analysis The dissemination of the results should be done through various forums and properly coordinated to ensure that the registration data will be endorsed by all stakeholders, in particular the Government.

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Field Level

RO NBO

Data Storage

•Returnees/migrants data collected at different levels •Data sent to NBO after initial cleaning

•MRC teams checks the quality of the data in field, cleans the forms if any mistake is found •Data entry process •Reports generation

•SQL server /ODK in NBO

5.5 MRC Data Collection smartphone and application set-up and practical, David Musombi Each MRC location was issued two smartphones, chargers, and backup battery packs. The latest version of the MRC application was uploaded onto each phone. David Musombi went through step-by-step how to use the smart phone application. It should be noted that the smart phone application reflects the same questions in screening form that was used in the pilot phase, which is included below. Following this, each participant practiced doing interviews, saving the forms, and submitting through wireless connection. After several sessions of this, David ran a report and projected the results onto a screen for discussion and analysis. The session was successful and allowed for troubleshooting, technical support, and question and answers. In the evening each participant was tasked with doing several more practice forms, and they were reviewed and discussed during the opening of the second day on 10 August. The system is now in place, users have been trained and given the required hardware and software, and data is being reflected on the server in Nairobi through the Open Data Kit (ODK) platform.

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Data Flow Map of the MRC Data Collection System for the Horn of Africa (David Musombi)

IOM and MRC users receiving smartphones and training for the MRC Data Collection System in Hargeisa

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Sample: Page 1 of the screening form used during the pilot phase that is the basis of the smartphone application.

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Sample of Draft Monthly Report on MRC Data in the Horn of Africa.

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6. Summary of Sessions Day 2, 10 August 2016: 6.1 Migration and Health Division (MHD) and MRCs: Each of the MRCs has a health component to provide medical services to migrants or to refer them to local hospital for treatment. This session was led by Dr. Abdikadir Ismael of MHD in Hargeisa and Fatouma Ali Momin of MRC- Obock, Djibouti, with inputs from the other MRCs. There was discussion on the 4 questions included in the application for health screening, which has been coordinated with MHD. The consensus among users is that they are comfortable completing these basic questions on health, but this may be expanded into a separate and more comprehensive health screening form in the future. Provision of medical care to migrants at the MRC in Obock, Djibouti:

6.2 Awareness-Raising: Sisay Mulatu of IOM-Ethiopia provided an overview of the awareness raising strategies and activities in Ethiopia which have been on-going for the past several years. It is recognized that these efforts should be aimed at “creating” awareness that ultimately leads to more informed decisions and where appropriate “behavior change” among migrants to reduce the challenges associated with irregular migration.

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Craig Murphy provided an overview of techniques and strategies for implementing information campaigns and the importance of conducting pre-campaigns and post-campaign assessment. The following six steps should be considered when designing and implementing effective information campaigns: 1. What are the issues to be addressed? 2. What are the objectives of the campaign? 3. Who is the audience? 4. Develop appropriate, effective messages 5. Disseminate the message 6. Monitor and evaluate the results and impact of the campaign by: o Deciding what information you want to know; o Developing measurable indicators; o Establishing which methods you will use to collect information; o Developing a process to collect data; o Deciding how you will use the results to improve your campaign; o Thinking about how you will share the knowledge gained with others. 6.3 Identification and Protection; AVR and referral: Craig Murphy presented these topics on behalf of Regional Thematic Specialist Tim Howe, who was unable to attend. The focus on the well-being of individual migrants has been the basis on which Migrant Assistance Division’s identity has been built: on IOM’s MAD programming is primarily for the benefit of the migrant (protection/securing their rights) 

Building on classic CT approach, MAD has been moving towards an “Assistance to vulnerable migrants” (AVM) approach



AVM contributes to protecting and assisting migrants in need, including those who have been trafficked, exploited, and abused (MAD Strategic Plan 2013-2017) 1. IOM is able to provide migrants in need with a reliable, individualized response that is consistent with international best practice standards of protection, anywhere in the world. 2. IOM consistently implements innovative and evidence-based initiatives that effectively prevent exploitation and abuse of (potential) migrants Page 11 of 15

3. IOM’s expertise in protecting migrants in need, and preventing their exploitation and abuse, positively influences global and regional migration policy. 4. IOM has transitioned to the routine implementation of large migrant assistance programmes in each region. 5. MAD effectively communicates, internally and externally, a coherent, evidence-based migrant protection message. 

AVM continues to support the development and implementation of IOM projects that focus exclusively on trafficking in persons

Assisted Voluntary Return comprises a key component of IOM’s operational response in the Horn of Africa. Conditions of AVR:  Personal and informed decision  Freedom of choice  Absence of coercion  Provision of up to date CoO information Beneficiaries: Who is eligible?  Asylum seekers  Undocumented migrants or migrants with no legal means to stay in the host country  Migrants with right to stay but who wish to return to home countries  Vulnerable group such as VoT and UMC (specific measures for VoT and UMC) Impact of AVR on migrants:  Takes into account migrants decision  Allows for preparation to return  Ensures respect for human rights  Avoids stigma of forced return and negative repercussion for reintegration  Provides counseling, financial and/or logistical and reintegration support Impact of AVR on governments:  Generally more cost-effective for host countries  Politically palatable to both host countries and CoO  Enhances international cooperation

6.4 Review Protection SOPs and Service Matrix: In 2013, an MRC Standard Operating Procedure for Protection was developed and launched in the Migration Response Centers. During this session, there was an open discussion on these SOPs and an effort to update and specify the documents for each location. This is a workin-progress to be accomplished in the coming months, and is contingent upon receiving updated contact information for partners and potential partners in each location for referring migrants for services. While the general strategy and response of the MRCs is universal, there are unique factors and procedures in each Page 12 of 15

location which the revised, location-specific Protection SOPs will reflect. Additionally, MRC inputs were consolidated for the services provided by each MRC and reflected in the below matrix.

6.5 Knowledge Management, Craig Murphy: This session set the MRC Data Collection System and other knowledge, expertise, best practices, and methodologies of the IOM Regional Mixed Migration Program in the context of the Global PRM-PIM Knowledge Management (KM) Project currently underway. This KM project is rooted in the First Regional Migration Program meeting in Washington, DC in May 2015. In Hargeisa participants were trained on the basic principles of knowledge management and given techniques for incorporating it into data collection, dissemination, and sharing of information.

Source: www.medium.com / Kaushik Pushpavanam

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Source: pininterest.com / Kristina Hollis

The following training videos on Knowledge Management were shown, followed by a group discussion: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nRVx9qhzbgw https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mFNh4jp4yBo 6.6 IOM internal meeting on SOPs: At the end of the second day, there was an internal session among IOM Mixed Migration focal points in the region to discuss the state of Project CT0911 (PRM funded Regional Mixed Migration Program), with specific focus on the Standard Operating Procedures developed in the previous phase of the project and referenced in current project document under Output 1.4. It should be noted that we have experienced significant challenges and delays for the governments to endorse these SOPs on information sharing and regulation of movement of persons. Workshops, trainings, and reports generated from the SOPs have not been completed due to factors beyond the control of IOM. While efforts continue to be made to meet with the appropriate ministries and have their endorsement, governments have expressed reservations on sharing of information with other countries as well as on coordinating for the regulation of movement. These factors can be defined as risks to the project that have been actualized, and will most likely result in the incompletion of activities under this output and the inability to report on progress made.

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7. Conclusion: Feedback from the open discussion with all participants at the meeting’s closing session was positive. All of the objectives were met and IOM and MRC staff have strengthened understanding and capacity on a number of topics related to implementation of the Regional Mixed Migration Program. The MRC Data Collection System has been officially launched and designated focal points in all locations have the tools and knowledge to capture and share data in the region. This will feed into the server at RO-Nairobi for creating monthly “snapshot” reports of data and information. IOM is now capturing data on mixed migration which will allow for comparative analysis, informed programmatic response, and enhanced decision making on the strategy of the program. Furthermore, IOM’s information management of data from the MRCs will increase credibility and authority on an important region that continues to generate significant mixed migration flows in all directions. Consistent with the procedures of the MRC Data Collection System, training was provided on Identification of Migrant profiles and mechanisms for referral, including Assisted Voluntary Return, under the Assistance to Vulnerable Migrants strategy. Principles and strategies of awareness raising and knowledge management have been introduced, while participants have been given resources to further their understanding on their own accord. The themes covered in the various sessions during this meeting are all inter-related. Efforts were made by facilitators to highlight these linkages to improve the regional response of the IOM offices and Migration Response Centers supporting migrants in vulnerable situations in the Horn of Africa.

Sincere thanks to the IOM Regional Office’s Marnie Cattermole and Robert Mominee for the support to make the meeting a success, as well as Regional Thematic Specialist Tim Howe for his technical expertise. Special thanks to David Musombi for his knowledge on ODK platforms and ability to train new users on effective data collection. The meeting would not have been possible without the dedication of IOM-Hargeisa’s Dayib Askar, who ensured the smooth running of the event in Hargeisa, and all other participants who attended and made contributions to the meeting.

The International Organization for Migration expresses sincere appreciation to the Bureau for Populations, Refugees, and Migration (BPRM) for their support of this meeting, and the Regional Mixed Migration Program.

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