PROTECT: Improving Migration Management and Migrant Protection in selected Silk Routes and Central Asian Countries

The overall objective is to contribute to migrant protection in the target countries covering all phases of (in and out) migration, including countering and preventing irregular migration, trafficking in human beings and smuggling of migrants.

The PROTECT project aims to:

• Improve migration management and migrant protection covering all phases of emigration and immigration in the target countries;
• Enhance awareness on the risks of irregular migration, and facilitate the protection of migrants;
• Support informed migration decision-making at the individual, family and community level, including pre-departure preparation, migration and residence/work abroad, voluntary return and sustainable reintegration.

Summary:

Component 1: Migration Governance

What is the focus? This component contributes to the improvement of gender-sensitive and rights-based migration governance at national levels.

How will it be achieved? This will be achieved by strengthening policy frameworks and capacities of public authorities to better manage migration and mobility in all their dimensions.

What are the expected results? In the long run, there will be an increase in the capacities of public authorities in the targeted countries to develop, implement and evaluate migration- and mobility-related frameworks, including at policy, legislative and institutional levels.

What type of activities? Mostly technical assistance activities which can take the form of:

• support in developing specific deliverables (e.g. draft laws/regulations, draft policies/strategies, manuals and handbooks, guidelines on specific topics);
• policy workshops;
• information exchange sessions;
• assessment missions and reports;
• study visits, etc.

Component 2: Migrant Resource Centres (MRCs)

What is the focus? This component contributes to strengthening of MRC work, to the geographical expansion of MRCs and to ensuring their long term sustainability after the project.

How will it be achieved? This will be achieved by continuing to build upon MRC Counsellors work and build their capacities to manage an expanded role providing information on all aspects related to migration and by increasing the number and reach of MRC information campaigns and counselling.

What are the expected results? In the long run, there will be an increase in outreach to migrants and their satisfaction of the MRC services, an established sustainability strategy for each MRC and the successful set-up of new MRCs in specific locations in Central Asia and Pakistan.  

What type of activities?

• Awareness-raising activities and individual counselling on safe, regular and orderly regular migration pathways by presenting the consequences, costs and dangers of irregular migration, trafficking of human beings and smuggling of migrants;
• Professional development activities to further the development of professional, language and social skills of (aspiring) migrants, and enabling them to cope with challenges and difficulties in countries of destination;
• Dissemination of information on existing programmes and services provided by government agencies and other service providers in both countries of origin and destination to migrants (departing, in-service and returning) and enabling them to access these, address their concerns and grievances, and protect their rights and well-being;
• Capacity-building of partner government agencies in their communication strategies for migrants and returnees, with the vision of integrating the MRCs within their regular structures for sustainability purposes;
• Engagement activities with other stakeholders at the national and local levels (e.g. academia, media, local influencers, religious leaders, civil society and migrant organisations, recruitment agencies, private sector) to build partnership for wider, localised and continuous information campaigns, building on the stakeholders’ structures and capacities