A Line in the Sand: Roadmap for sustainable migration management in Agadez

This is an output from a project that was part of the fifth Applied Research Fund (ARF) on mixed migration flows. The ARF is executed by NWO-WOTRO in close collaboration with the Platform. The call aims to strengthen the evidence-base for security and rule of law policies and programming, addressing the root causes, and the dynamics and consequences of mixed migration flows within and from fragile and conflict-affected settings.

This synthesis report presents the main findings of a research project on the effect of migration and migration-mitigating measures on economic opportunities and local governance in Agadez. Using data obtained through a large-n survey, focus group discussions and key informant interviews, the report provides an overview of the migration policies currently being implemented in the region and investigates their (adverse) effects on the local economy, the legitimacy of state authorities and insecurity. It uses these insights to provide tangible policy recommendations that enable security and rule of law policies, including those related to social and economic reconstruction, to address these potential adverse effects. A common thread running through the recommendations is that Agadez has deposits of economic, social and institutional capital that can be leveraged as part of a more holistic and bottom-up approach to migration management that treats the issue of migration as one among multiple challenges facing the region.