From Evidence to Policy

Tues 28 March and Wed 29 March, 2017
at the School for Oriental and African Studies (SOAS) in London

The Migrating out of Poverty Research Programme Consortium held its 'From Evidence to Policy' conference at the School for Oriental and Asian Studies (SOAS) in London on 28th and 29th March 2017.

We have just published our conference report in June, which breaks down each session and describes the detail, in terms of topic, region, and argument introduced within the presentations. It contains some references to specific papers and some good photographs from the two days.

In keeping with MOOP research, there was a strong focus on the intersection of gender and migration. Bringing researchers and practitioners together, this conference links evidence and policy from a number of the major themes of our research, including:

• migration brokerage
• intra-household dynamics
• youth aspirations
• the making of migration policy
• remittances
• migration and poverty
• migrants’ journeys

Our keynote speakers were Michael Clemens and Julia O'Connell Davidson.

New patterns of mobility are continuously shaping and being shaped by macro processes of globalisation on the one hand and local processes embedded in culture, class, ethnicity and race on the other hand. New transnational alliances, actors and institutions are shaping the “power geometry” of migration by determining who migrates, why, where, and under what circumstances. Gendered and ethnic identities have pushed men and women into certain types of migrant labour and created specific niches and segmented labour markets where some forms of work are feminized and ascribed a lower market value.

This international conference invites decision makers, funders, scholars, and practitioners to explore these new configurations of mobility, particularly those of poorer social groups. Our aim is to inform migration policy based on contextualised and intersectional understandings of migration. The conference is structured around two key notes; four plenaries providing critical insights into cutting-edge research and the translation of research into evidence for policy; and four parallel sessions with three streams of panels. It is hosted by the Migrating out of Poverty Research Programme Consortium, which is funded by the UK’s Department for International Development (DFID).

Taking as our point of departure on-going research within the consortium, we invite papers and multimedia contributions addressing the themes described below. We would like all submissions to take gender differences into consideration and focus on both men and women. We hope the conference will highlight how emerging evidence on migration and poverty can promote more effective policy interventions to ensure the benefits of migration and reduce its costs and risks for poor people.

Themes

• Migration Brokerage, Debt and Precarious Employment
• Differentiated Niches in Migrant Labour Markets
• Policy Processes and Politics in Migration
• Remittances, Remittance Behaviour and Poverty Outcomes
• Youth and Migration
• Return and Reintegration, Gender Identities and Livelihoods
• Migration and Social Networks
• Social Policy for Migrants
• Migration, Urbanisation and Climate Change
• The Migration Crisis
• Migrant Journeys
• Migrant Organizations and Activism

Call for Papers

The CALL is now CLOSED

Download or Share the Call for Papers and Media (PDF)

Submission deadline: Friday 30 September 2016

Successful proposals notified by: Tuesday 8 November 2016

Full paper or multimedia submissions due: Tuesday 7 March 2017

Funding: We will have limited funding available for those who present a strong proposal, funding case and have no other funding available.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Where can I keep up-to-date on the conference?

The Migrating out of Poverty conferenece webpages

Where can I contact the organisers with any questions?

You can email questions to moop2017conference@sussex.ac.uk.

Where are the organisers staying?

IBIS London Euston St. Pancras

Can I book this hotel?

Please email moop2017conference@sussex.ac.uk if you wish to stay at this hotel. We can organise a reservation that you will need to pay directly. Including bed and breakfast we have a rate of £136 per night, but it may be possible to get a better rate if you book directly via the internet.

How do I get there?

Both London Heathrow and London Gatwick serve our conference location well.

The nearest train station is Euston/St.Pancras

The nearest underground station is Russell Square.

Further information regarding location will be sent closer to the conference dates.

How can I engage in Social Media about the conference?

We are on Twitter - follow @MigrationRPC and use the hashtag #MOOPconf.

You can also find us on Facebook (migratingoutofpoverty).