Description:
While there has been significant growth in the number of Migrant Resource Centres (MRCs) in recent years, there has been no attempt to date to examine the impact of these centres on migration management goals. This study aims to help bridge the gap by providing an overview of good practices employed by MRCs to help migrants move to their destinations in a legal, voluntary, orderly and protected manner. This assessment covers the work of 17 MRCs in Albania, Australia, Colombia, Croatia, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Lebanon, Mali, the Philippines, Portugal, Slovakia, Sri Lanka and Tajikistan. It focuses on the role of MRCs in empowering migrants for development and self-protection. The assessment also covers MRCs’ strategies for ensuring their smooth operation and long-term sustainability. The study shows that MRCs are increasingly working to build the capacities of migrants to contribute to country-of-origin development. Efforts by MRCs to facilitate low-cost remittance transfers, offer investment advice and assist migrants in their search for appropriate jobs support this goal. In addition, MRCs are also actively helping migrants to protect themselves, by providing information on migrant rights, the risks and consequences of migration and related laws and procedures, as well as legal counselling, disputeresolution assistance and referrals to health and other social services.