About the Migration Governance Indicators
About the Migration Governance Indicators
Migrants' rights
Migrants' rights

Indicators in this domain assess the extent to which migrants have the same status as citizens in terms of access to basic social services such as health, education, and social security. It also describes the rights of migrants to family reunification, to work, and to residency and citizenship. The ratification of the main international conventions is also included within this domain.

Indicators in this category look at the extent to which migrants have access to certain social services such as health, education and social security. They also examine measures to ensure integration and access to work.

Whole of government approach
Whole of government approach

Indicators in this domain assess countries’ institutional, legal, and regulatory frameworks related to migration policies. Domain 2 also reviews the existence of national migration strategies that are in-line with development, as well as institutional transparency and coherence in relation to migration management. This domain also investigates the extent to which governments collect and use migration data.

Indicators in this category assess the institutional frameworks of cities for migration. This area also examines the existence of migration strategies consistent with development objectives, as well as institutional transparency and coherence in migration management.

Partnerships
Partnerships

This domain focuses on countries’ efforts to cooperate on migration-related issues with other states and with relevant non-governmental actors, including civil society organizations and the private sector. Cooperation can lead to improvements in governance by aligning and raising standards, increasing dialogue and providing structures to overcome challenges.

Indicators in this category focus on cities’ efforts to cooperate on migration issues with the national government as well as other cities and relevant non-governmental actors, including civil society organizations and the private sector.

Well-being of migrants
Well-being of migrants

This domain includes indicators on countries’ policies for managing the socioeconomic well-being of migrants, through aspects such as the recognition of migrants’ educational and professional qualifications, provisions regulating student migration and the existence of bilateral labour agreements between countries. Indicators equally focus on policies and strategies related to diaspora engagement and migrant remittances.

Indicators in this category assess cities’ initiatives in terms of international student mobility, access to the labour market and decent working conditions for migrant workers. Aspects related to diaspora engagement and migrant remittances are also included in this domain.

Mobility dimensions of crises
Mobility dimensions of crises

This domain studies the type and level of preparedness of countries when they are faced with mobility dimensions of crises, linked to either disasters, the environment and/or conflict. The questions are used to identify the processes in place for nationals and non-nationals both during and after disasters, including whether humanitarian assistance is equally available to migrants as it is to citizens.

Indicators in this category examine the type and level of readiness of cities to deal with aspects of mobility crises. The questions focus on the processes in place for citizens and non-citizens both during and after disasters, especially if humanitarian assistance is available for migrants and citizens.

Safe, orderly and regular migration
Safe, orderly and regular migration

This domain analyses countries’ approach to migration management in terms of border control and enforcement policies, admission criteria for migrants, preparedness and resilience in the case of significant and unexpected migration flows, as well as the fight against trafficking in human beings and smuggling of migrants. It also assesses efforts and incentives to help integrate returning citizens.

Indicators in this category look at the cities’ approaches to migrant safety as well as return and reintegration policies and the fight against trafficking in persons.

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Key findings
Introduction

This local Profile describes examples of well-developed areas of the Municipality of Kanifing (The Gambia) migration governance structures and areas with potential for further development, as evaluated through the six domains of the Migration Governance Indicators (MGI). These address migrants’ rights, a “whole-of-government” approach, partnerships, socioeconomic well-being of migrants, the mobility dimensions of crises, and safe and orderly migration.

Click the icons on the wheel to explore the key findings.

The Migration Governance Indicators (MGI) initiative is a policy-benchmarking programme led by the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and implemented with research and analysis from the Economist Intelligence Unit. Funding is provided by IOM Member States. 

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Key findings
Migrants' rights

Migration Governance: examples of well-developed areas

  • All migrants in Kanifing have equal access to public health-care services as citizens.
  • All migrants have access to primary, secondary and high schools in Kanifing Municipality.
  • Migrants in Kanifing can access legal services and advice on an equal level as citizens.

Areas with potential for further development 

  • While migrants can access municipal services provided by the Kanifing Municipal Council (KMC) on the same basis as citizens, there are no specific systems to support migrants in accessing these.
  • KMC does not have measures to protect migrants’ children, unaccompanied minors, and children left behind, and no reference is made to such measures in the Council’s Strategic Plan.
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Key findings
Whole of government approach

Migration Governance: examples of well-developed areas

  • The Kanifing Municipal Council (KMC) participates in the Regional Coordination Structure, which was rolled out in all regionsto coordinate the implementation of the National Migration Policy (2020) at the local level.
  • KMC participates in the national technical working group that coordinates the implementation of the National Migration Policy.

Areas with potential for further development 

  • Municipal-level public servants do not receive regular training on cultural sensitivity and migration-related issues.
  • KMC does not have an all-purpose/single-desk migrants’ office to streamline orientation services for immigrants.
  • KMC does not have a local-level migration strategy or an agency tasked with the responsibility of coordinating efforts to engage with diaspora groups.
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Key findings
Partnerships

Migration Governance: examples of well-developed areas

  • The Kanifing Municipal Council (KMC) participates in several initiatives such as the Mayors Migration Council, the Mayors Dialogue on Growth and Solidarity and the Global Parliament of Mayors.  
  • KMC cooperates with IOM and other international organizations on migration-related issues, such as a cash-for-work reintegration programme for Gambian returnees. 

Areas with potential for further development 

  • KMC does not engage civil society organizations, the private sector, or members of the diaspora and expatriate communities in agenda-setting and the implementation of migration-related policies and programmes.
  • KMC has no bilateral programmes or agreements for city-to-city national or international cooperation within the Gambia on international migration-related issues in Kanifing Municipality.
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Key findings
Well-being of migrants

Migration Governance: examples of well-developed areas

  • The Kanifing Municipal Council (KMC) leads some collaborations to promote and facilitate the inclusion of migrant workers in the workforce, for example, alongside the Catholic Development Office for the reintegration of returnees through skills development and livelihood empowerment .

Areas with potential for further development 

  • KMC does not conduct local-level assessments for monitoring the local labour market demand for immigrants or the labour market supply and the effect of emigration.
  • There are no measures in place in Kanifing Municipality that encourage international students to work at the local level after graduation.
  • There are no measures to promote gender equality for migrants in the labour force in Kanifing Municipality.
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Key findings
Mobility dimensions of crises

Migration Governance: examples of well-developed areas

  • The Regional Disaster Management Committee (RDMC) set up in Kanifing ensures that disaster management includes community participation at all levels.
  • The Kanifing Municipality Council’s Strategic Plan 2019–2022 (2018) contains specific provisions for preventing and addressing the displacement impacts of disasters, as well as the inclusion of migration issues in recovery strategies.
  • In 2020, KMC and the Gambia National Disaster Management Agency collaborated with various stakeholders, including IOM, to conduct a disaster-related simulation exercise to evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of Kanifing Municipality in managing disasters relating to international migration.

Areas with potential for further development 

  • KMC does not have a local-level strategy for addressing migration linked to environmental degradation and the adverse effects of climate change. 
  • There is a need to ensure a more inclusive approach to addressing and responding to the needs of all residents, including migrants, during and in the aftermath of crises.
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Key findings
Safe, orderly and regular migration

Migration Governance: examples of well-developed areas

  • The Kanifing Municipal Council (KMC) facilitates migrant reintegration by providing support to returnees, including psychosocial counselling, skills development and entrepreneurship training in collaboration with non-governmental organizations and IOM.  
  • Local authorities in Kanifing implement sensitization campaigns on countering human trafficking. 
  • Local officials of the Kanifing Municipal Police are systematically trained on migration issues.

Areas with potential for further development 

  • KMC does not publish information about its counter-trafficking activities. 
  • There are no local-level measures to combat the labour exploitation of migrant workers in Kanifing Municipality.
  • KMC has not taken steps to facilitate the arrival of refugees under its jurisdiction.

2022 November

Migration Governance Profile: Municipality of Kanifing (The Gambia)