In 2015, IOM developed a Migration Governance Framework (MiGOF) to help define what “well-managed migration policy” might look like at the national level. The MiGOF was welcomed by IOM’s Member States the same year. The Migration Governance Indicators (MGI) were developed to assess national frameworks, and help to operationalize the MiGOF.

Click on the wheel to learn more about the six dimensions of migration governance included in the MiGOF and MGI.

The MGI is a tool based on policy inputs, which offers insights on policy levers that countries can use to develop their migration governance. The MGI is not meant to rank countries on the design or implementation of migration policies, but rather to be a framework to help countries in the assessment of the comprehensiveness of their migration policies, as well as to identify gaps and areas that could be strengthened. The MGI aims to advance conversations on migration governance by clarifying what “well-governed migration” might look like in the context of SDG Target 10.7. So far, 84 countries have participated in the MGI process.

About the MGI process                                                 About the Local MGI (pilot phase)

Indicators in this domain look at:

• Migrants’ access to basic social services and social security
• Family reunification
• Right to work
• Long-term residency and path to citizenship
• Civil participation
• Signature and ratification of international conventions
• Bilateral agreements

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 domain look at:

• Institutional framework
• Migration strategy
• Legal framework
• Institutional transparency and coherence
• Migration data

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 domain look at:

• Regional cooperation
• Global cooperation

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 domain look at:

• Labour migration management
• Skills and qualification recognition schemes
• Student migration regulation
• Bilateral labour agreements
• Migrant remittances

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 domain look at:

• Crisis resilience and preparedness
• Emergency response
• Post-crisis actions
• Inclusiveness of migrants

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 domain look at:

• Border control and enforcement
• Admission and eligibility criteria
• Return and reintegration policies
• Measures to combat human trafficking and smuggling

This domain analyses countries’ approaches 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.