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.

Key findings
Introduction

This country Profile describes examples of well-developed areas of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia’s (hereafter referred to as Ethiopia) 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. 

Key findings
Migrants' rights

Migration governance: examples of well-developed areas

  • Ethiopia grants all refugees the right to basic health services.
  • Ethiopia offers a path to permanent residency to foreign nationals after three years of residency in the country.
  • Permanent residents may apply for citizenship after five years of residency in the country.  

Areas with potential for further development: 

  • Access to self-employment for foreign residents is not clearly addressed in national legislation.
  • The current work permit system does not distinguish between different types of migrant workers.
Key findings
Whole of government approach

Migration governance: examples of well-developed areas

  • The Ethiopian Diaspora Agency aims to promote knowledge transfer, trade and investment with Ethiopian diaspora members.
  • Migration-related legislation and policy processes formally involve a wide array of stakeholders including civil society, the private sector, religious institutions, charities and societies, and other organizations.

Areas with potential for further development:

  • Ethiopia has no overall migration framework. Nevertheless, it has several migration-related policies: A Diaspora Policy, Immigration Proclamation, Refugees Proclamation, Overseas Employment Proclamation, and Proclamation on Trafficking and Smuggling of Migrants, to name a few.
  • Data on migration are not collected nor published on a regular basis.
Key findings
Partnerships

Migration governance: examples of well-developed areas

  • Ethiopia participates in several regional consultative processes such as the Migration Dialogue from the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa Member States (MIDCOM) and Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) among others. 
  • Ethiopia has signed memoranda of understanding to protect migrant workers’ rights, dignity and safety abroad with Djibouti, Kenya, Somalia and South Sudan.
  • The Diaspora Policy includes provisions on collaboration between the government, non-governmental organizations and the diaspora in policy implementation.

Areas with potential for further development: 

  • Ethiopia is not part of any regional agreement promoting labour mobility.
Key findings
Well-being of migrants

Migration governance: examples of well-developed areas

  • The country has developed mechanisms to protect the rights of its nationals working abroad.
  • The Provisions for International Remittance Services directive emphasizes the importance of establishing formal remittance channels and stipulates the range of institutions and organizations eligible to provide remittance services in Ethiopia. 
  • Ethiopia’s scholarship programmes provide free tuition and support for academic research refugees (among others). 

Areas with potential for further development: 

  • The country does not have a system to adjust visa awards based on demand from the local labour market. 
  • International students pay higher fees for tertiary education than nationals.
Key findings
Mobility dimensions of crises

Migration governance: examples of well-developed areas

  • Ethiopia’s Humanitarian and Disaster Resilience Plan focuses on internally displaced persons and is detailed in the scope of its displacement-related provisions.
  • Consular assistance provided by embassies abroad includes official travel documents provided to Ethiopian citizens abroad needing to travel to Ethiopia urgently.
  • Ethiopia is a signatory to the African Union Convention for the Protection and Assistance of Internally Displaced Persons in Africa and the Kampala Declaration on Refugees, Returnees and Internally Displaced Persons. 

Areas with potential for further development: 

  • The disaster risk management plans and frameworks in Ethiopia do not include specific measures to provide assistance to migrants in the country during crises.  
  • Limited information reaches the community level in crisis situations due to a lack of robust early warning infrastructures.
Key findings
Safe, orderly and regular migration

Migration governance: examples of well-developed areas

  • The country implements policies  to attract foreign nationals of Ethiopian origin. 
  • Ethiopia facilitates the reintegration of returnees in the country
  • Ethiopia combats human trafficking through the implementation of the Prevention and Suppression of Trafficking in Persons and Smuggling of Migrants Proclamation.  

Areas with potential for further development:  

  • There are no formal cooperation agreements with other countries on the identification and tracking of missing migrants.

2019 November

Migration Governance Profile: The Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia