Migration is a way for Africa to improve their lives, but most often those who seek greener pastures are faced with significant barriers, according to the United Nations Development (UNDP) Report 2009 on migration that was launched at a well-attended and a colorful ceremony at the Kairaba Beach Hotel, 9 December, 2009.
The report is one of the flagship publications of the UNDP which looks at migration through untraditional lenses.
The report dubbed Overcoming barriers: Human mobility and development, finds that many restrictions and equalities prevent Africans from moving. Restrictions imposed by the limited opportunities of the low skilled to move across boarders mean that money transfers, or remittances do not trend to flow directly to the poorest countries.
The report indicated that, those forced to move because of conflict or natural disasters have also suffered severe hardship. The report estimated that about 14 million are living outside their country of citizenship, representing about 7 percent of the world’s migration. In addition, most migrants remain near the country they fled, typically living in camps until conditions at home allow their return, but around half a million per year travel to developed countries and seek asylum there noting that a much larger number, some 26 million, have been internally displaced.
Overcoming barriers also finds that migrants are significantly constrained by the lack of resources to move and prohibitive entry policies, transaction costs or “Paper Walls” often limit the ability of Africans to migrate. Checkpoints on local roads, where bribes are level, are common place in many\parts of Africa.
The report observes that the exodus of highly skilled workers such as nurses, teachers and donors or “brain drain” is a major concern. To address the issue of brain drain, the report suggested that, countries need to strengthen the delivery of services through institutional reforms and better remuneration at home.
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