United Nations Global Compact for Migration Includes Indicators from GIGA Research Project IMISEM

The importance of GCM indicators The GCM indicators are designed to assist Member States in reviewing the implementation of the Global Compact for Migration in a consistent and inclusive manner. They draw on established frameworks such as the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) indicator framework, the Migration Governance Indicators, and recommendations from the UN Expert Group on Migration Statistics. These indicators aim to foster evidence-based policymaking while minimising the burden on national statistical systems, focusing on key aspects of the Compact’s 23 objectives.

The development of these indicators was led by the United Nations Network on Migration, coordinated by UN DESA and the International Organization for Migration (IOM). The workstream included 16 members from civil society, trade unions, academia, and UN entities.

IMISEM indicators in focus From the GIGA research project IMISEM, indicators have been integrated into several GCM objectives, addressing various aspects of migration:

• Objective 6: Facilitate fair and ethical recruitment and safeguard conditions that ensure decent work

  • Indicator: Whether or not migrants can be members of and participate in trade union associations and work-related negotiation bodies.

• Objective 14: Enhance consular protection, assistance, and cooperation throughout the migration cycle

  • Indicator: Existence of consular support (in kind or financial) for independent emigrant associations.

• Objective 16: Empower migrants and societies to realize full inclusion and social cohesion

  • Indicator: Whether or not migrants can be members of and participate in trade union associations and work-related negotiation bodies.

• Objective 19: Create conditions for migrants and diasporas to fully contribute to sustainable development in all countries

  • Indicators:

    1. Existence of a government program to attract investments from emigrants (e.g., in housing, local enterprises).

    2. Whether or not the country permits dual nationality for its citizens.

On this platform, the UN provides a dynamic tool designed to help users explore the proposed GCM indicators interactively. For more information on GCM implementation, watch the recording of the UN plenary session.

About the Project The GIGA’s IMISEM project explores how migration policies in both origin and destination countries shape the paths of migrants. Every immigrant to one country is an emigrant from another. By taking a comparative area studies approach and examining cases from Asia, Europe, Latin America, and the Caribbean, the project provides a broader perspective on migration policy landscapes, migrant selectivity, policy coherence, and dilemmas. The project was funded by the Leibniz Association (2017-2020).

Over three years, the core researchers Dr. Luicy Pedroza, Dr. Pau Palop García, and Dr. So Young Chang together with their team compiled the information on emigrant, emigration, immigration, immigrant policies and citizenship policies for both immigrants and emigrants with a rigorously developed questionnaire that were filled with qualitative information for 32 countries.

Detailed insights are available in the IMISEM Dataset and case reports published here.

The GIGA is proud to contribute to evidence-based and inclusive migration policymaking through the IMISEM project and congratulates the researchers on this true impact on a global scale.