Understanding the links between social protection and migration in low- and middle-income countries

This MIDEQ roundtable is co-convened with the United Nations University Centre for Policy Research.
As global expansion in social protection continues, so does policy interest on the different, sometimes inadvertent, effects of this expansion. One of these potential effects is its interaction with migration decision-making. For instance, is there a link between access to social protection and the ability or need to migrate? With this interest comes the risk of policy assumptions on instruments like social protection being used to potentially 'stop’ or reduce migration.
In this roundtable, we explore this relationship between social protection and migration, and consider the implications for policy. Jessica Hagen-Zanker and Jason Gagnon will present the state of evidence, drawing on an in-depth MIDEQ review of the literature. Carmen Leon Himmelstine will be in conversation with Rogelio Grados, the Director of M&E of the Mexican Oportunidades programme, discussing the effects of the programme on migration and implications for policy design. Clara van Panhuys will reflect on the social protection and migration link, from the perspective of the International Labour Organisation and international human rights standards,