Migration and development

To address global migration challenges, international collaboration such as development cooperation is required. Safe, orderly and regular migration can drive development forward and requires international cooperation. Options for regular migration are more limited for the poor. Irregular migration increases the vulnerability of migrants and asylum seekers. Long term solutions to migration and displacement are limited. A total of 343 MSEK was disbursed (1,3 per cent of Sida’s total budget) during 2024 with 51 per cent to Africa. Multilateral organisations were the main implementing partners (79 per cent). During 2024, Sida supported interventions with the aim to strengthen migration management, to enhance the capacity of host communities and countries, as well as to enable safe and dignified return and reintegration. During the year Sida received a new strategy for ‘Sweden’s global development
cooperation on migration, returns and voluntary repatriation 2024–2028’ and 12 development strategies were updated with new goals on reducing irregular migration and increasing returns, repatriation and reintegration. The implementation towards the new goals will have an effect on disbursements for the coming years.

The main purpose of the evaluation was to promote learning and inform the continued development of future capacity development programmes (ITP), as well as a general approach to capacity development as a method for supporting effective and inclusive institutions. The objective was to assess the relevance and effectiveness of five ITPs, to identify what works well and less well. Conclusions: The evaluation concludes that ITP design and methods were generally relevant. All the five ITPs promoted locally driven change, most promoted systemic solutions and a long-term approach, and a majority were adaptive. Less attention was paid to understanding local power relations. Intended outputs were achieved to a great extent although the results of change initiatives were mixed. The most prominent outcome was the forging local partnerships. Key enabling factors included local adaptation, participant engagement, and multi-stakeholder involvement. The key barriers were Covid-19, funding constraints, and lack of leadership buy-in. Recommendations: The evaluation recommends that ITPs should focus more on organisations, target decision-makers, promote more regional exchange, have longer programme rounds, and that measures should be taken to ensure that change initiatives are completed and learning is passed on. It also recommends to invest in alumni networks, build synergies with other projects, and improve M&E systems.