About the Migration Governance Indicators

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

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

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

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

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

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 Republic of Liberia (hereafter referred to as Liberia) 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

Migrant's rights

Migration Governance: examples of well-developed areas

Migrants with a regular status and emergency displaced¹ migrants have the same access as citizens to government-funded health services.
Employed and self-employed migrants registered at the National Social Security and Welfare Corporation have access to social protection.
The Aliens and Nationality Law allows migrants to apply for family reunification.

Areas with potential for further development

Liberia does not have agreements with other countries on the portability of social security entitlements.
Migrant workers must obtain the approval of the Minister of Justice and pay an authorization fee to change employment.
Liberia does not have a specific policy or strategy to combat hate crimes, violence, xenophobia or discrimination against migrants.

¹_{What Liberia considers as emergency displaced migrants are individuals who have either entered into Liberian territory from bordering countries or migrated internally within Liberia as a result of an abrupt crisis or emergency.}

Key findings

Whole of government approach

Migration Governance: examples of well-developed areas

The Diaspora Affairs Unit implements the Diaspora Engagement Program.
The Liberia Immigration Service’s website provides clear and easily accessible information about the process and requirements for obtaining a visa on arrival.
The Liberia National Population and Housing Census includes questions on migration.

Areas with potential for further development

Liberia does not have an inter-ministerial coordination mechanism on migration.
There is no national migration strategy in Liberia.
Liberia does not regularly collect and publish migration-related data.

Key findings

Partnerships

Migration Governance: examples of well-developed areas

Liberia participates in the Migration Dialogue for West Africa, the Euro-African Dialogue on Migration and Development, and the Pan-African Forum on Migration.
Liberia and Côte d’Ivoire have a Joint Commission which focuses on cross-border security, technical vocational education and maritime delimitation.
Liberia formally engages members of its diaspora in agenda-setting and the formulation of development policy.

Areas with potential for further development

Liberia engages with civil society organizations on migration-related issues mostly on an ad hoc basis.
Liberia does not engage the private sector in agenda setting or the implementation of migration-related issues.

Key findings

Well-being of migrants

Migration Governance: examples of well-developed areas

Liberia has a national assessment for monitoring labour market demand for immigrants.
International students are able to work during their course of study in Liberia.
The Decent Work Act contains measures promoting the ethical recruitment of migrant workers.

Areas with potential for further development

The latest Labour Force Survey report (2011) does not cover migration data.
International students pay higher fees than citizens to access university education.
Liberia does not actively promote the creation of formal remittance schemes.

Key findings

Mobility dimensions of crises

Migration Governance: examples of well-developed areas

There are possible exceptions to immigration procedures for migrants whose respective countries of origin are experiencing crisis.

Areas with potential for further development

Liberia does not have a specific strategy to provide assistance to migrants during crisis and post-crisis situations.
Communication systems in place to provide the public with information on the evolving nature of crises do not take into consideration the needs of migrants.
Liberia does not have a national disaster risk reduction strategy with specific provisions for preventing and addressing displacement as a result of disasters.

Key findings

Safe, orderly and regular migration

Migration Governance: examples of well-developed areas

The Liberia Immigration Service coordinates the implementation of migration policy as well as border control and security.
Border staff are regularly trained on migration-related issues by the Government and international partners.
The National Anti-Human Trafficking Taskforce implements the National Action Plan to Combat Trafficking in Persons.

Areas with potential for further development

There is no system in place to monitor visa overstays.
Liberia does not have a policy to ensure that migrant detention is used only as a measure of last resort.
There is no formal government programme or policy that facilitates the reintegration of returning migrants.

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