About the Migration Governance Indicators
About the Migration Governance Indicators
Migrants' rights
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
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
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
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
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
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.

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Key findings
INTRODUCTION

This Profile describes examples of well-developed areas of Municipality of Cahul (Republic of Moldova) 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. 

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Key findings
MIGRANTS’ RIGHTS

Migration Governance: examples of well-developed areas

  • Migrants in the municipality of Cahul have access to Government-funded health services based on national-level provisions.
  • Migrants under the age of 18 who are legally residing in the Republic of Moldova have access to primary and secondary education and there have been local initiatives to facilitate migrants’ access to education in the municipality, such as providing a suitable environment and infrastructure for Ukrainian refugee children taking part in online education.
  • Language and integration courses and extracurricular activities for migrants are provided in Cahul including through the Integration Centre for Foreigners Southern Regional Directorate (ICFS).

Areas with potential for further development 

  • Migrants in Cahul are provided with legal services or advice only in an ad hoc manner, including through the ICFS.
  • The development of a local policy or campaign against xenophobia and exclusion and promoting acceptance towards migrants and social cohesion are areas for further development.
  • ICFS has a mandate to help reduce intercultural and interconfessional conflicts, and organize sensitivity training involving the local public administration, however there is no indication of implementation of such measures.
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Key findings
WHOLE-OF-GOVERNMENT APPROACH

Migration Governance: examples of well-developed areas

  • Central-level authorities in the Republic of Moldova are responsible for developing national migration programmes/strategies, while local authorities are consulted during the process and have the main responsibility of applying the adopted strategies at the local level.
  • The national Programme on Managing Migration Flow, Asylum and the Integration of Foreigners for 2022–2025 (2022) contains objectives on integration to be implemented by the Regional Integration Centers, including the Integration Centre for Foreigners Southern Regional Directorate (ICFS) in Cahul. 
  • Local authorities in Cahul participate in the formulation of migration and diaspora policies through their involvement in the Congress of Local Authorities from Moldova.

Areas with potential for further development 

  • The integration of migration considerations in the local development strategy and sectoral plans in Cahul is an area with potential for development. 
  • The participation of the municipality in the national Coordination Mechanism of State Policy in the field of diaspora, migration and development (DMD), as well as the creation of a local DMD committee are areas for further development.
  • The involvement of local authorities in the collection, utilization and publication of migration data is another area with potential for development.
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Key findings
PARTNERSHIPS

Migration Governance: examples of well-developed areas

  • Local authorities engage with members of its diaspora in the implementation of development programmes and policies and have made efforts to engage with civil society organizations.
  • The association ReUnited Cahuleans was consulted during the formulation of the Development Strategy of the Youth Sector of Cahul Municipality 2023–2028 (2022).
  • The municipality of Cahul cooperates on migration issues with IOM and the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). 

Areas with potential for further development 

  • Formal engagement with migrant associations, the private sector or social partners when developing local policies and strategies is an area with potential for development.
  • The establishment of bilateral cooperation programmes on migration between the municipality of Cahul and other cities/municipalities within the Republic of Moldova is another area for further development.
  • The municipality of Cahul is also not yet involved in bilateral programmes for city-to-city international cooperation on migration-related issues.
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Key findings
WELL-BEING OF MIGRANTS

Migration Governance: examples of well-developed areas

  • Migrants with the required documentation can apply for jobs at the Cahul territorial subdivision of the National Employment Agency (NEA). 
  • Officials from the national General Inspectorate for Migration (GIM) visit companies in Cahul where migrant workers are employed, and inform them about their rights, obligations and integration opportunities. 
  • In response to the increase in the number of Ukrainian refugees arriving since February 2022, NEA has introduced measures in Cahul to help refugees find employment.

Areas with potential for further development 

  • There is no local-level assessment for monitoring the local labour market demand for immigrants or the local labour supply and the effects of emigration on the local labour market. 
  • The involvement of the local government in applying measures that promote ethical recruitment for migrant workers is an area with potential for development. 
  • The implementation of local programmes to promote the financial inclusion of migrants and their families, particularly when they are remittance senders/receivers, is another area for development.
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Key findings
MOBILITY DIMENSION OF CRISES

Migration Governance: examples of well-developed areas

  • The municipality of Cahul has communications systems in place to receive and distribute information during crises including under the Commission for Exceptional Situations (CES) of Cahul, established in 2017.
  • The CES is presided over by the Mayor of Cahul and is responsible for informing the public on dangers and how to behave and respond.

Areas with potential for further development 

  • There is no early warning system in place for crises in Cahul or the Republic of Moldova that transmits alerts to the general population’s smartphones, although there are plans to develop one.
  • The municipality of Cahul has a local-level emergency management framework that addresses displacement impacts, though it lacks specific measures to provide assistance to migrants.
  • The municipality’s ongoing development and recovery-related strategies do not contain measures regarding displacement or the reintegration of migrants who have fled during crises.
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Key findings
SAFE, ORDERLY AND REGULAR MIGRATION

Migration Governance: examples of well-developed areas

  • Under the remit of the Commission for Exceptional Situations of Cahul, the Crisis Cell, operational from March 2022 until March 2023, coordinated all aspects related to the inflow of refugees from Ukraine, such as housing, food distribution and medical care.
  • In January 2023, the Moldovan Government approved the granting of temporary protection to Ukrainians displaced by the armed conflict, as well as stateless and certain third-country nationals.
  • The National Strategy on Preventing and Combating Human Trafficking for 2018–2023 (2018) mentions local authorities as partners in executing measures, such as distributing promotional materials, and implementing reintegration measures, but not in developing policies or plans. 
  • Cahul public authorities have a multidisciplinary team that interacts with the National Referral System, a cooperation framework for fostering the prevention of human trafficking and the protection and assistance of victims of trafficking in human beings, launched in 2006. 

Areas with potential for further development 

  • The implementation of programmes to train local-level public servants and members of Cahul’s police in issues related to migrant populations and their rights is an area with potential for development.
  • The design and implementation of local-level measures to combat migrant labour exploitation is another area with potential for development. 
  • The municipality of Cahul does not have any local level measures to facilitate returnee reintegration.

2023 August

Migration Governance Profile: Municipality of Cahul (Republic of Moldova)