The International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the Robert Bosch Stiftung, a leading philanthropic foundation based in Europe, have launched a new initiative called Amplifying Migrant Voices. The pilot will take place in Kenya and Germany, where participatory research and dialogue will feed first-hand experiences into policy and practice to ensure safe, respectful, and rights-based labour mobility pathways.
"Too often, migrant perspectives are overlooked in decisions that affect their lives," said IOM Director General Amy Pope. "Through this initiative with the Robert Bosch Stiftung, we are making sure their voices guide the policies and practices that shape labour mobility pathways, helping ensure they are fair, effective, and sustainable."
Through participatory research, including comprehensive surveys and focus group discussions in both Kenya and Germany, the project will capture and integrate the lived experiences of migrants and prospective migrants. Incorporating these first-hand perspectives into policy dialogue will provide an often-overlooked dimension that can strengthen labour migration systems and make them more responsive to real needs.
The findings will inform awareness-raising materials and evidence-based policy recommendations tailored for governments and labour market stakeholders. Building on this, the initiative also aims to create a scalable model that places migrant and diaspora voices at the centre and can be applied in other contexts.
"With our joint expertise and shared commitment to rights-based migration, this partnership ensures that migrant perspectives are heard where they matter most, in the policies and practices that shape mobility," said Dr. Raphaela Schweiger, Director of Programs on Migration and Immigration Society at the Robert Bosch Stiftung.
The initiative supports the 2024 Kenya-Germany Migration and Mobility Partnership Agreement and aims to create a model for ethical labour migration by encouraging dialogue and collaboration among governments, diaspora organizations, businesses, and civil society. The project aligns with Germany's migration and development goals, the EU's Talent Partnerships, and the global effort to promote safe, orderly, and regular migration.
