1. MED-HIMS: Surveys on Migration
Committee for Coordination of Statistical Activities Luxembourg, 9 September 2011
Presentation by Rosemary Montgomery (Unit D-1, Eurostat)

2. Origin of the project
The ‘Mediterranean Household International Migration Survey’ (MED-HIMS) is a regional programme of coordinated international migration surveys requested by the National Statistical Offices of 8 countries in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region.
The project originated in the European Commission’s MEDSTAT II Programme and benefited from the collaboration of the MED National Statistical Offices, EUROSTAT, the World Bank, UNHCR and more recently the UNFPA

3. Aim and Topics
To study the recent trends, causes, determinants, dynamics and consequences of international migration, and the inter-linkages between migration and development;
To explore scenarios for a closer cooperation in the area of migration and development between the MENA region and receiving countries
out-migration,
return migration,
forced migration,
intention to migrate,
circular migration,
migration of highly-skilled persons,
irregular migration,
type and use of remittances,
behaviours, attitudes, perceptions and cultural values of people with regard to international migration,
and the inter-linkages between migration and development,
as well as relevant information on individuals and households, and the local communities involved.

4. Justification for the project
Both the sending and destination countries need a comprehensive and balanced approach to migration.
This requires policies and measures addressing a broad range of challenges and opportunities through dialogue and cooperation.
Unfortunately, comprehensive, scientific data regarding the determinants, dynamics and consequences of international migration and the migration intentions of the rapidly increasing young people in the Arab countries are not available
The Arab countries are not creating jobs fast enough to match the increase in the working-age population.
The unemployment rates for youth just entering the work force - especially for young women - are extremely high.
Recent studies indicate that Europe is the single largest destination of first-generation emigrants from countries in the Middle East and North Africa, and hosts a little under half of all such emigrants worldwide.
The Arab oil countries, i.e. the Gulf States and Libya, constitute the second largest destination, with the rest of the world, mainly North America, ranking far behind
In recent decades, migrants have sent home billions of dollars in remittances that support their families and add significantly to their country’s national income.

5. Methodology and Tools
The strength of MED-HIMS is the use of a common set of Model Questionnaires (MQs), manuals and tools covering the different phases of survey implementation.
The MED-HIMS are designed to collect data useful to understand the nature of MED-migration and the demographic and socio-economic characteristics of migrants
The MED-HIMS are designed to develop specific methodologies for collecting and analyzing international migration data

6. M1: The Model Questionnaires
MQ-1: The Household Questionnaire
MQ-2: Individual Questionnaire for Out-migrant
MQ-3: Individual Questionnaire for Return Migrant
MQ-4: Individual Questionnaire for Non-migrant
MQ-5: Individual Questionnaire for Forced Migrant
MQ-6: The Household Socio-economic and Environmental Conditions Questionnaire
MQ-7: The Community Characteristics Questionnaire
M1 - Model Questionnaires
MQ-1: The Household Questionnaire
MQ-2: Individual Questionnaire for Out-migrant
MQ-3: Individual Questionnaire for Return Migrant
MQ-4: Individual Questionnaire for Non-migrant
MQ-5: Individual Questionnaire for Forced Migrant
MQ-6: The Household Socio-economic and Environmental Conditions Questionnaire
MQ-7: The Community Characteristics Questionnaire

7. Manuals and other tools
M2 - Survey Design and Organization Manual
M3 - Instructions to Supervisors
M4 - Instructions to Interviewers
M5 - Manual on Sample Design
M6 - Coding and Recode Specifications Manual
M7 - Manual on Guidelines for Principal Country Report

8. Implementation Modalities
The MED-HIMS will be organised and implemented in two phases with the first phase covering the surveys in Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon and one other country, and the second phase extending the programme to cover the remaining Medstat countries.
An earlier version of the MQs developed in 2009 was successfully adapted to the local situation by the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics in its 2010 National Migration Survey.
Preliminary estimates indicate that the international funding necessary for the MED-HIMS Phase One Project amounts to about 3,3 million Euro, or 4,7 million US$.
In each participating country, the MED-HIMS will be implemented as part of its ‘National Strategy for Development of Statistics’ (NSDS), and the planning for project preparation and implementing project activities will be completely owned and managed by the National Statistical Organization.
In order to maximise the quality and comparability of results, the project will be coordinated by a ‘Central Implementation Unit’ responsible for managing this complex initiative and for providing technical assistance.