The International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the Robert Bosch Stiftung have jointly launched an initiative called Amplifying Migrant Voices. This pilot project, set in Kenya and Germany, seeks to incorporate migrants’ lived experiences into policies and practices related to labour mobility. By emphasizing participatory research and dialogue, the initiative aims to ensure that labour mobility pathways are safe, respectful, rights-based, and effective.
IOM Director General Amy Pope highlighted that migrant perspectives are often neglected in decision-making processes that affect them. This project strives to change that by directly integrating migrant voices into the shaping of labour mobility systems, making these pathways more fair and sustainable.
The initiative will employ participatory research methods such as comprehensive surveys and focus group discussions to gather detailed insights from migrants and prospective migrants in both countries. These first-hand experiences will be used to enrich policy dialogue and provide valuable input for labour migration systems, which have historically lacked such grounded perspectives.
The research findings will help develop awareness-raising materials and evidence-based policy recommendations specifically tailored for governments and labour market actors. A key goal of the initiative is to establish a scalable model that prioritizes migrant and diaspora voices, which can then be applied in other regions or contexts.
Dr. Raphaela Schweiger of the Robert Bosch Stiftung emphasized the partnership’s shared commitment to rights-based migration, ensuring migrant perspectives are heard and influence the policies that govern mobility. This collaboration reflects both organizations’ dedication to ethical labour migration.
The project supports the 2024 Kenya–Germany Migration and Mobility Partnership Agreement and aims to foster dialogue among governments, diaspora groups, businesses, and civil society. It aligns with Germany’s migration and development goals, the European Union’s Talent Partnerships, and global efforts to promote safe, orderly, and regular migration.
The Robert Bosch Stiftung, active in health, education, and global issues, funds initiatives to promote a just and sustainable future. Rooted in the legacy of entrepreneur Robert Bosch, the foundation operates from offices in Stuttgart and Berlin with a staff of about 170 people.
