Of patterns, processes and priorities: what the Global Compact for Migration means by ‘aligning’ partnerships to the UN Agenda 2030

Author(s) : Marion Panizzon, Luzia Jurt

Source : https://doi.org/10.4337/9781802204513.00030

Abstract:

The Global Compact for Migration (GCM) and its first International Migration Review Forum shaped a new understanding of partnership – one which aligns with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Partnering for migration has traditionally been framed as a loose cooperation between a migrant host country and a sending country, with the former imposing the content and format upon the latter. Unsurprisingly, power imbalances have recurringly side-lined source countries in migration partnerships. Migration studies have investigated the causes and effects of this asymmetry and found that the ‘more-for-more’ approach (ie, the more a partner accepts, the more concessions it obtains) explains the power imbalances. In this chapter, we observe an evolving understanding of migration partnerships, emerging from the GCM’s alignment to Agenda 2030 and international law. We identify the criteria which strengthen a symmetric interest representation. We also demonstrate how Agenda 2030 and the GCM manifest themselves in two case studies: an intergovernmental partnership between Switzerland and Nigeria; and a skills partnership between the EU and North African states. In conclusion, we argue that a tailormade partnership by itself cannot ensure power symmetry among the partners. Instead, partnering for migration should respond to a ‘scalable’ approach, which implies a thematic openness and a regular review mechanism.

Keywords: Partnership; Migration; Conditionality; Skills; Return migration; Agenda 2030; Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration; EU; Nigeria; Switzerland