Strategic thinking on equality and mobility

1. Strategic thinking on equality and mobility Comment évalue-t-on la promotion de l’intégration et comment mesure-t-on seseffets? • 21 January 2008 Presentation by Thomas HUDDLESTON, Policy Analyst, Migration Policy Group, Brussels Swiss Symposium on Asylum, 21-22 January 2009, Bern

2. “Are immigrants integrated?” A deceptively simple question. • Indicators for integration: imprecise tools for a vague concept? • From integration “monitoring”… • …to evaluation of each step from policy to service delivery • Drivers of an evidence-based approach to migration • Higher on national/international agendas… • …in a very politicised field

3. Definition of indicators as the links in policy evaluation chain • What are indicators good for? • Development/good governance example: female literacy programme • Integration example: political participation through electoral rights

4. In most European countries: • Full political liberties in most • Diverge on electoral rights, best practice in Nordics / Ireland • Robust consultation in North / Northwest • Near equal access to funding in West Example: political participation

5. Switzerland in comparison: • Electoral rights in only some cantons/communes • Structural consultation of Federal Commission for Foreigners & in ex. Bern & Geneva, but not majority of cantons • Moreover, members chosen by state, not elected by migrants • Special state criteria for funding of migrant organisations Example: political participation

6. Q: How do benchmarkers measure their success? • Question: What strengths and weaknesses behind integration policies? How do they compare across Europe? • Tool: Policy indicators (MIPEX and its precedessors) • Partnership: Independent legal experts and practitioners • Evaluation framework: European legal standards for promoting integration • Challenges: Debating norms, using quick-reference guide

7. Q: How do benchmarkers measure their success? • Question: To what extent are governments equipped to deliver on national policies? • Tool: Input and output indicators (Traditional countries of immigration and Nordic countries) • Partnership: Those responsible for evaluation in/outside govt. • Evaluation framework: Fair/equal access & outcomes of like groups • Challenges: Setting the bar for success

8. Q: How do benchmarkers measure their success? • Question: What might be the outcomes of policies? • Tool: 2 outcome / impact indicators (Monitoring systems in DE, NL) • Partnership: Statistical bureaus and users • Evaluation framework: Convergence of outcomes of like groups / Positive impact on long-term, overall societal outcomes • Challenges: Irresistible urge to treat outputs as outcomes or to directly link policy/inputs with outcomes

9. Q: How do benchmarkers measure their success? • Question: What factors mitigate policy impact? • Tool: Public & migrant opinion polls, longitudinal surveys, multi-variate analysis, etc. (CA, AU, NZ, to some extent DE and UK) • Partnership: Researchers, statistical bureaus, polling agencies • Evaluation framework: Facilitators of or obstacles to integration? • Challenges: Nascent field, scarcity of quantifiable data

10. Acting on equality and mobility Thank you for your attention!