Shedding Light on the South Migrant Profiles and the Impact of Migration on Human Development in Cameroon
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OBSERVATORY ON MIGRATION OBSERVATOIRE ACP SUR LES MIGRATIONS OBSERVATÓRIO ACP DAS MIGRAÇÕES SHEDDING LIGHT ON THE SOUTH Migrant profiles and the impact of migration on human development in Cameroon Younoussi Zourkaleini Kouassi Seke Honoré Mimche Nadège Kouam Chouapi Didier Nganawara Saidou Hamadou Samuel Nouetagni Jean Pierre Ledoux Tjomb Research Report An Initiative of the ACP Secretariat, Funded by the European Union, ACPOBS/2013/PUB12 Implemented by IOM and with the Financial Support of Switzerland, IOM, the IOM Development Fund and UNFPA International Organization for Migration (IOM) Organisation internationale pour les migrations (OIM) Organização Internacional para as Migrações (OIM) 2013 ACP Observatory on Migration The ACP Observatory on Migration is an initiative of the Secretariat of the African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) Group of States, funded by the European Union, implemented by the International Organization for Migration (IOM) in a Consortium with 15 partners and with the financial support of Switzerland, IOM, the IOM Development Fund and UNFPA. Established in 2010, the ACP Observatory is an institution designed to produce data on South–South ACP migration for migrants, civil society and policymakers and enhance research capacities in ACP countries for the improvement of the situation of migrants and the strengthening of the migration–development nexus. The Observatory was established to facilitate the creation of a network of research institutions and experts on migration research. Activities are starting in 12 pilot countries and will be progressively extended to other interested ACP countries. The 12 pilot countries are: Angola, Cameroon, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Haiti, Kenya, Lesotho, Nigeria, Papua New Guinea, Senegal, Timor‐Leste, Trinidad and Tobago and the United Republic of Tanzania. The Observatory has launched research and capacity‐building activities on South–South migration and development issues. Through these activities, the ACP Observatory aims to address many issues that are becoming increasingly important for the ACP Group as part of the migration‐ development nexus. Documents and other research outputs and capacity‐building manuals can be accessed and downloaded free of charge through the Observatory’s website (www. acpmigration‐obs.org). Other upcoming publications and information on the Observatory’s activities will be posted online. © 2013 International Organization for Migration (IOM) © 2013 ACP Observatory on Migration Document prepared by Younoussi Zourkaleini, Ph.D., Honoré Mimche, Ph. D., Didier Nganawara, Ph. D., Samuel Nouetagni, Ph. D., Kouassi Seke, M. Sc., Nadège Chouapi, M. Sc., Saidou Hamadou, M. Sc. and Jean Pierre Ledoux Tjomb, MB M. Sc. This publication has been produced with the financial assistance of the European Union. The contents of this publication are the sole responsibility of the authors and can in no way be taken to reflect the views of the Secretariat of the ACP Group of States, the European Union, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and other members of the Consortium of the ACP Observatory on Migration, the Swiss Federation or UNFPA. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise without the prior written permission of the publisher. Layout by Pablo Escribano Miralles, ACP Observatory on Migration. ACPOBS/2013/PUB12 OBSERVATORY ON MIGRATION OBSERVATOI RE ACP SUR LES M I GRATI ONS OBSERVATÓRIOO ACP DAS MIGRAÇÕES SHEDDING LIGHT ON THE SOUTH Migrant profiles and the impact of migration on human development in Cameroon Younoussi Zourkaleini Honoré Mimche Didier Nganawara Samuel Nouetagni Kouassi Seke Nadège Kouam Chouapi Saidou Hamadou Jean Pierre Ledoux Tjomb Foreword Most people around the world migrate to improve their livelihood. Migrants from Cameroon do not seem to be an exception. In host countries, their jobs allow them to meet the needs of their families in Cameroon through important remittances. Data on these transfers is not always available and reliable, which hinders serious analysis of the impact of migration on development in the country. It seems undeniable that these remittances are the most tangible element of the relation between these two issues. This study on the impact of South–South migration on human development in Cameroon, which aims to address data shortcomings through policymaking and planning recommendations, has been prepared by the Institute for Demographic Training and Research (IFORD), in collaboration with the Institute for Public Policy Research (ippr), the ACP Observatory on Migration, and with the financial support of the European Union, Switzerland and the UNFPA. The study was conducted through an assessment of existing information and policies, by means of a literature review followed by an exploration of the role of South–South migration, both from a quantitative approach using individual questionnaires in households and a qualitative component using the interview technique. Being nationally representative, the sampling frame was derived, on the one hand, from data of the Third General Population and Housing Census (GPHC‐3) carried out in 2005 and, on the other hand, from the Cameroon Household Survey (ECAM 3) carried out in 2007. In addition, this study is of great value during a crucial period for Cameroon, in which a policy on migration and development is being elaborated. I would like to thank the ACP Observatory on Migration for the emphasis placed on this issue, which is also a national priority for the Government, due to the potential impact of human mobility on development strategies in Cameroon. Taking into account the lack of analytical models to capture the links between migration and development in a clear and operational way, this document promises to be a fundamental contribution to the understanding of South–South migration and its impact on development. I expect that this will strengthen the role of migration in Cameroonian development policies. Mr. Felix Mbayu Secretary‐General National Focal Point for Migration and Development issues Ministry of Foreign Affairs iii Abstract The objective of this study is to contribute to a better understanding of South–South migration and its impact on human development in Cameroon. It was carried out through a literature review analysing existing information and policies, followed by an exploration of the role of South–South migration through interviews and a household survey. The quantitative household survey (1,235 households) covered all the 10 regions of the country, with special attention given to the two largest cities of Yaoundé and Douala. The qualitative survey completed and enriched the quantitative data collected through semi‐structured interviews conducted in the city of Yaoundé with key stakeholders and resource persons, able to provide a clear understanding of the research question. The analysis shows that migrants are in their majority young adults and men. Most of the return migrants are from African countries. Similarly, Africa remains the first destination of Cameroonian emigrants. Over half of emigrants send remittances to their household in Cameroon and authorized money transfer agencies are the most commonly used means for sending funds. Households in Cameroon also send transfers and assistance to migrants abroad. The presence of a migrant abroad has a significant impact on food, health and education expenditure and savings as well as the participation of household members in the labour market. The results of the qualitative study show that the perception of the impacts of migration are diverse and may vary depending on the type of migration. Keywords: International migration, impacts, human development, Cameroon v Acknowledgments Our appreciation goes to the following: The team of the Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR), particularly to Mr. Glenn Gottfried and Ms. Alex Glennie for the coordination of this study and assistance in the organization of two coordination meetings for training and monitoring, in Yaoundé (Cameroon) and Brussels (Belgium), as well as the reading and commenting on the draft report; The ACP Observatory office in Brussels, especially Ms. Susanne Melde (Research Officer) for the assistance in modifying and adapting existing study material including methodologies and guidelines, the organization of two coordination meetings for training and monitoring in Yaoundé (Cameroon) and Brussels (Belgium), liaising with the research team at IFORD, reading and commenting on the draft report and Ms. Livia Manente (Research Assistant) for her assistance in reviewing and modifying the final report; Mr. Miguel De Lim, from the International Organization for Migration, for reviewing the final report; The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) for the financial support in the context of this study; Ms. Emilia Lobti, National Focal Point IOM/ACP Observatory in Cameroon, for the support, contacts and necessary advice to the research team, particularly to the general coordinator of the study and on behalf of IFORD, on the overall national management of the progress of the study; All enumerators and supervisors for their contribution in data collection from households and stakeholders; The entry clerks and their supervisors who ensured data entry and processing; All heads of household and resource persons who were willing to answer questions from investigators