Ganesh K. Seshan VIRTUAL RESEARCH SEMINAR Irregular Migration and Food Security: A View from West Africa Co-organized by IFPRI and World Food Programme (WFP) JUL 20, 2023 - 9:30 TO 11:00AM EDT

1. Addressing Irregular Migration through
Principled Programmatic Approaches:
Examining the West Africa Route
Discussant: Ganesh K. Seshan (World Bank)
July 20th 2023

2. Key takeaways
• Irregular migrants that cross borders are mostly relatively well-educated, males and
originate from urban areas, less food insecure households, had resources to pay
smugglers - not among the poorest
• Most West Africans move within the region rather than leave it (1/3rd)
• Economic factors (wage differentials, seeking jobs, etc.) are the primary reasons for
moving irregularly.
• Food insecurity isn’t a primary driver but may be experienced during the journey
• Reports of food insecurity appear high in Libya (20% went without food for a whole day,
27% didn’t have food at times, 37 worried about not having enough food)
• Recommendations: facilitate economic/employment opportunities at origin; consider
cash transfers for essential needs during transit; address food/humanitarian needs of
host populations as well; food aid for returning migrants

3. Analytical challenges
• Very difficult to generate representative sample of irregular migrants
• Selection issue: Libya sample are mainly of those who decided to remain in the
country or are planning to return
• We are missing the profile of irregular migrants who moved onwards to
Europe
• Sample may consist of individuals that were ‘less or not’ successful that could
contribute to higher reports of food insecurity

4. WDR 2023: MIGRANTS, REFUGEES & SOCIETIES, WDR 2023
THE MATCH-MOTIVE MATRIX

5. WHEN THE MATCH IS WEAKER AND MIGRANTS ARE NOT DRIVEN
BY FEAR
Reduce need for
movements –
absorb or return
humanely

6. DISTRESSED MIGRATION
• Current trends – demographic, climate, conflict – are increasing the
pressures for distressed migration
• We know very little about distressed migrants – it is undocumented,
responds rapidly to enforcement, managed by criminal enterprises
• It endangers legal entry channels for economic migrants and refugees
• Economic development provide the long-term solution but, in the
short/medium term we need:
expanded legal entry pathways
complementary protection
humane return
regional cooperation

7. DISTRESSED MIGRATION
• Current trends – demographic, climate, conflict – are increasing the
pressures for distressed migration
• We know very little about distressed migrants – it is undocumented,
responds rapidly to enforcement, managed by criminal enterprises
• It endangers legal entry channels for economic migrants and refugees
• Economic development provide the long-term solution but, in the
short/medium term we need:
expanded legal entry pathways
complementary protection
humane return
regional cooperation

8. What should the aid look like?
• Should it be in-kind, cash, or both?
• Should it be targeted?
• Eg: food aid for returning migrants, those in detention or aid for all in need (hosts,
irregular migrants, detainees, returnees)
• Should it be conditional?
• Eg: aid in exchange for returning to origin
• How much or how often should it be distributed?

9. Is there a risk that food aid might induce/facilitate more
irregular migration?
• Perhaps but human dignity should be upheld no matter who or where one
is
• Analogy of development-migration hump: should development aid be
reduced/eliminated similarly?