Repository of Practices

Primary GCM Objectives

GCM Guiding Principles*

*All practices are to uphold the ten guiding principles of the GCM. This practice particularly exemplifies these listed principles.

Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Dates

2010 - Present

Type of practice

Project/Programme

Geographic scope

Summary

The website was created in 2010 under an EU-funded project jointly implemented by ILO and IOM. The initial concept of the site was to inform the wider public in Georgia about anti-trafficking projects implemented in the country, whereas from 2014 onwards this concept was broadened to target the promotion of safe migration practices. The primary beneficiaries are potential migrants in Georgia, Georgian migrants residing abroad and Georgian returned migrants. The secondary audience consists of the stakeholders of IOM’s EU-funded projects (including the donor, government entities and other stakeholders). The key activities consist of information provision and awareness-raising, with the ultimate purpose to contribute to upholding the dignity of migrants and provide the services in line with GCM objectives.

Organizations

Main Implementing Organization(s)

International Organization for Migration (IOM)

Benefit and Impact

Key benefit is that the updated information on the realities of migration from Georgia to the EU and other destinations is freely available to the target audiences in a low-threshold format. The impact is partly measured by statistical data connected to visits to the website and the content of the messages that visitors send through the virtual counselling (“chat”) function available on the site. A non-intended spill-off effect of the operation of this site is that foreigners interested in traveling to and settling down in Georgia have increasingly visited the site over the past 5 years, because of which additional functions related to immigration have been added.

Since its launch in 2010, the Informed Migration site recorded 14,211 unique visits. Among them, 9.1 per cent re-visited the site on various occasions. The users of the Informed Migration site primarily resided in Georgia (61.18%), whereas 5 EU MS featured in the top-10 countries of visitors (Germany, Greece, Italy, France, the Netherlands).

Key Lessons

This website is operated as part of an ongoing broad and multi-media information and awareness-raising campaign on the benefits of regular migration and the downsides of irregular migration. One of the lessons learned is that the various components of such a campaign (consisting of mass-media outreach, individual outreach and social media outreach) need to relate to each other in a congruous manner and be synergized in order to achieve meaningful results. Operating a website such as this one on its own and in isolation will not be effective, but should rather be accompanied and supported by other information campaign components, such as messages spread through mass- and social media as well as direct interaction with the campaign’s primary and secondary audiences.

Recommendations(if the practice is to be replicated)

In addition to informing different target groups, the website provides opportunity for migrants in Georgia and potential migrants or Georgian nationals abroad to receive consultation services instantly or by submitting consultation form. The webpage also allows to observe some trends through google analytics. With webpage like this one, most important thing is to find a way to keep it relevant and make sure that they can stay beyond the project.

Innovation

The webpage is innovative in a sense that is does not only provide updates on IOM’s activities in the field of border and migration management and safe migration, but it is also a service point for migrants (both foreign and Georgians) and gives target group easy access to information, including through online consultation. Further, the webpage is such in nature, that it can remain relevant beyond the lifespan of any specific project.

Additional Resources

Website

Date submitted:

29 March 2022

Disclaimer: The content of this practice reflects the views of the implementers and does not necessarily reflect the views of the United Nations, the United Nations Network on Migration, and its members.

Repository of Practices

Informed Migration – Boundless Opportunities