Scalabrini Institute for Human Mobility in Africa (SIHMA) Research Activities

The Scalabrini Institute for Human Mobility in Africa (SIHMA) continues to conduct research that contributes to the development of informed policy, programs and advocacy actions to promote and support the rights, dignity, and well-being of migrants and refugees in Africa. This aligns with our vision statement which is “An Africa where the human rights of people on the move are ensured and their dignity is promoted” and our mission which is “To conduct and disseminate research that contributes to the understanding of human mobility and informs policies that ensure the rights and dignity of migrants, asylum seekers and refugees in Africa”. In short, SIHMA’s aims to inform the “welcoming, protection, promotion and integrating” migrants and refugees through research and training.

The objects and areas of interest of SIHMA include:

  • Support evidence-based policies on human mobility in Africa (migration and refugees’ policies/laws) and other national/international policies/laws governing impacting the lives of refugees and asylum seekers (education, disability, health, labor) to make them migration sensitive.
  • Research and dissemination of data on human mobility to inform advocacy/programs/projects for migrants and refugees (a bridge between academia and work on the ground with migrants).
  • Promote an African narrative of migration through research, publications, and the development of the Migration Atlas of Africa.

Research is the main activity at SIHMA as we conduct research that seeks clarity and a comprehensive understanding of human mobility in Africa and informs policies, advocacy, and programs that ensure the rights and dignity of migrants, asylum seekers, and refugees in Africa. All the research that SIHMA does, supports the advocacy, service provision, and social projects inside the Scalabrini network. Among the many themes of human mobility, SIHMA’s research agenda is focused on: migration policies, both at regional and continental levels, the impact of migration on mental health, xenophobia and Afrophobia, climate change and migration, gender issues, vulnerable minors, human trafficking, refugee rights and many other areas. Some of the research work that SIHMA is currently working on conducting include:

  • Understanding the lived reality of ‘children on the move’ in the eastern border area of Zambia to develop recommendations for support programs for vulnerable children in border zones.
  • The development of a Key Performance Indicator framework and recommendations for refugees’ integration in Uganda.
  • Pathways of well-being and belonging among migrant youth in Cape Town.
  • Understanding the experiences of seafarers in Cape Town to develop recommendations for advocacy and support programs for seafarers in South Africa and beyond.
  • Ministry Good Practices Report (Concentrating on work by African organizations that promote, integrate, protect, and welcome migrants and refugees).
  • ATLAS of Migration in Africa (trends, patterns, history, political, economic, social, and cultural aspects of migration).

For more information on SIHMA, please refer to the following website: https://sihma.org.za/