MAPS

Migration and Access to Basic Protection and Services: integrated interventions on the eastern migration route in Dire Dawa, Ethiopia.

200

Returnee, IDPs, vulnerable groups

Health Extension Workers, religious and community leaders and peers

330

(210 persons with disabilities) boys and girls in the 18-25 age group at risk of migration

The MAPS project aims to expand and improve access to protection, health and employment, contributing to the socio-economic integration of migrants and potential migrants along Ethiopia's eastern migration route.

PROJECT THAT INTEGRATES, PROTECT AND IMPROVES THE LIVES OF MIGRANTS ON THE MOVE

BACKGROUND

THE MIGRATION PHENOMENON, REGULAR AND IRREGULAR, TO THE MIDDLE-EAST

Ethiopia is a country of origin, destination and transit of mixed and complex migration flows involving regular and irregular migrants. The eastern route to the Gulf countries via Djibouti and Somalia is the most significant. It has been estimated that more than one and a half million Ethiopians live abroad as migrants and refugees and more than two hundred thousand women are employed as domestic workers in the Middle East (RMMS, 2014; Habtamu, et al., 2017; DIIS, 2020). Sixty per cent of the entire migration phenomenon is characterised by women, and the rate increases to 68 with reference to the flow to the Middle East alone (Kuschminder and Siegel, 2014). As documented by numerous studies, most Ethiopians migrated through irregular channels, facing dangerous journeys, exposing themselves to kidnapping, robbery, physical and sexual assault and even death. An even more recent study reveals that over 70 per cent of Ethiopian returnees who have passed through Yemen have witnessed or experienced extreme forms of physical and psychological abuse. Ethiopians who migrate to the Middle East legally for employment are estimated to account for no more than 40% of the total while the remaining migrants (60%, according to RMMS sources, 2018) are trafficked or smuggled in by traffickers for the purpose of subjecting them to forced labour and sex trafficking.

The MAPS project covers three neighbouring urban areas consisting of the cities of Chiro (Oromia), Dire Dawa and Harar. The three cities are located along one of the country's main arteries, the one leading to Djibouti, and are therefore departure points for migrations to (but not limited to) the Gulf countries, the so-called Eastern route.

OBJECTIVES

PROMOTING DEVELOPMENT AND SECURITY IN CHIRO, DIRE DAWA AND HARAR

Strengthen the effectiveness of protective services for the target population in Chiro, Dire Dawa and Harar by enhancing the capacity of health facilities to provide basic medical care to the target population.

Increase the skills and competences of the target population to better grasp the economic opportunities available in the three project areas.

Strengthening the skills of institutional actors involved in governance of the migration phenomenon, with a focus on victims of trafficking and exploitation.

HOW WE WORK

INTEGRAL DEVELOPMENT AND RESPONSIBLE MIGRATION: ENHANCING SERVICES, TRAINING AND ENTERPRISES

MAPS aims to facilitate access to basic services for the most vulnerable groups, seeking to limit the obstacles that prevent them from using those supports that can offer alternatives to irregular migration. The project involves numerous activities in the areas of training, business and awareness-raising, including:

Mapping of agencies and services with identification of local referral systems and provision of psycho-social support to 200 beneficiaries with social dowries, support to empowerment and autonomy in co-housing to 5 mothers and 15 minors and reunification of 30 minors with their families of origin or placement in foster families. Provision of equipment and infrastructure works to 3 health facilities, training of 20 peers and 10 religious/community leaders and 20 health extension workers (HEW) on migration-related health issues, including Covid-19, GBV, post-traumatic stress;
start-up of 8 cooperatives or micro-enterprises and activation of 1 guarantee fund for 45 beneficiaries, with training for 210 young people in management of Medium Small Entreprises/cooperatives, 160 young people in expanding economic sectors;
training of 210 people with disabilities to facilitate access to employment; start-up of 3 social enterprises employing 15 people with disabilities and accompanying 147 people with disabilities in setting up a business. Awareness-raising of 10 enterprises employing people with disabilities during the project, Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) actions to 30 target enterprises and institutions;
communication campaigns and infopoints on the risks of illegal migration and legal migration channels, in particular to Gulf countries, training of public and private actors on the ground and exchanges of experience with Italian authorities on tools to counter trafficking and vulnerabilities stemming from migration through training sessions, setting up of 4 multi-stakeholder and multi-level consultation tables to develop strategic guidelines on migration-related vulnerabilities.