Migration

In the research group Migration we are studying issues such as experiences with transnational lives, reasons for migration, forced migration and human trafficking, irregular migration and consequences of emigration in ‘sending countries’ for migration in the form of care drain and social and economic remittances. We are doing empirical research based on both qualitative and quantitative methodologies on many forms of migration from and to many parts of the world, and in this, we are focusing particularly on vulnerabilities. At Fafo, we are not only studying the organization of and experiences with migration but also how migration policies are argued for and implemented.

As an applied research institute, we are performing commissioned research funded by governmental bodies such as Ministries and directorates, as well as organizations. In addition our research is funded by the Research Council of Norway, the Nordic Council of Ministers and EU’s Framework Programmes. The combination of applied research and pure research ensures that Fafo supplies current knowledge to policy makers, policy implementers and NGOs that is also meeting academic standards and communicated to other scholars through national and international academic publications.

Exploitation of migrants and human trafficking are two important challenges in a globalized world. At Fafo we have performed both empirical studies, both in ‘sending’, ‘transit’ and ‘receiving’ countries for trafficking and policy analysis and literary reviews on the issues. We are particularly interested in how and why trafficking takes place, how to identify victims of trafficking and other forms of exploitation and how trafficking is dealt with through legal and social measures.

The goal of the research we are doing on migration is to create knowledge that can be made use of to better the situation of vulnerable groups and to support the development of policies and measures directed at dealing with vulnerability on the migration process, particularly human trafficking.

Current projects

Why do young single asylum seekers migrate and what conditions determine their choice of country
Financed by the Ministry of Labour and Social Inclusion
Contact: Cecilie Øien

How to live irregularly in Norway: A qualitative study of the living conditions of irregular migrants
Financed by the Norwegian Directorate for Immigration
Contact: Cecilie Øien

Transnational child-raising arrangements between Africa and Europe
Funded by NORFACE
Contact: Cecilie Øien

Theorizing Risk, Money and Moralities in Migration - TRiMM (2009-2012)
Financed by Norges forskningsråd, FRISAM.
Contact: May-Len Skilbrei

Emerging Patterns of East-West Migration in Europe: New Patterns in a Changing Political Landscape
Contact: May-Len Skilbrei and Jon Erik Dølvik

Little migrants: Informal child migration from Moldova
A joint project between Fafo, Institute for social anthropology (Oslo University), ISF and PRIO.
News: ISF 18.01.2006 * Fafo 19.01.2006
Contact: Anette Brunovskis

Prostitution, gender and migration
A joint project between Fafo, the Stein Rokkan Centre for Social Studies, University of Bergen, the Department of Criminology and the Sociology of Law, University of Oslo and European University in St. Petersburg.
News: Fafo 06.01.2006 * Forskning 20.12.2005
Contact: May-Len Skilbrei