From Their Perspective :
Why Young People from Somalia and Afghanistan Leave Home

Synopsis:

In recent years, European countries have seen an increase of migrants from developing countries. This migration trend, often described as a “crisis,” has been characterized by the deaths of hundreds of thousands of migrants who take significant risks to reach their destination countries, as well as a significant concern regarding the lives of migrants in countries of destination. Despite the many benefits migration brings to both home and host communities, donor governments have sought to invest in programs in countries of origin that might reduce the flow of people to Europe. In this video Mercy Corps and Samuel Hall presents new evidence on this ongoing debate. Drawing from two countries of origin of many migrants to Europe – Afghanistan and Somalia – the accompanying report tests assumptions about ‘root causes’ of and ‘solutions’ to migration.

Mercy Corps Brief: https://www.mercycorps.org/research/driven-leave-aid-and-migration

Subsist or Persist :
Assessing Drivers of Migration and Effects of Foreign Assistance Programs on Migration from the Northern Triangle

Synopsis:

Drawing on pre-existing research and new research (surveys and interviews) from Mercy Corps Guatemala programs, this report examines factors causing people to flee Central America — including economic hardship, climate change, and violence — and the links between development programs in the region and migration. By examining two Mercy Corps programs focused on agricultural development and urban violence prevention, this report integrates the wide-ranging voices and experiences of men, women, boys, and girls in Guatemala who are the targets of policy decisions related to migration and as a result, directly affected by them. The report concludes with recommendations on how U.S. policymakers can advance policies that effectively and humanely address migration from Central America.

Mercy Corps Report: https://www.mercycorps.org/research/subsist-or-persist