KYRGYZSTAN TODAY Policy briefs on - Department of Geography
KYRGYZSTAN TODAY Policy briefs on - Department of Geography
KYRGYZSTAN TODAY Policy briefs on - Department of Geography
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emittances for granted at the backb<strong>on</strong>e for the rural ec<strong>on</strong>omy without questi<strong>on</strong>ing the<br />
mobility patterns behind it. A large proporti<strong>on</strong> <strong>of</strong> the populati<strong>on</strong> representing the future<br />
<strong>of</strong> the country is absent in processes <strong>of</strong> trainings, capacity building and infrastructure<br />
rebuilding.<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>Policy</str<strong>on</strong>g> recommendati<strong>on</strong>s<br />
Effective circular migrati<strong>on</strong> arrangements call for policies that strengthen ties to<br />
places <strong>of</strong> both origin and destinati<strong>on</strong>, including foreign countries as well as rural urban<br />
linkages within the home country.<br />
Flexible programmes for investments back home<br />
Rather than placing the burden for co-development <strong>on</strong> individual migrants,<br />
investment in community and migrant networks is seen as the better opti<strong>on</strong>, as not<br />
all migrants are ideal candidates to become development agents. Therefore, flexible<br />
programmes for accessing the positive c<strong>on</strong>tributi<strong>on</strong>s that can be made by diasporas and<br />
potential returnees should emerge.<br />
Facilitating circular migrati<strong>on</strong><br />
Facilitating circular migrati<strong>on</strong> requires the removal <strong>of</strong> disincentives to circulati<strong>on</strong>,<br />
primarily by providing flexible residency and citizenship rights, portable benefits, and<br />
access to informati<strong>on</strong>. Those open borders are coupled with internal c<strong>on</strong>trol systems<br />
mainly left to the labour market, while demands to the welfare state are strictly tied to<br />
c<strong>on</strong>tributi<strong>on</strong>s such as social security payments, pensi<strong>on</strong> accounts, taxes. Once registered<br />
people could not arbitrary be excluded from the territory reducing irregular migrati<strong>on</strong><br />
and human trafficking. It allows migrants to limit expenses associated with migrati<strong>on</strong><br />
and save the m<strong>on</strong>ey and the skills found critical in more successful return (e.g. the IOM<br />
initiative Framework for a Central Asian free movement <strong>of</strong> labour provides positive<br />
directi<strong>on</strong>s).<br />
Building skills and entrepreneurship<br />
For migrants going abroad: <str<strong>on</strong>g>Policy</str<strong>on</strong>g> makers and the private sector should facilitate skills<br />
and vocati<strong>on</strong>al training in making temporary workers more competitive. Those skills also<br />
facilitate them to make informed decisi<strong>on</strong>s c<strong>on</strong>cerning their rights, obligati<strong>on</strong>s and opti<strong>on</strong>s<br />
(e.g. Eurasia Foundati<strong>on</strong> Central Asia is planning such a project, pers<strong>on</strong>al informati<strong>on</strong>).<br />
For n<strong>on</strong>-migrants and migrants who wish to return: Helping rural development effective<br />
and sustainable vocati<strong>on</strong>al educati<strong>on</strong> systems play a major role. People have to get the<br />
knowledge, skills and attitudes to manage private farms, as well as other businesses,<br />
helping to raise the incomes in rural areas. Ongoing initiatives (e.g. Agricultural and<br />
Rural Vocati<strong>on</strong>al Educati<strong>on</strong> Project by Helvetas, Tacis Income Generating and Social<br />
Inclusi<strong>on</strong> Projects) should specifically address migrants and potential returnees.<br />
Strengthening urban – rural interlinkages<br />
Policies should support urban-rural integrati<strong>on</strong> and provide public investment to<br />
encourage the flow <strong>of</strong> goods and resources across sectors and locati<strong>on</strong>s. A more integrated<br />
ec<strong>on</strong>omy <strong>of</strong>fers more choices and allows individuals and households to pursue their<br />
own best paths out <strong>of</strong> poverty. Circular, less-permanent and less risky internal rural-to-<br />
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