When it comes to influencing migration and integration policies, legal arguments and reports can only go so far. Policymakers are often drawn to approaches that provide tangible, actionable insights. This is where monitoring—a structured, evidence-based approach to assessing policies—can make a difference. By showing what works, where gaps exist, and how practices compare across countries, monitoring can move beyond theoretical debate and spark practical, impactful policy dialogue.
Drawing from the Migration Policy Group’s (MPG) extensive experience, this Short provides practical advice for researchers on how to integrate monitoring into their work and maximise its impact
Monitoring involves the continuous assessment of policies using indicators to evaluate progress and inform decision-making. MPG has long used monitoring as a tool to support migrant integration through projects like the Migrant Integration Policy Index (MIPEX) and the National Integration Evaluation Mechanism (NIEM) to measure integration policies across regions and countries.
As a data-driven approach, monitoring allows policymakers to pinpoint gaps, identify best practices, and inspire change. In addition, it can mobilise other policy stakeholders – such as civil society organisations – to advocate for better policy outcomes. However, the impact of monitoring research hinges on how well and strategically researchers engage with policymakers.
Monitoring resonates with policymakers who are grappling with migrant inclusion because it taps into their genuine interest in identifying policies that work well. Addressing this interest is the ‘hook’ which gets policymakers’ attention about good practices found in other places and creates awareness about the weaknesses of their own approach.
For example, in 2021, MIPEX data revealed Switzerland’s relatively low ranking in migrants’ access to democratic rights and was used in a government report to address discriminatory practices. In 2022, a report of the Finnish Government used MIPEX findings to argue for reform of integration policies. In Portugal, the High Commission for Migration regularly leveraged MIPEX results to assess policy development. These cases demonstrate that monitoring can both inform policymakers and challenge them to take action, provided the data is presented strategically and respectfully.
So, if you’re considering an approach that uses monitoring, remember these three things:
By adopting these strategies, researchers can enhance their engagement with policymakers, ensuring that their monitoring efforts have a tangible impact on migrant integration policies.
Learn more:
Monitoring examples:
Alexander Wolffhardt is MPG’s Deputy Director and has worked as an integration policy analyst on the development, realisation and dissemination of indicator-based monitoring instruments at local, regional and national levels, including the National Integration Evaluation Mechanism on refugee integration.
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