The Asia Secretariat is co-led by the Centre for South-South Migration and Development of College of Humanities and Development Studies at China Agricultural University, in Beijing, China and the Nepal Institute for Social and Environmental Research (NISER) in Kathmandu, Nepal. The secretariat is supported by MIDEQ advisory board member, Dr Meena Poudel and Director Prof. Heaven Crawley.

The main objective of the secretariat is as follows:

  • Build on research and policy influence works done by MIDEQ;
  • Identify issues of importance related to migration in the context of the region;
  • Establish networks of researchers, government and advocacy related stakeholders in the region
  • Continue work toward MIDEQ’s ‘pathways to impact’ in the context of the region (changing narratives around migration, improving the wellbeing of migrants and their families, decentring knowledge on migration discourse and research)
  • Coordinate research activities and policy engagement with the different network members
  • Work with partners outside the region for co-building of theories and principles, influencing global policy discourse in migration, development and inequality.

Currently the secretariat is conducting a series of networking activities to map out potential partners, thematic area of importance in the region, funding sources and resources within the partners. A regional workshop involving 18 delegates from 16 countries was held in July 2024. Further activities are being carried out to build the regional network.

For more details contact, Dr Anita Ghimire (bhattarainitu@gmail.com) or Professor Jixia Lu (lujx@cau.edu.cn).

Photos via Seng-Guan Yeoh.