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Rethinking migration systems through a multi-dimensional approach

The Complex Migration Flows and Multiple Drivers in Comparative Perspective (MEMO) is a six-year-long research project (2022 - 2028) that examines internal, interregional, and intercontinental migration flows and drivers across three main regions: South/Southeast Asia (Bangladesh, Nepal and Malaysia), West Africa (Ghana, Nigeria, Senegal and the Ivory Coast) and the Americas (El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico and Canada). Through the generous funding of $2.5 million from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council's Partnership Grant, MEMO brings together a diverse, multi-institutional and multi-disciplinary team of 38 academics and 32 partner organizations across three continents in this exploration of migration flows.

5 speakers are on a stage sitting down and one is speaking

飫 6 Year long Project

飩 12 Countries 

飪  Team of 38+ Academics 

飯 32+ Partner Organizations 

$ 2.5 MiIlion in Funding 

飦 Across 3 Continents

What is the MEMO Project? Watch the video below to learn more about the project.

Why People Move: Interconnected Drivers of Complex Migration 鈥 MEMO 2nd Annual Conference

Picture of the MEMO team during the second annual conference held in Mexico

Bringing together researchers from diverse disciplines and regions, this 2-day conference highlighted the overlapping drivers of migration and the lived realities behind them. Through comparative case studies, quantitative modelling tools, and global collaborations, the panellists discussed why people move and what these patterns mean for future research and policy. 

International Migration: From Root Causes to Drivers 鈥 Joint Conference Between CERC Migration, MEMO Partnership Grant, and Bridging Divides

This conference examined the multiple drivers of migration, including social, economic, political, and environmental, as well as the ways in which they shape decision-making. It brought together a diverse group of stakeholders in the field of migration, including leading researchers, academics, policy-makers, students, and people from civil society organizations.

 

Latest Academic Publications

Global Migration Institute, Working Papers. May 2026.

Based on 22 interviews, this study explores how interconnected drivers shape Bangladeshi migration and early settlement realities in Ontario.

Akbar, M. (2026).  (PDF file) Migration Drivers and Postmigration Experiences of Bangladeshi Immigrants in Canada. The Global Migration Institute, 果酱视频, Working Paper No. 2025/17.

 

Modeling the Spatial Interplay Between Migration and Environmental Conditions.

This study uses three complementary geospatial and machine learning models to analyze local environmental migration drivers in Ghana.

Ghio, D., Hoyos鈥怘oyos, S., Liu, G., Kyeremeh, E., McLeman, R., Resch, G., & Mazalek, A. (2026).  Environmetrics37(1).

Working Papers. Nepali immigrants in Canada: Complex pathways and experiences.

Using 25 interviews, this paper explores how Nepali immigrants' "dream country" expectations clash with actual settlement struggles in Ontario.

Shivakoti, R., & Nagari, D. (2025). Nepali immigrants in Canada: Complex pathways and experiences. TMCIS and CERC in Migration and Integration Working Paper No. 2025/17.

 

Latest Public Engagements

The number of Nepalis migrating to Canada has zoomed upwards in recent years, many of them first arriving as international students. They came for good education opportunities, free healthcare, and the promise of secure, stable futures.

Nepalis speak about their journeys to and lives in Canada - Nepal Now. (2026, March 21). Buzzsprout

The migration of Mexicans to Canada is a fairly recent phenomenon; but from the beginning, migration processes and migration policy between the two countries have been marked by very important unequal power relations, reflecting more general processes of asymmetric economic integration.

Martin, P. (2025). Destino M茅xico: Migraci贸n y movilidades [Podcast interview]. With C. Masferrer.

What鈥檚 driving migration?

Migration has been a constant feature of human history, shaping societies and cultures for millennia. Far from being a new or unusual phenomenon, people have always moved in search of better opportunities, safety, or resources. From ancient trade routes to modern global networks, migration has played a vital role in economic development, cultural exchange and social transformation.

Masferrer, C., Shivakoti, R., & Kuhner, G. (2025, February 25). What鈥檚 driving migration? (Season 3, Episode 7) [Podcast episode]. In M. Perzyna (Host), Borders and Belonging. CERC Migration, 果酱视频.

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