Moderator: Stefano Scarpetta, Director for Employment, Labour, and Social Affairs, OECD Speakers: - Mathias Cormann, Secretary General, OECD - Ugochi Daniels, Deputy Director General, IOM - Bjørg Sandkjær, Assistant Secretary-General for Policy Coordination, UNDESA (Virtual Remarks) - Anders Hall, State Secretary to the Minister for Migration, Sweden - Mia Rönnmar, Vice Chancellor, Malmö University

Moderator: Stefano Scarpetta, Director for Employment, Labour, and Social Affairs, OECD Introductory Remarks: Mats Persson, Minister for Employment and Integration, Sweden Speakers: - Ruvendrini Menikdiwela, Assistant High Commissioner for Protection, UNHCR - Gunilla Fincke, Director-General, German Federal Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs - Peter Abad Altamirano, Deputy Head of Statistics, National Institute of Statistics and Informatics, Peru

Moderator: Francesca Grum, Assistant Director, UNSD Speakers: - Josée Bégin, Assistant Chief Statistician, Social, Health and Labour Statistics, Statistics Canada - Marco Marsili, Population Register, Demographic Statistics, and Living Conditions, ISTAT - Graciela Martinez Caballero, Director of Statistics, Centre for Migration Studies of the Migration Policy, Registration and Identity of Persons Unit, Ministry of the Interior (SEGOB), Mexico - Ali Said, Director of Population and Manpower Statistics, BPS-Statistics, Indonesia - Susanne Taillemite, Head of Unit of Population and Migration, Eurostat

Evidence-based policymaking is often considered a laudable goal – but applied to the field of irregular migration, some principal challenges arise. Irregular migration is notoriously hard to measure as it occurs outside of regulatory norms and may often go undetected, while robust data and estimates are often non-existent, outdated or incomplete. Nevertheless, data are cited in policymaking in this area, where ‘illegal border crossings’ are used as a substitute, or outdated maximum estimates are used as a ‘low bar’ by future standards. New policies are put forward that aim to fill the gap in information, for example on ‘overstayers’ or ‘secondary movements’.  This workshop aims to bring together academic and practitioner perspectives, to stimulate discussion on current knowledge of irregular migration stocks and flows, avenues for further development, and lessons from communicating this knowledge to the general public. Interventions signpost where policymakers should treat data with care, the limitations of the data they may use, and innovative new methods or means to estimate and better understand the irregular migrant population.  Moderator: Veronika Bilger, Head of Research, ICMPD Speakers: - Maegan Hendow, Senior Researcher, ICMPD - Dr. Amparo González-Ferrer, Deputy Director General for Management and Integration Pathways, Ministry of Inclusion, Social Security, and Migration, Spain - Laura Peitz, Researcher, German Federal Office for Migration and Refugees - Julia Descamps, Researcher, Université Paris 8, CRESPPA-CSU - Denis Kierans, Senior Researcher, COMPAS, University of Oxford - Albert Kraler, Assistant Professor in Migration Studies, University for Continuing Education Krems

The session will focus on emigration statistics, discussing data collection methods, challenges, innovative methods and solutions. Eurostat will provide an overview of the state of the art of emigration statistics in the European Union, highlighting the main approaches used to measure emigration and key challenges faced. Two country case studies will follow: the Italian National Institute of Statistics will present the use of the “Signs of Life” methodology to improve emigration statistics by addressing over-coverage of the Population Register; the High Commission for Planning of Morocco will share their experience in strengthening emigration statistics through National Surveys and Census innovations. A final presentation from Eurostat will focus on reconciling internal EU immigration and emigration flows for population projections. Through these presentations, addressing current issues and exploring innovative methods, the session aims to identify practical steps and examples to improve emigration statistics internationally. Moderator: Susanne Taillemite, Head of Unit - Population and Migration, Eurostat Speakers: - Andrea Succi, Statistical Officer, Eurostat - Francesca Licari, Researcher, Italian National Institute of Statistics - Karima Belhaj, Head of Unit – Population Mobility Unit, High Commission for Planning of Morocco - Hannah Kiiver, Team Leader, Population Projections Team, Eurostat

Over the last decade, the transformative potential of machine learning (ML) has been increasingly recognized in migration research, not only in terms of its ability to enhance the accuracy and timeliness of migration statistics and forecasts, but also to uncover insights at the scales that traditional methods are incapable to do so. Meanwhile, the uptake of ML has also raised myriad new questions and challenges concerning, for example, data and algorithmic biases, ethical considerations, and the implications for policymaking as well as for the wellbeing of migrant populations. This panel session will present numerous case studies to demonstrate the potential of ML for migration research. While highlighting the methodological innovations, the panelists will also discuss the limitations as well as the societal impact of these state-of-the-art approaches. Distinguished panelists at the session include the founding partners of CLIMB (an international consortium pioneering in leveraging machine learning to study climate-induced migration https://climbproject.org/). In addition, the Editor-in-Chief of International Migration Review will present an overview of how migration research and models have evolved over the last decade. The panelists will bring a wealth of multidisciplinary expertise from social science, statistics, demography, agricultural science, and remote sensing. Moderator: Haodong Qi, Researcher, Malmö University Speakers: - Holly Reed, Professor & Editor-in-Chief of International Migration Review, City University New York - Laure Tall, Director, Initiative Prospective Agricole et Rurale, Data Population Alliance, Senegal - Stefano Iacus, Director of Data Science and Product Research, Institute for Quantitative Social Science, Harvard University - Tuba Bircan, Professor, Vrije University Brussels - Stefan Lang, Professor, Professor, Paris Lodron University of Salzburg

Over the past few years, there has been growing recognition within the humanitarian sector of the need for data-driven anticipatory action, which with technological advancements and the growing availability of time-sensitive data, is becoming an increasingly important tool in the humanitarian toolkit. The practical use of migration forecasting in humanitarian settings has shown great potential to assist relief agencies in preparing contingency planning for sudden crises and ensure that the affected populations receive the help they need on time. Forced displacements caused by sudden events like natural disasters or outbreaks of armed conflict tend to be easier to model using machine learning than migration movements that are influenced by a much larger number of factors. Nevertheless, developing context-specific prediction instruments is time-consuming, and typically relies on an ensemble of prediction systems of real disaster and conflict events. This makes the cooperation and the creation of a community of practicians and actors working on predictive data for emergencies essential. This session will bring together representatives from UN agencies, other humanitarian organizations, and academia to showcase innovative approaches and methods used in the prediction of forced displacement. Moderator: Andrea Pellandra, Senior Data Scientist, UNHCR Speakers: - Katharine Donato, Donald G. Herzberg Professor of International Migration, Georgetown University - Diana Suleimenova, Lecturer in Computer Science, Brunel University of London - Bo Schwartz Madsen, Data Scientist, Danish Refugee Council - Andrew Wells, Data Scientist, UNHCR - Ahmed Amdihun, Programme Manager, IGAD Climate Prediction and Applications Centre (ICPAC)

Migration in Africa is natural, complex and multifaceted, and presents both opportunities and challenges for individuals, communities, states and international organizations. While people on the move contribute to economic growth, cultural enrichment, and social diversity, public concerns in Africa and Europe regarding mobility, integration, security, and resources have created a polarising narrative surrounding migration. In order to foster informed discussions and effective policymaking, it is essential to present an accurate and fully balanced narrative that encompasses both the positive contributions of migrants and the potential challenges they face during their journey. Building on a previous policy event held at the Global Forum on Migration and Development (GFMD) in January 2024 in Geneva, this parallel session aims to discuss the importance of using data-driven solutions and effective communication strategies to create a comprehensive understanding of migration dynamics. By bringing together insights from various organizations, the event will promote a collaborative approach to fostering a balanced narrative on migration that supports informed dialogue and policymaking. Moderator: Muhanad Sammar, Project Manager, Statistics Sweden Speakers: - Ambassador Dr. Namira Negm, Director, African Migration Observatory - Charles Ogolla, Head of Statistics Unit, The Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) - Ellen Percy Kraly, Jr. Professor of Geography and Environmental Studies Emerita, Colgate University - Aimé Dago, Social Population and Demography Expert, STATAFRIC

This parallel session will explore how international organizations and academia play a role in the production of timely and accurate statistics on irregular migration flows and stocks, with a focus on European countries. Featuring insights from IOM’s Displacement Tracking Matrix and Missing Migrants Project, the EU-funded MIRREM research, and UNODC, the speakers will discuss how data initiatives pushed forward for different programming and research purposes can enable more informed programmatic responses, by providing critical evidence to craft humane and effective migration policies. They will discuss how robust, timely data can support updating migrants’ profiles, highlight main challenges and vulnerabilities faced by those who travel irregularly, and counter misinformation. Moderator: Ivona Zakoska-Todorovska, ECA Regional Migration Data & Research Officer, IOM Speakers: - Laura Bartolini, Operations Support & Analysis Coordinator, IOM - Claire Healy, Research Officer, UNODC - Alejandra Rodriguez-Sanchez, Post-Doctoral Researcher, University of Potsdam - Julia Black, Project Officer, Coordinator of Missing Migrant Project, IOM

Immigrant integration remains a cornerstone of migration policies in host countries, yet its implementation and evaluation present significant challenges. This session explores diverse dimensions of integration through four complementary perspectives, addressing the complexities of measurement, the impacts of policy interventions, and the lived experiences of immigrant populations. It begins with a critical examination of the balance between quantity and quality in integration, cautioning against approaches that may undermine long-term outcomes. The discussion then shifts to spatial considerations, analysing Denmark’s Ghetto Plan and its impact on neighbourhood composition and social dynamics. Next, the session explores the professional and residential pathways of refugees in France through the AGIR program, highlighting the role of universal support mechanisms. Finally, it examines the methodological challenges of measuring integration, introducing the Territorial Synthetic Index of Immigrant Integration as a multidimensional tool to inform policies. Moderator: Samuel Ettouati, Head of the Statistical Surveys and Studies Division, Ministry of the Interior, France Speakers: - Nadiya Ukrayinchuk, Professor of Economics, LEM, University of Lille - Yajna Govind, Assistant Professor, Copenhagen Business School - Clément Soulignac, Statistical Surveys and Studies Division, Ministry of the Interior, France - Jack Jebwab, Chief Executive Officer, Metropolis Institute, Canada

Moderator: John Wilmoth, Director, UN Population Division Speakers: - Marina Manke, Chief of Global Migration Data Analysis Centre (GMDAC), IOM - Ambassador Dr. Namira Negm, Director, African Migration Observatory - Mats Bergdahl-Kercoff, Head of Unit for Coordination and Development, Statistics Sweden - Sarah Hugo, Senior Strategic Knowledge Management Specialist, International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) - Younyoung Park, Director, International Cooperation Division, Statistics Korea (KOSTAT)

The ongoing displacement crisis caused by the war in Ukraine has resulted in unprecedented challenges, with millions of individuals seeking refuge both within and outside the country. This parallel session will delve into the complex realities faced by displaced populations at home and abroad, examining their specific needs and vulnerabilities through the lens of migration statistics. The panel will bring together humanitarian practitioners and policymakers to present cutting-edge research, share lessons learned, and discuss actionable strategies to improve data collection and utilization in crisis contexts. Insights from this discussion aim to contribute to more effective policies that ensure dignity and support for displaced populations in Ukraine and beyond. Moderator: Ivona Zakoska-Todoroska, ECA Regional Migration Data and Research Officer, IOM Regional Office for Europe and Central Asia Speakers: - Carolina Vrocharis, Desk Officer, Division of Migration at Sweden’s Ministry of Justice - Ravenna Sohst, Policy Analyst, Migration Policy Institute Europe - Iryna Loktieva, National Officer, Data Analysis, IOM-Ukraine Office - Neli Esipova, Founder and CEO, Multicultural Insights - Laura Bartolini, Operations Support & Analysis Coordinator, IOM - Erin Neale, Data Analysis and Reporting Officer, IOM Regional Office for Europe and Central Asia

This parallel session, made up of the panellists selected by the IFMS Scientific Committee, will showcase tools and initiatives that enhance the collection, analysis, and governance of migration data. Panellists will present on subjects such as the Portuguese Emigration Observatory’s new database on European emigration and Indonesia’s One Data on International Migration (SDMI) initiative. By highlighting various innovative tools and methodologies, the discussion will emphasize how improved data systems can drive more accurate, detailed, and policy-relevant migration statistics at national, regional, and global levels. Moderator: Marc Altenburg, German Federal Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs Speakers: - Stephanie Kramer, Senior Researcher, Pew Research Center - Hélène Syed Zwick, Research and Data Analyst Consultant, IOM, Egypt - Winida Albertha, Statistician, BPS-Statistics Indonesia - Christoph Deuster, Project Officer, European Commission, Joint Research Centre

This session explores the vast heterogeneity of approaches to migration forecasting at national and international levels. Practitioners use a large set of forecasting empirical methods, e.g. traditional time series analysis, classical econometric models using predictive factors, Bayesian models, and machine learning, and they increasingly mix these methods with qualitative approaches, based on expert elicitation. Methods depend on their policy purposes, as forecasting labour, humanitarian or mixed migration require different approaches depending on the volatility of trends, the granularity of data and the level of quantitative measurement of contextual information. Methods also depend on perspective, as forecasting outflows from the country of origin differ from predicting inflows in the country of destination. This parallel session and the discussion that follows will give an overview of the state of play of forecasting practices in a non-academic setting. Moderator: Yves Breem, Research Project Manager, Ministry of the Interior, France Speakers: - Constantinos Melachrinos, Senior Analyst – Team Leader, European Union Agency for Asylum - Alexander Kjaerum, Senior Analyst – Global Advisor, Danish Refugee Council - Kiyoko Saito, Senior Research Fellow, Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), Ogata Research Institute - Frans Alkemade, Senior Advisor, Ministry of Justice, the Netherlands

The parallel session will explore the rationale for developing a standardized approach to classifying forcibly displaced individuals in household surveys along the statistical categories identified in the EGRISS International Recommendations on Refugee and IDP Statistics. The theoretical discussion will be complemented by case studies from diverse displacement contexts where the approach was tested and adapted using cognitive testing, behavioural analysis, and AI technologies. Case studies are drawn from UNHCR Forced Displacement Survey (FDS) refugee datasets for Pakistan, South Sudan, Cameroon and Zambia, and national surveys by statistical offices that included questions on forcible displacement to provide insights into the reliability of the questions in identifying such population groups, as well as lessons learned in adapting the set to diverse displacement contexts. Moderator: Aissatou Maisha Dicko, Head, Joint Data Center Speakers: - Lorenza Rossi, Survey Specialist, UNHCR - Robert Bain, MICS Coordinator, UNICEF - Benjamin Avusevwa, Director, Statistical Coordination and Methods, Kenya National Bureau of Statistics - Horacio Lovo, Sub Director Ejecutivo, Instituto Nacional de Estadística, Honduras

This panel brings together scholars from regions around the globe to examine migration statistics in a comparative perspective through papers that explore variations in migration data, measurement, and management regimes across cases from the global north and south. With a focus on the importance of geographical and historical contexts, the papers examine how states count and categorize migrants for strategic purposes and how the counting of migrants defines membership and citizenship in cases from South and Southeast Asia (India in particular), East Asia (South Korea, Taiwan, and Japan), the Middle East (the GCC countries), as well as Europe, Latin America (Mexico in particular), the U.S., and Canada. The papers will address questions such as: Why and how does postcolonial state formation affect migration measurement and management? How have states attempted to reconcile economic needs with restrictions on membership, settlement, naturalization, and citizenship via their migration measurement and population policies? How does the character of the political regime impact the policies of counting migrants? Which domestic coalitions support or oppose specific forms of counting migrants and gathering data and why? Moderator: James Hollifield, Professor and Director, Southern Methodist University Speakers: - Kamal Sadiq, Professor, University of California at Irvine - Miryam Hazán, Migration Specialist, Organization of American States - Hélène Thiollet, Research Fellow, CNRS/CERI Sciences Po Paris - Giuseppe Sciortino, Professor, Universita' degli Studi di Trento

This parallel session will convene experts from various fields, including labour economics, education, public policy, migration, and data analytics, to explore the challenges associated with identifying, collecting and analysing skills-related data in labour mobility programs. This discussion will bring together experts to explore innovative approaches and tools to enhance data collection methodologies to measure the scalability of Skill Based Mobility Programmes and their potential effects on migrant populations. Moderator: Pablo Acosta, Lead Economist and Global Lead for Migration, World Bank Speakers: - Fabio Jiménez, Head of Labour Mobility and Markets, IOM - Helen Dempster, Policy Fellow and Deputy Director, Center for Global Development - Jason Gagnon, Head of Unit and Senior Economist, OECD Development Center - Kate Hooper, Senior Policy Analyst, Migration Policy Institute

This parallel session, made up of the panellists selected by the IFMS Scientific Committee, explores innovative data-driven approaches to predicting and monitoring forced displacement to improve humanitarian responses. Panellists will discuss subjects such as advancements in statistical nowcasting techniques, big data applications, and machine learning-based predictive tools. The session will highlight how these methodologies can provide more accurate, timely insights into displacement patterns, which can lead to better resource allocation, policy interventions, and preparedness. Moderator: Tarek Abou Chabake, Chief Statistician, UNHCR Speakers: - Giulia Del Panta, Associate Data Scientist, UNHCR - Özge Bilgili, Associate Professor, Utrecht University - William Low, Digital Innovation Manager, Save the Children International - Teddy Wilkin, Senior Coordinator, European Union Agency for Asylum

This session, made up of panellists selected by the IFMS Scientific Committee, explores the role of public attitudes, media narratives, and digital platforms in shaping perceptions of migration. Panellists will examine how migration is portrayed in traditional and social media, the factors influencing public opinion, and the impact of online resources designed to support migrants. Discussions will highlight the ways narratives influence policy debates, the representation of migrants in the media, and the effectiveness of digital tools in providing reliable migration information. Moderator: Thomas Liebig, Principal Administrator, Employment Division, OECD Speakers: - James Dennison, Part-time Professor, Migration Policy Centre, European University Institute - Yao Robert Djogbenou, Department of Demography, University of Montreal - Tom De Vroe, Data Analyst, Myria – Federal Migration Centre - Marta Luzes, Economist, Inter-American Development Bank

The International Data Alliance for Children on the Move (IDAC) has organized this session to showcase good practices in collecting both quantitative and qualitative data on the wellbeing of children in migration and displacement contexts. This session moves beyond the traditional focus on data gaps to emphasize tangible success stories—what has been achieved, the lessons learned, and actionable insights for future work in this area. Speakers represent a diverse range of stakeholders, including civil society, UN agencies, national statistical offices, and academia, all actively engaged in the collection of data on children on the move. Moderator: Aina Helen Saetre, Statistics and Data Analyst, UNHCR Speakers: - Marzia Rango, Programme Manager, UNICEF - Sebastian Palmas, Data Specialist, UNICEF - Ann Singleton, Associate Professor in Migration Policy, School for Policy Studies, University of Bristol - Karima Belhaj, Head of Population Policy Monitoring Department at the High Commission for Planning, Morocco - Benjamin Avusevwa, Director of Statistical Coordination and Methods, Kenya National Bureau of Statistics

This parallel session will explore current challenges in producing and using gender-responsive migration data and showcase innovative approaches to strengthen gender statistics in migration governance. This parallel session contributes to the broader objectives of the International Forum on Migration Statistics while specifically addressing the critical need for gender-responsive approaches to migration data collection, analysis, and use. Moderator: Papa Alioune Seck, Chief, research and Data, UN Women Speakers: - Eloína Meneses, Deputy Director General of Statistical Infrastructure, INEGI - Million Taye Regassa, Head of Population and Migration, Ethiopia Statistical Service - Sehin Merawi, Senior Project Officer, Ethiopia Statistical Service - Inkeri von Hase, Global Coordinator, Making Migration Safe for Women, UN Women

In 2023, the UN Statistical Commission confirmed that IDP statistics fall within the classification of migration statistics, signalling a recognition of this need in the statistical community and underscoring the relevance of IDP statistics in the work of national statistical systems more widely. This was initially recognized in 2020 with the endorsement of the International Recommendations on IDP Statistics (IRIS), the first globally agreed-upon statistical framework for IDPs, and continues to gain support with the UN Action Agenda on Internal Displacement. This session will examine how the IRIS has informed national efforts to produce statistics on IDPs, showcasing experiences of countries/regions such as Kosovo and Nigeria. The session will highlight the importance of improved IDP statistics from a development perspective, shine a light on the increased national ownership of IDP statistics, and share progress made to refine the “IDP exit measure”, inviting feedback from attendees. Moderator: Natalia Baal, Head of Secretariat, Expert Group on Refugee, IDP and Statelessness Statistics (EGRISS) Speakers: - Avni Kastrati, Director of Social Statistics, Kosovo Statistics Agency - Akor Geofrey, Migration Focal Person, National Bureau of Statistics, Nigeria - Johannes Hoogeveen, Global Lead Poverty and Fragility, Senior Economist Sahel and Central Africa, World Bank

This session will explore good practices in leveraging administrative data for migration statistics, drawing on case studies from Sweden, Kenya, and Mexico. It will highlight effective strategies for integrating diverse data sources to enhance accuracy and timeliness while fostering international collaboration and knowledge exchange. The discussion will emphasize the critical role of administrative data in evidence-based policymaking and migration management, with a particular focus on scalability in different contexts, especially in the Global South. By showcasing innovative approaches, the session aims to enhance the quality and utility of migration statistics, ultimately contributing to more informed national and global migration policies. Moderator: Stefan Andersson, Head of International Development Cooperation, Statistics Sweden Speakers: - Maria Isabel Cobos Hernandez, Chief of the Social and Gender Statistics Section, UNSD - Dr. Macdonald George Obudho, Director General, Kenya National Bureau of Statistics - Sara Frankl, Head of Section of Coordination and Interdisciplinary Operations, Statistics Sweden - Eloina Meneses Mendoza, Deputy General Director of Statistical Infrastructure, General Direction of Sociodemographic Statistics, INEGI

This parallel session, made up of the panellists selected by the IFMS Scientific Committee, will focus on national experiences and strategies for improving migration data collection, analysis, and governance. Panellists will discuss challenges and solutions in migration statistics from various countries, including Niger, South Africa Egypt and the Gulf countries, and the UK. It will explore global initiatives to strengthen migration data capacity-building, particularly in alignment with international recommendations. Moderator: Clare Menozzi, Chief of the Demographic Analysis Section, Population Division, Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UNDESA) Speakers: - Idrissa Boukari Abdoulaye, Head of Demographic Studies Division, Institut National de La Statistique du Niger (INS-NIGER) - Wafaa Ezzat Ali, Statistician, CAPMAS - Diego Iturralde, Chief Director: Demography, Statistics South Africa - Francesca Allerton, Statistician, Home Office, UK Immigration System Statistics - Jack Cooper, Senior Statistical Analyst, Home Office, UK Immigration System Statistics

This parallel session will display innovative approaches and practices to collect, share and report data on trafficking in persons developed jointly by the leading organizations conducting international research on trafficking in persons; ILO, IOM and UNODC. On the base of the experiences UNODC has developed on the UNODC Global Report on Trafficking in Persons, the International Organization for Migration Counter Trafficking Database, the two agencies have developed a new system of indicators and practices on administrative data on trafficking in persons to support national institutions to improve the data recording, the IC-TiP. In March 2025, the UN Statistical Commission has endorsed the IC-TiP that has joined the family of the International Classifications. At the same time, over the years, the research community has registered great progress in the field of estimating the prevalence of trafficking in persons. The variety of research approaches and statistical definitions adopted resulted in studies that are not comparable over time and geography. To fill this gap, the ILO, IOM and UNODC are working towards common approach as well as comprehensive methodologies to estimate the prevalence of trafficking in persons for forced labour. Moderator: Fabrizio Sarrica, Research Officer, UNODC Speakers: - Stine Laursen, Senior Data Analyst, IOM - Gady Saiovici, Senior Economist, ILO

The Mediterranean has long been a hub for mobility and migration, driven by historical, economic, environmental, and geopolitical factors. As the region faces new challenges—such as climate change, economic inequality, and political instability—understanding the structural drivers of migration flows and in particular the interplay with demographic trends is essential for informing policy development and shaping the narrative on migration away from the short term focus on security and irregular movements. The combination of responsibilities for the Mediterranean and for Demography within a single mandate for the 2024-2029 European Commission highlights the political relevance and urgency of addressing gaps in data and scientific knowledge on migration and population dynamics to inform policymaking. The parallel session will take stock of the most recent advances in the estimate of migration flows in the region, describe how these estimates contribute to past and projected population dynamics vis a vis fertility and mortality, and highlight priorities for future research on migration and demography in support of policy making. Discussions in the panel will offer ideas for preparing the New Pact for the Mediterranean by the European Commission. Moderator: Fabiana Scapolo, Head of Unit, Demography and Migration, European Commission, DG Joint Research Centre (JRC) Speakers: - Elena Ambrosetti, Professor of Demography, Sapienza University of Rome - Jean-Christophe Dumont, Head of International Migration Division, OECD - Christoph Deuster, Project Officer, European Commission, Joint Research Centre - Katerina Wolfova, Head of Unit, Egypt, Pact for the Mediterranean, European Commission, DG Middle East, North Africa and Gulf (MENA)

This session will focus on the key question of how much can be reasonably inferred today about the future of migration across a range of time horizons, given the underlying complexity of different types of migration processes and their drivers, and ever-present uncertainty. The parallel session will start with a high-level overview, taking stock of the recent methodological developments at a range of temporal and geographic scales. Panellists will look at the role of alternative data sources, focusing on both big data and expert opinion in anticipating future migration flows. The discussion will then move to specific approaches for modelling and predicting migration, with particular focus on the nowcasting of asylum flows and other forms of conflict-related displacement. In addition, panellists will present methodological advances in the use of machine learning techniques and agent-based models, respectively – the former aiming to maximise the information gained from various data sources, and the latter to enhance the models with an explicit description of explanatory mechanisms. Moderator: Jakub Bijak, Professor of Statistical Demography, University of Southampton Speakers: - Tuba Bircan, Professor, Vrije University Brussels - Derek Groen, Reader in Computer Science, Brunel University of London - Arkadiusz Wiśniowski, Professor of Social Statistics & Demography, University of Manchester - Dr. Andrea Aparicio Castro, Senior Research Fellow in Bayesian Digital Demography, University of Oxford

Moderator: Dr. Ayman Zohri, American University of Cairo Speakers: - Dassappa Venketsamy Princelle, Senior Regional Data Hub Coordinator, IOM Regional Office for the Middle East and North Africa - Dr. Abir Naseer, Head of Statistics Division, League of Arab States - Ahlem Hammami, Director General, Tunisian National Migration Observatory - Karima Belhadj, Head of Population Policy Monitoring Department, Moroccan High Commission for Planning - Mosatafa Salah, Statistical Researcher, Egyptian Central Agency for Public Mobilization and Statistics (CAPMAS)

This session explores innovative methods for measuring and modelling migration flows by combining traditional data with emerging techniques, in line with the UN's recommendations to enhance migration statistics. It highlights the integration of administrative data, surveys, digital traces, and advanced statistical models to improve the accuracy, timeliness, and availability of migration data, in support of the goals of IFMS. Moderator: Emilio Zagheni, Director of the Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research (MPIDR) Speakers: - Maciej Jan Danko, Data Scientist, Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research - Carolina Coimbra Vieira, Ph.D. Student, Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research; Max Planck Institute for Software Systems; Saarland University - Athina Anastasiadou, Ph.D. Student, Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research; Netherlands Interdisciplinary Demographic Institute; University of Groningen - Ebru Sanliturk, Research Scientist, Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research - Ruth Neville, Ph.D. Student, Geographic Data Science Lab, University of Liverpool

This session, made up of the panellists selected by the IFMS Scientific Committee, will focus on national experiences improving migration statistics through innovative data collection and integration methods. Panellists will discuss subjects such as Vietnam’s efforts to measure recruitment costs for migrant workers, Egypt’s approach to enhancing migration data using administrative records, and Hungary’s initiative to refine migration statistics by integrating health insurance data. Together, these presentations highlight the importance of accurate, timely, and comprehensive data to inform migration policies across national contexts. Moderator: Clare Menozzi, Chief of the Demographic Analysis Section, Population Division, Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UNDESA) Speakers: - Lan Nguyen, Principal Statistician, National Statistics Office of Vietnam - Hyojung Lee, Assistant Professor, Graduate School of Environmental Studies, Seoul National University - Emad Alaswad, Senior Researcher, CAPMAS - Ágnes Izer, Statistician, Hungarian Central Statistical Office

This parallel session will underscore the critical importance of generating practical tools and guidance to promote implementation of international statistical standards drawing on real-world country experiences. Recognizing that effective migration statistics require tailored approaches to local realities, the session will emphasize strengthening institutional capacities and fostering stakeholder collaboration. The discussion will address common challenges facing migration statistics, including fragmented data sources and limited resources, by presenting practical solutions that enable comprehensive and reliable data collection. Through concrete case studies and collaborative efforts, participants will learn how to transform these challenges into opportunities. Moderator: Elisa Benes, Head of Rights, Migration & Skills Statistics Unit, STATISTICS, ILO Speakers: - Nadia Touihri, Regional Labour Statistician, ILO - Regional office for Africa - Omar Abdoulkader Mohamed, Directeur des Statistiques Economiques et de la Comptabilité Nationale, National Institute of Statistics of Djibouti (INSTAD) - Ibtihel Bouchoucha, Head of Migration Unit, National Institute of Statistics in Tunisia - Brian Okengo, Statistician, African Union Commission (AUC)

This parallel session focuses on the synergies between migration and displacement statistics and discuss how regional cooperation can drive progress. Best practices and actionable strategies to build data systems that serve both migration and displacement needs will be highlighted, ensuring that no dimension of human mobility is overlooked. Moderator: Piotr Juchno, Team Leader, Asylum and Managed Migration Statistics, European Commission, Eurostat Speakers: - Priscilla Ndayara, Senior Migration Statistician, East African Community - Ismail Lubbard, Team Leader, Demographic and Social Statistics Team, UNESCWA - Agnes Geijer-Farah, Program Manager for Migration & Development at the Regional Development Cooperation for Africa, SIDA - Natalia Baal, Head of Secretariat, Expert Group on Refugee, IDP and Statelessness Statistics (EGRISS)

Panellists in the session, each selected by the IFMS Scientific Committee, will discuss factors influencing irregular migration from North Africa to Europe, the motivations and conditions shaping return intentions among displaced Ukrainians, multi-country assessments of irregular migration stocks across Europe, and a novel data integration method for estimating irregular migration in Chile, among other subjects. With presentations on qualitative and quantitative approaches, this session aims to enhance migration data accuracy, inform policy decisions, and provide deeper insights into migration flows and their socioeconomic impacts. Moderator: Cécile Thoreau, Data and Policy Analyst, International Migration Division, OECD Speakers: - Eslam Alaa ElBahlawan, Researcher at Cultural and Social Anthropology, University of Milano-Bicocca - Ravenna Sohst, Policy Analyst, Migration Policy Institute Europe - Denis Kierans, Senior Researcher, COMPAS, University of Oxford - Iliuta Cumpanasu, Analyst, West University Timisoara - Felipe Mallea, Head of Studies Department, Servicio Nacional de Migraciones, Chile

This parallel session, made up of the panellists selected by the IFMS Scientific Committee, will explore innovative approaches to migration data collection and analysis, focusing on advancements in methodologies for census use, regional migration frameworks, and emerging data sources in Spain, Cameroon, and South Africa. By highlighting diverse strategies, the session will emphasize the importance of accurate, timely, and comprehensive migration statistics for informed policymaking and regional development. Moderator: Diego Iturralde, Chief Director: Demography, Statistics South Africa Speakers: - Ángel Moro Benéitez, National Statistics Institute of Spain - Teke Johnson Takwa, Demographer, Unit Head for Research and Cooperation, Central Bureau for Censuses and Population Studies, Yaoundé-Cameroon - Itani Ntsieni, Director of Migration Statistics, Statistics South Africa - Abêt Mongbet, Demographer and Head of Data Analysis, Publication and Dissemination Unit, Central Bureau of Census and Population Studies (BUCREP)

Many European countries gather information based on people's country of birth or citizenship to better understand differences between native-born and foreign-born populations. However, this information alone isn't enough to address structural racism—the systems, institutions, and policies that lead to racial and ethnic inequality. In the pursuit of a more equitable society, the collection and utilization of equality data have become pivotal. This parallel session will address the theoretical and methodological underpinnings of equality data. We will discuss the legal and conceptual frameworks that inform the collection and interpretation of such data, highlighting the importance of intersectionality in understanding the complexities of racial and ethnic inequalities. Moderator: Ellen Percy Kraly, Jr. Professor of Geography and Environmental Studies Emerita, Colgate University Speakers: - Miri Song, Emeritus Professor, University of Kent and London School of Economics - Yamam Al-Zubaidi, Researcher, European University Institute - Pieter Bevelander, Professor, Malmö University - Sayaka Osanami Törngren, Associate Professor, Malmö University

Moderator: Koko Warner, Director of the IOM Global Data Institute Speakers: - Diego Iturralde, Chief Director: Demography, Statistics South Africa - Aurelia Spataru, Deputy Director General, National Statistical Bureau of the Republic of Moldova - Mohammed Mizanur Rahman, Director General, Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS)

Moderator: Anna Triandafyllidou, Canada Excellence Research Chair in Migration and Integration, Sociology Department at Toronto Metropolitan University Speakers: - Guillaume Mordant, Director for Statistics and Studies, Ministry of the Interior, France - John Wilmoth, Director, UN Population Division - Liaqat Ali, Chief Statistical Officer, Pakistan National Statistical Office - Dr. Amparo González-Ferrer, Deputy Director General for Management and Integration Pathways, Ministry of Inclusion, Social Security, and Migration, Spain - Claudio Bosco, Project Officer, JRC, European Commission

Speakers: - Stefano Scarpetta, Director of Employment, Labour and Social Affairs, OECD - Eva-Lo Ighe, Director General, Statistics Sweden

The number of internally displaced persons (IDP) in the world keeps rising. The causes of human mobility become more complex as compounding risk related to climate change and conflict collide in many countries. Increasingly, global initiatives contribute to raising awareness around effective coordination at country, regional and international level to improve evidence to inform solution to internal displacement. The UN Secretary General’s Action Agenda on Internal Displacement, launched in 2022, has mobilised resources in countries affected by conflict and disasters to build the capacity of governments to monitor solutions to IDPs in coordination with the UN Country Teams. In 2024, supported by the Internal Displacement Solutions Fund (IDSF), Colombia and Somalia embarked on a joint UN-government journey to strengthen their national IDP data systems. For this session, the government of Colombia and the government of Somalia, jointly with the UN Development Programme in Colombia, the International Organization for Migration in Somalia and the Joint IDP Profiling Service, will share the results of the IDSF project in a comparative approach. The session will draw lessons learned and persisting challenges in the process of refining methodologies to measure progress towards solutions to IDPs from a national perspective and the linkages to statistical inclusion of IDPs in National Statistical Systems. Moderator: Oscar Rico, Programme Manager, JIPS Speakers: - Zahra Abdi, Director General, National Centre for Rural Development and Durable Solutions, Federal Government of Somalia - Laura Cardoza, Deputy Director of Human Rights and Peace Building, National Planning Department, Colombia - Benjamin Townsend, Programme Manager, Data for Solutions, IOM Somalia

Drawing on rich data from Spain, the UK, Thailand, and Italy, this parallel session, made up of panellists selected by the IFMS Scientific Committee, will examine how migrant and refugee children experience welfare, education, and integration programmes. Together, these contributions highlight the power of linked longitudinal data and inclusive methodologies in shaping equitable, targeted policies for one of Europe’s most vulnerable and promising populations. Moderator: Apostolos Kasapis, Director of the Independent Office of the President, Hellenic Statistical Authority (ELSTAT) Speakers: - Anna Tegunimataka, Associate professor in Economic History, Lund University - Inmaculada Serrano, Tenured scientist, Spanish National Research Council (CSIC) - Melissa Randall, Head of Migration Outputs, Office for National Statistics, UK - Cinzia Conti, Senior Researcher, ISTAT - Yui Mutumol, Program Quality and Impact Director, Save the Children Thailand

This parallel session, made up of panellists selected by the IFMS Scientific Committee, explores the intersection of gender and migration, focusing on the experiences of migrant women across various contexts. Speakers will examine subjects such as the gendered dimensions of remittance practices among Cuban migrants in Miami and Madrid; assumptions about female-headed households in Somalia; and the integration of women into the labour market in Sweden. Moderator: Jalal Abbasi, Academy Fellow, Vienna Institute of Demography Speakers: -Denisse Delgado, Research Consultant, Migration Specialist, UNDP -Gabrielle Hubert, Data Analysis and Reporting Consultant, IOM UK -Yao Robert Djogbenou, Department of Demography, University of Montreal -Paula Kossack, Analyst, Statistics Sweden

As part of the EU-funded "Measuring irregular migration and related policies" (MIRREM) project, the University of Potsdam, in collaboration with the University of Oxford, European University Institute, and Vrije University Brussel have spent two years piloting new ideas on how to estimate irregular migration using, among other sources, social media data, flight passenger data, and mortality and healthcare data. In this parallel session, we present the methodological innovations, and the new estimates associated with this project. We provide a non-technical discussion of the relative benefits and risks of these approaches including the degree to which these approaches are scalable and can reach more countries. The panel will be based on a series of briefing papers released as part of the MIRREM project by the end of 2024. Moderator: Jasper Tjaden, Professor for Applied Social Research and Public Policy, University of Potsdam Speakers: - Tuba Bircan, Professor, Vrije University Brussels - Carlos Vargas-Silva, Professor, University of Oxford - Alejandra Rodriguez-Sanchez, Post-Doctoral Researcher, University of Potsdam - David Moriña, Assistant Professor, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona

This parallel session, made up of panellists selected by the IFMS Scientific Committee, explores challenges and opportunities when examining integration measures for migrant and refugee children across Europe. Panellists will discuss subjects such as the education access for displaced children with disabilities, the well-being and mental health of immigrant children and adolescents, and poverty disparities among migrant children. The session will offer various insights to improving policies and support systems for migrating children. Moderator: Lisa Höckel, Researcher, German Federal Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs Speakers: - Ilgi Bozdag, Statistics and Data Analysis Officer / Researcher, UNHCR & University of Paris 1 Pantheon Sorbonne - Elena Ambrosetti, Professor of Demography, Sapienza University of Rome - Graciela Martínez Caballero, Director of Statistics, Centre for Migration Studies, Migration Policy, Registration and Identity of Person Unit, Ministry of the Interior, Mexico - Frankesco Yorke, PhD Candidate, Stockholm University

This parallel session, made up of panellists selected by the IFMS Scientific Committee, explores the dynamics of refugee hosting, receiving, and integration in Europe. The session will shed light on topics such as the role of reception centres in asylum-seekers’ experiences, how longitudinal findings offer insights into the integration progress of refugees over time, and the importance of social integration practices upon arrival in a new country. Together, these presentations will provide evidence-based perspectives on migration policies, reception practices, and integration pathways in Europe. Moderator: Jean-Pierre Ntezimana, Senior Advisor, Statistics Sweden Speakers: - Ane Margrete Tømmerås, PhD Candidate, Stockholm University & Statistics Norway - Kai Schreiweis, Officer, Federal Ministry of the Interior and Community, Germany - Sophie Röttger, Associate Researcher, ICMPD - Susanne Zander, Senior Advisor, Statistics Sweden - Paul Baumgartner, Policy Analyst, ICMPD

This parallel session offers a dialogue about experiences in collecting and disseminating information about human mobility, which aims to establish dialogue and exchange of experiences between institutions, bringing different perspectives on the theme. From Brazil, we intend to present three initiatives that bring together data collection, the Brazilian Emigration Observatory and the CPLP Migration Observatory, which together provide information on migration in general and the Community of Portuguese-speaking Countries. Brazil's third initiative will be the proposal to create a migration information network, which aims to systematize information on international migration for access by a broader public. Of Cape Verde, we intend to discuss the mechanisms implemented for the collection and dissemination of information that involve the creation of the Cape Verde Migration Observatory. Thus, the session proposal seeks to expand the discussions initiated in the two previous forums and on the concrete basis of initiatives in the process of implementation, to discuss the possibilities of exchanging experiences in the production and dissemination of information on human mobility within the scope of CPLP countries. Moderator: Duval Fernandes, Professor, Pontifical Catholic University of Minas Gerais Speakers: - Wilson Fusco, Director of Social Research, Fundação Joaquim Nabuco (Fundaj) - Carmem Furtado, President, High Authority for Immigration, Cabo Verde - Jorge Malheiros, Professor, Center of Geographical Studies – IGOT University of Lisbon - Inês Vidigal, Executive Coordinator, Observatorio da Emigracao, CIES, ISCTE, Instituto de Lisboa

This session will highlight the ILO's key initiatives aimed at updating the statistical standards dedicated to international labour mobility to be more comprehensive and in line with related international statistical recommendations, including the new United Nations framework for migration statistics. It will also emphasize the ILO’s efforts to develop a new methodology for better and more detailed global and regional estimates on international migrants in the labour force. Additionally, the session will feature regional-level initiatives and partnerships focused on building national capacities in labour migration data production, analysis, dissemination, and use, all of which are vital to support countries’ efforts to meet the commitments for safe and orderly migration policy. Moderator: Nadia Touihri, Regional Labour Statistician, ILO - Regional Office for Africa Speakers: - Elisa Benes, Head of Rights, Migration & Skills Statistics Unit, STATISTICS, ILO - Andonirina Rakotonarivo, Statistician, ILO - Younyoung Park, Director, International Cooperation Division, Statistics Korea (KOSTAT) - Anna Engblom, Chief Technical Adviser, ILO

This parallel session, made up of panellists selected by the IFMS Scientific Committee, will consist of two presentations: the first presentation will propose five potential definitions of "host communities", aiming to address the lack of a universally agreed concept. By reviewing key frameworks like the Global Compact for Refugees and evaluating different definitions against empirical datasets, the paper will highlight how these definitions can be used to better understand the impact of displacement. The second presentation will discuss a scoring methodology developed to assess the absorption capacity of local communities in South Sudan, examining infrastructure quality and the potential for future service demands to accommodate IDPs and returnees. Both presentations are centered on understanding and defining the role and capacity of host communities in relation to displaced populations, particularly internally displaced persons (IDPs). Moderator: Marzia Rango, Programme Manager, Migration and Displacement Data, UNICEF Speakers: - Hyunju Park, Statistics and Data Officer, UNHCR - Dr. Sigrid Weber, Post Doctoral Fellow, Immigration Policy Lab - Stefanie Barratt, Head of Data Standards & Analytics, Samuel Hall

This parallel session, made up of panellists seletected by the IFMS Scientific Commitee, will highlight threemajor projects: the European Union Agency for Asylum’s (EUAA) Survey of Arriving Migrants from Ukraine (SAM-UKR), which tracks the socio-economic profiles, barriers to employment, and future intentions of displaced people across EU countries; the Federal Institute for Population Research’s (BiB) register-based study of Ukrainian refugees in Germany, which examines their socio-economic integration, including social bonding, health, language acquisition, and labour market access; and IMPACT’s Longitudinal Study of Ukrainian Refugees and Returnees which has monitored Ukrainian refugees in Europe using a longitudinal approach with multi-sectoral coverage. These projects emphasize the importance of real-time, large-scale data collection and the use of innovative sampling methods to support evidence-based decision-making and promote the integration of refugees. Moderator: Jean-Christophe Dumont, Head of the International Migration Division, OECD Speakers: - Constantinos Melachrinos, Senior Analyst, EUAA - Andreas Ette, Head of Research Group International Migration, Federal Institute for Population Research - Yuliia Polieva, Senior Assessment Officer, IMPACT Initiatives Ukraine

The Swedish Council for Higher Education (UHR) has conducted a comprehensive study on integration in the labour market, skills supply and the recognition of foreign qualifications. The study includes analyses of labour market entry and skills matching, the importance of a recognition statement for employers, recognition of foreign qualifications and further studies and analyses of societal integration. The study shows that recognition statements contribute to integration in the labour market, to an individual sense of belonging and to the future supply of skills. There is no explicit link between the statement and entry to the labour market, but the overall conclusion is clear: the statement is an important and useful instrument and an important piece of the puzzle in the wider context of integration and skills supply. Moderator: Per-Anders Stensson, Senior Credential Evaluator, Swedish Council for Higher Education Speakers: - Sofia Scholler, Analyst and Project Manager, Swedish Council for Higher Education - Francisco Contreras, Senior Credential Evaluator, Swedish Council for Higher Education - Thomas Liebig, Principal Administrator, Employment Division, OECD

UNHCR developed a new Household Survey program, the Forced Displacement Survey (FDS) to be implemented in low to medium income countries hosting significant number of displaced people. In the first phase of the program, the focus is on refugees and their respective host populations with the aim of collecting nationally representative socio-economic data on refugees. Between March 2023 and December 2024, the FDS was implemented in 3 countries: South Sudan, Cameroon and Pakistan. The session will (1) present new evidence on forcibly displaced populations in diverse contexts and (2) offer a unique opportunity to discuss the FDS data and its analytical potential with a diverse audience. The FDS data is aimed to be publicly available to foster knowledge on displaced people and their respective host populations. The session would represent a valuable entry point for future data users. Moderator: Andrej Kveder, Senior Statistics and Data Analysis Officer, UNHCR Speakers: - Imane Chaara, Survey Specialist, UNHCR - Neli Esipova, Founder and CEO, Multicultural Insights - Magrith Mena, Data Analyst, UNHCR

The core aim of this session is to present the results of an inter-agency analysis of socioeconomic data conducted by UNHCR together with IOM, ILO, and UN Women. Topics covered include at-risk-of-poverty rates, coping strategies, and labour market integration. The analysis attempts to tackle the question of economic vulnerability of Ukrainian refugee households and to propose interventions that can lead to an improvement in livelihoods. Gender, age, and disability dimensions are also considered. Each agency's findings, presented in this session, will illuminate the socioeconomic realities of Ukrainian refugees and provide a basis for developing evidence-based interventions to support their resilience and sustainable integration. Moderator: Giorgia Tornieri, Senior DIMA Coordinator, UNHCR Speakers: - Konstantin Fastovets, Economist, UNHCR - Erin Neale, Data Analysis and Reporting Officer, IOM Regional Office for Europe and Central Asia - Idil Yildiz Pilowsky, Assistant Statistician, ILO - Arianna Pearlstein, Research Consultant, UN Women (Europe and Central Asia Regional Office)

With a focus on Latin America, panellists in the session, each selected by the IFMS Scientific Committee, will discuss the impact of digitalization on remittances, efforts to enhance migration data through alternative sources like media and the news, and strategies for integrating data to produce more accurate estimates of migrant populations. The discussion will be shaped by the country experiences presented by each panellist. Moderator: Maria Isabel Cobos, Chief of the Social and Gender Statistics Section, UNSD Speakers: - Gemma Larramona, Associate Professor, Universidad de Zaragoza - Elio Villaseñor, National Institute of Statistics and Geography (INEGI) - Juan Trejo Bedon, Statistical Specialist, National Institute of Statistics and Information, Peru - Julibeth Rodriguez, Migration Specialist, National Statistics Institute of Chile