EU project will help identify needs of children left behind by migrant parents

Today, with the population of over 33 million people, Uzbekistan has become a major migrant exporting country in the region. Every year, thousands of people leave their families and children in search of better paying work abroad.

Although labor migration has been a powerful driver of economic growth in the country, little is known about its effects on the well-being of children left behind by migrating parents.

To understand the impacts of migration on children, within the EU financed project, UNICEF jointly with the Women’s Committee of Uzbekistan, will conduct a study in early 2019.  The study will include a survey of one thousand families of migrant workers, focus group discussions with caregivers and children, and in-depth interviews with relevant people in Bukhara, Fergana, Khorezm and Surkhandarya regions of Uzbekistan.

To ensure quality of data collection, UNICEF organized a training on ethical standards and child safeguarding procedures for the study team in December 2018.

Severine Jacomy Vite, Child Protection Specialist, UNICEF Europe and Central Asia Regional Office facilitated the three-day training. Participants developed data collection tools including a questionnaire, and focus group discussions guidelines for both caregivers and children.

The participants were also apprised of different concepts and standards in working with vulnerable groups, such as case management approach, used for referring families in difficult life situations to access available social services.  

Data collection will start in January 2019. The results will be shared along with evidence-based policy recommendations in May 2019. The study will also give an impetus to understanding the situation in Central Asia, through regional collaboration.

The study is a part of a multiregional project implemented by the Women’s Committee of Uzbekistan and UNICEF, and funded by the European Union. In Uzbekistan, the project focuses on research to initiate a policy discussion and improvement in service provision for vulnerable families.