Migrants & ICTs

How to Use Digital Tools and Digital Media to Reach Migrants

Leda Kuneva (Center for the Study of Democracy)

This policy brief provides developers of ICT4RM (information and communications technology for refugees and migrants) solutions, tools and resources with practice-oriented recommendations on the process of designing, implementing and evaluating digital products. It does so with a view of engaging target user bases sustainably, efficiently and successfully. The brief presents the most common use cases of ICT4RM to demonstrate the breadth of utility of those solutions. It also raises awareness on key challenges that have a bearing on creating digital tools for migrants.

The spread of mobile tech, and the preference of migrants prior to, during and after their migration journeys for this type of smart devices, open a vast discussion about the uses of digital tools and media to reach and engage migrants. The policy brief builds on the considerable work done under the PERCEPTIONS project. In the first substantive section, a spectrum of use cases for ICT4RM are described and backed by real-life examples, illustrating that ICT solutions can fill vital niches in service provision for refugees and migrants in an impactful and meaningful manner. The second section offers a succinct summary of enabling and prohibitive factors, risks and challenges related to ICT4RM. The goal is to enhance knowledge on the importance of designing responsive and ethical innovations. Finally, the recommendations offer a pathway to designing and implementing successful, efficient and engaging digital solutions in the area of migration and integration through human rights based and participatory perspectives.