Cristina de Cárdenas

Gothenburg, Sweden
+44 (0) 7565 062486
gusdeccr@student.gu.se

Minor Field Study Application 2019/2020: PROJECT PLAN

Project title: “Providing Evidence for Data-Challenged

Environments: Migrant’s integration in Mexico”

Applicant: Cristina de Cárdenas

ID: 19920506-2046
University of Gothenburg,
Department of Political Science
Master Thesis in “International Administration and
Global Governance”, Spring 2020

Table of contents

Project Plan 2

Name of study 2

Background to field study and forthcoming thesis 2

Purpose of field study 3

Method 3

Implementation 4

Practical matters 5

Preliminary budget 5

Risks 5

Alternative plan 6

Ethics 6

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References 6

Project Plan

This study will be performed in the provinces of (TBD) during 9 weeks in the months of
February and March 2020 (TBC).

Name of study (preliminary)

“Providing Evidence for Data-Challenged Environments: Migrant’s integration in

Mexico”

Background to field study and forthcoming thesis

1. At a global level, Cities are hubs for ideas, culture, science, productivity, shared
prosperity and social, human and economic development. The power of attraction
of urbanization is reflected by the fact that 60% of migrants and 80% of refugees
and IDPs move to cities. In many cases, significant challenges remain to integrate
the newly arrived into their new communities properly (IOM). Sustainable
Development Goal 11, "make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient
and sustainable” along with Goal 10 “reduce inequalities” are the aspirational
foundation to promote a “Right to the City” within migrant, refugee and IDP
communities across the world.

2. Mexico is currently facing pressing challenges concerning migrants, refugees and

other displaced people. In 2018, the number of people arriving at Mexico’s
southern border with Guatemala fleeing criminal violence, political unrest and
economic hardship soared. The number of asylum claims in Mexico rose by more
than 103% in 2018 over the previous year, from 14,596 to 29,623 (UNHCR). This
unexpected increase is primarily due to the deterioration of the situation in
Honduras, Nicaragua and Venezuela coupled with people seeking asylum in
Mexico instead of continuing further. The upward trend is likely to continue as the
drivers of displacement remain in place and because return options in the region
are limited. Further, is relevant to mention that an increasing number of persons in
need of international protection see Mexico as a destination country rather than a
transit country and this trend is likely to continue.

3. One reason why Mexico is increasingly viewed as a destination country is that

prospects for formal employment are good in specific parts of the country,
particularly urban areas. In this concern, it is important to stress that Mexico is a
predominantly urban country, with more than 80% of its population living in cities.

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 Hence, Mexican cities are becoming important poles of attraction to migrants,
refugees and other displaced people.

4. Critical gaps assessing the living conditions of migrants in Mexican cities have
had a negative impact on the effectiveness of local migration policies and
actions. The above is often exacerbated due to a lack of resources, technical
capacities and political interest within municipalities.
In consequence, the absence of fundamental evidence puts in risk the integration
and fulfillment of human rights within migrants and refugees.
An improvement on migration data and dynamics could improve local policies
accuracy and efficiency in terms of migrants’ inclusion, social cohesion,
strategic planning, economic development, etc. It would also contribute to the
global knowledge and literature on the social and economic impact of migration,
supporting a balanced narrative on migration.
However, the inclusion of migration in the local development agenda requires not only
the effective utilization of current data sources, but also the development of new
methods and techniques to collect and analyze migration related data.

Purpose of field study

The purpose and objective of the study is to contribute to the strengthening of the migration
policy-making in Mexican cities - through improved evidence, knowledge and data on
migration, and with a special focus on urban matters such as housing, public space, urban
mobility and other services provided to migrants by the local government.

Method

The study will be conducted in collaboration with UN-Habitat’s and UNHCR’s Country Offices
in Mexico, being UN-Habitat the focal point for contact and organization of the study.

UN-Habitat uses the CPI Rapid Data Tool - an integrated evidence instrument for urban data-
challenged environments, which aims to rapidly implement an effective platform to monitor
specific matters, such as the accessibility of migrants, refugees and IDPs to human rights and
services under a long-term perspective.

The CPI Rapid Data Tool, is based on the methodology of the City Prosperity Index and
integrates statistical, cartographic and qualitative data.
The City Prosperity Index (CPI) is developed and promoted by UN-Habitat to facilitate the shift
from an emergency-humanitarian approach as to effectively integrate the newly arrived into
their new communities, empowering local governments. The tool also entails the integration
of produced knowledge into the local policy making process, through data socialization
activities.

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To meet the study’s objective, I will conduct a qualitative study on selected target groups of
communities (TBD) in selected (by UN-Habitat) cities in Mexico (TBD). I will, with help of my
supervisor/contact at UN-Habitat Mexico, customize the ‘CPI Perception Index’ to the
specific context of the community and relevant challenges faced by migrants, refugees and
IDPs. After that, several surveys will be conducted, guided by the following questions:
● Where are migrants, refugees and IDPs living in the city?
● How is their access to rights and urban services (Housing, Labour, Education
etc.)

● The method of the thesis will be based on a qualitative field study and semi-structured
interviews will be used in order to collect a primary source of data. Secondary sources
such as hard data on migration statistics and quantitative existing databases as well
as cartographic material will be used in order to achieve a broader understanding of
the situation amongst the different provinces.
● In order to achieve high reliability, the ethical guidelines as well as neutrality and
credibility will be taken in consideration during the interviews.
● By permission of the respondents, the interviews will be recorded and written down
and later transcribed, and the interviews will be performed in group as well as
individually.
● The above will be complemented by performing participatory observations.

Implementation

My study (phase 2 of the below) will be part of a major project conducted by UN-Habitat, and
will entail the following steps:
a) After the selection of a city, and the mapping of duty bearers and stakeholders,
the pilot will be set up on three phases: firstly, statistical and perception data
will be collected. In the case of qualitative data, as detailed above, this will be
done through focus groups with local stakeholders in order to identify focus
urban areas and neighborhoods to implement the subsequent phases. Also,
this phase will allow validating the sectorial area of priority (housing, public
space etc).
b) The second phase will entail the calculation of selected spatial, statistical and
perception indicators for the selected urban areas/neighborhoods.
c) Lastly, the third phase envisages the elaboration of a Results Dossier, as well
as the implementation of advocacy and data socialization activities within local
policy makers and urban planners.

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Practical matters

Time Schedule Supervisors

January 2020: Preparing course
Härnösand. Details regarding the at Gothenburgs University
trip, including transportation, Amy Alexander
housing, vaccines etc. will be Senior lecturer
organized. amy.alexander@gu.se
January 2020: Further research on +46 31 786 3946
the background, and the method
and theoretical frameworks will be Supervisor in Mexico
developed. I intend to complete Luis Herrera-Favela
these parts before date of luis.herrera-favela@un.org
departure. City Prosperity Initiative
February 2020: The field study will UN Habitat, Mexico/Nairobi
take place and information will be
assembled and submitted into my Preliminary budget
thesis. Individual budget, calculated for 9
May 2020: Finalizing the thesis and weeks in Mexico.
examination. ● Transport in Sweden (Härnösand)
1 000 SEK
Housing ● Flights: 8 000 SEK
I will mainly be staying in hostels ● Housing: (150/day*) 9 450 SEK
and Airbnb’s in order to keep the ● Daily expenses: (110 SEK/day) 6
price as low as possible. I will be 930 SEK
staying in ____ (TBD) for a few days ● Transfer in Mexico: 4 000 SEK
in order to settle in before traveling ● Printing of thesis: 500 SEK
to (TBD) where the field study will ● Unforeseen costs: 1 500 SEK
take place.
Total: 31 380 SEK

Risks

Risk regarding the study execution could include, but not be limited to:
- Delay in workshop plan dates, due to unpredictable causes such as resistance from
local authorities, for example
- Unpredictable situations in the migrant communities lives due to the nature of their
vulnerable situation
- Poor quality of the collected data, due to unforeseen events (for example, technical)
in the workshops/structured interviews
- ...

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Alternative plan

➔ If any of the above mentioned risks become a reality, measures will be taken to readapt
the data collection. As the timespan of the study can be extended to more weeks, and
being the beginning itself of the collection in the middle of the term, there’s flexibility
to move the visit dates up or down. It would all have to be synched with UN-Habitats
plan and the local authorities availability, but with such an anticipation in planning, it
should not be a problem-
➔ As I am fluent in Spanish, there will be no language barriers. If migrant communities
happen to be non Spanish speakers, an interpreter will be provided by UNHCR/UN
Habitat.
➔ I as I have previously done an internship with UN Habitat in its HQ in Nairobi, I have
already established a solid contact and relationship to the Project Managers, which
will in any casi facilitate any re-adaptation of the plan.
➔ Being the study part of a major project that has already secured its funding, the
likelihood of it being significantly modified, is minor.

Ethics

Migrant communities that flee from regional conflicts within Latin America do not choose to
freely move because of an upgrade to their opportunities. In other words, they are not solely
economic migrants but rather fleeing from conflict and extreme situations where their lives
are at a potential risk. Being the study an assessment of their opportunities and integration
once arrived to the new cities, there are some ethical implications that must be considered.
These considerations relate to them being vulnerable individuals and communities. No part of
the study can be harmful or potentially disrespectful for their integrity, dignity, or in any case
against any basic human right.

References

● IOM, World Migration Report (2018)

● UNHCR, Progress Report (2018) A Global Strategy to Support Governments to End
the Detention of Asylum-Seekers & Refugees, 2014 - 2019
● UN-Habitat, CPI: unhabitat.org/urban-initiatives/initiatives-programmes/city-
prosperity-initiative/