Safer Migration (SaMi) Programme
Relevance and scope of SaMi Programme (2024-2028)
The Safer Migration (SaMi) Programme continues to be relevant in Nepal’s labour migration context. The SaMi Programme (2024-2028) is designed to support the consolidation of the 12-year-long partnership between the Swiss Agency for Cooperation and Development (SDC) and the Government of Nepal (GoN) in safer migration, institutionalization of safer migration-related services in Nepal, and strengthening the capacities of three levels of government to effectively take over the complete management, financing, and quality assurance of program components. Based on lessons learned from the previous phases of SaMi program, SDC will technically accompany the relevant government counterparts and improve the capacity of respective institutions at all levels to enable them to fully take over service delivery. In particular, the program will strengthen the role of the provincial governments (PGs) to take up a more proactive role in the implementation of the key program components and to ensure quality assurance of the services delivered at the local level. In line with this, the program also offers opportunities for the PGs and local governments (LGs) to strengthen their existing monitoring, evaluation, and learning framework.
Objectives:
- "To support the relevant bodies of the federal, provincial, and local levels to strengthen their capacity to ensure the well-being of migrant workers and their families at all stages of foreign employment."
Key Activities:
- Information and counseling
- Access to justice
- Psychosocial counseling
- Financial literacy
- Skill-based training
Expected Results:
Female and male migrant workers and their families have increased the benefits and mitigated the social implications of migration.
All three levels of the government use effective mechanisms for the protection of migrant workers and their families.
Major Achievements:
| Date | Title |
|---|---|
| The Safer Migration (SaMi) Programme successfully strengthened the capacity of government institutions and local stakeholders to promote safe, informed, and dignified foreign employment while improving the well-being and protection of migrant workers and their families. Through information and counseling services, legal assistance, psychosocial support, financial literacy, and multi-stakeholder coordination, the programme contributed to strengthening migration governance in Kavrepalanchok District. | |
| Improved Access to Information and Counseling | Successfully operated one Migrant Resource Centre (MRC) at the District Administration Office, providing information, counseling, and referral services to prospective migrant workers and their families. |
| Provided information and counseling services to 14,734 individuals (8,472 males and 6,262 females) through the MRC. | |
| Reached an additional 1,039 individuals (452 males and 587 females) through returnee volunteers. | |
| Conducted community-level orientation programmes on safe foreign employment, benefiting 565 participants (290 males and 275 females), thereby increasing awareness of safe migration procedures, migrant rights, and available support services. | |
| Strengthened Access to Justice | Registered 34 foreign employment-related cases at the Migrant Resource Centre and facilitated referrals to the appropriate government agencies. |
| Successfully resolved 11 cases through facilitation and supported the resolution of an additional case through the District Administration Office. | |
| Facilitated the receipt of NPR 50,000 through legal support mechanisms for affected migrant workers. | |
| Assisted eligible migrant workers in receiving NPR 4,966,000 under the Government of South Korea Insurance (GOSI) scheme. | |
| Facilitated NPR 2,100,000 in financial assistance and compensation from various government agencies for eligible migrant workers and their families. | |
| Expanded Psychosocial Support Services | Mobilized one trained psychosocial counselor to provide psychosocial support services. |
| Delivered individual psychosocial counseling to 30 female beneficiaries. | |
| Conducted group psychosocial counseling sessions for 30 female participants, helping migrant workers and their families cope with the psychosocial impacts of foreign employment. | |
| Improved Financial Literacy | Conducted a 21-week Financial Literacy Class benefiting 50 women from migrant households. |
| Organized a 3-day Financial Literacy Training for financial institutions, reaching 82 participants (24 males and 58 females). | |
| Conducted a one-day Financial Literacy Orientation Programme for community groups, benefiting 117 participants (4 males and 113 females). | |
| Delivered 90-minute financial literacy sessions in schools, reaching 144 students (61 males and 83 females) and promoting financial literacy among young people. | |
| Facilitated Access to Skills Development | Collected, updated, and disseminated information on local, provincial, and national skill development opportunities through the Migrant Resource Centre, enabling prospective migrant workers to access relevant skill-based training before migration. |
| Strengthened Coordination and Institutional Capacity | Conducted meetings of the Safe Migration Management Steering Committee and regular coordination meetings among the District Administration Office, local governments, Employment Service Centres, and programme staff to strengthen programme coordination, implementation, and service delivery. |
| Organized stakeholder orientation and interaction programmes involving police personnel, journalists, local elected representatives, judicial committee members, health officials, and other local stakeholders to strengthen collaboration and promote awareness of safe migration and migrant rights. | |
| Observed International Migrants Day through awareness and interaction programmes, promoting public understanding of safe migration and the rights and responsibilities of migrant workers. | |
| Overall, the Safer Migration (SaMi) Programme made a significant contribution to strengthening migration governance and improving access to essential migration services in Kavrepalanchok District. By enhancing information and counseling services, legal assistance, psychosocial support, financial literacy, and institutional coordination, the programme promoted safe, informed, and dignified foreign employment while strengthening the protection, well-being, and resilience of migrant workers and their families. |
Project information
- Geographic coverage 13 Local Levels of Kavrepalanchok District
- Project duration 12 months (16th July, 2024-15th July, 2025)
- Project Location Dhulikhel Municipality of Kavrepalanchok District
- Budget 3,951,000.00
- Funding partner's Dhulikhel Municipaltiy
- Implementation Partner (a) District Administration Office (DAO). (b) Employment Service Centres (ESCs). (c) Returnee Migrants’ Networks (RMNs). (d) Health Units at LGs.
- Target groups (a) Migrant workers (prospective, in service, and returnees) and their families. (b) Migrant workers (prospective, in service, and returnees) and their families. (c) PGs, LGs, health training centres, psychosocial counsellors, migrant returnees, and families with psychosocial problems. (d) LGs, FL facilitators, returnee migrant workers, and families of migrant workers. (e) NAVT, and training seekers for both domestic and international labour markets.
