Our Work

Migration has been a major human development factor since the hunting and gathering period of human evolution to ensure survival. It is conceptualized as an intrinsically socio-spatial phenomenon that involves the movement of individuals and groups across space into and out of an area. Currently, there are an estimated 281 million international migrants globally (or 3.6% of the world’s population) while the majority of migrants are internal or within sub-regions. Several factors precipitate migration including economic factors, forced migration as a result of conflict, development projects, or human trafficking among others.

Migrants in new environments are more vulnerable to exploitation including forced labor, sexual exploitation, and human trafficking. However, non-migrants or people in their home countries or communities may also be vulnerable to forced labor by organizations and in some cases state-imposed forced labor. Men, women, and children are affected by forced labor with women and men disproportionately affected. An estimated 25 million people are in forced labor globally, 20.8 million of which are working in the private economy and commercial sexual exploitation.

Our Services

MRL works with individuals, groups, communities, and organizations to help them understand their situation and explore options for the future. We believe that change is an integral part of everyone’s reality and that each of us has an active role in shaping the future - whether it’s our future or that of an organization or community. MRL uses a broad range of methodologies that enable a high degree of participation and interactive, experiential learning. We adapt and experiment with each unique set of circumstances, combining and selectively drawing on a range of tools and approaches as each process unfolds. We work with others to find a path that celebrates our strengths while critically engaging with our weaknesses.

Migration Governance

Our migration governance program works collaboratively with youth, community members, migrants, protection actors, employment bodies, workers’ organizations, governments, think tanks, academia, human rights experts, business networks, and the private sector. We focus on migration within or across borders and the increased vulnerability to abuse and exploitation that migrants may face whether they are moving regularly, irregularly, or internally. Within the context of migration, the focus on vulnerabilities to exploitation can extend to left-behind children and spouses by migrants in origin, transit, and in destination countries. Migrants face an increased vulnerability to a denial of social protection services such as health, education, and livelihood. Migrants in new environments are also vulnerable to human trafficking and associated forms of abuse and exploitation. Some of our interventions are focused around:

Strengthening Safe and Regular Labour Migration Pathways through Effective Policy and Community Engagement.
Strengthening Migrant Integration and Reintegration through Community Engagement and Social Cohesion.
Building Resilient Communities to Eradicate Human Trafficking and Smuggling.
Preventing, Protecting and Supporting Children on the Move.
Addressing Intersecting Crises: Climate Change and Gender in Migration
Promoting the Health of Vulnerable Populations (HIV/AIDS, Mental Health, Holistic Healthcare Services)

Forced Labor

Our collaborative programs on forced labor ensure human rights due diligence in the supply chain, address the vulnerabilities of families to forced labor, and engage government actors on policies that reinforce these practices. Our program interventions also address contemporary forms of forced labor often linked to human trafficking and modern slavery. Forced labor and modern slavery continue to be endemic issues in global production and manufacturing, especially in low-wage and labor-intensive industries requiring innovative community-led approaches and linkages with private corporations and governments.

Some of our interventions are focused around:

Awareness raising on forced labor indicators
Capacity building on forced labor indicators
Forced labor remediation services including identification referral remediation
Facilitating human rights and environmental due diligence in the supply chain

Rehabilitation Centre

MRL operates a temporary rehabilitation center providing shelter supportive services: love; counseling; legal aid; small assistance grants; formal preparatory education; vocational skills training; rehabilitation resettlement for survivors of irregular migration, forced labor and other forms of exploitation. Our experienced qualified professional staff provides gender-sensitive, victim-centered, trauma-informed appropriate cultural physical psychological care for people in the center.

Community-Led Program Cycle Development

We design, implement, and manage rights-based, gender-sensitive, community, and national-level programs within MRL. Our community-focused programs cut across multiple sectors based on the experiences and expertise of our team. These programs are aimed at upholding the rule of law and community development along the 4 P’s principle (Prevention, Protection, Prosecution and Partnership). Our work in this area is interlinked with our other services such as research monitoring evaluation of forced labour migration.

Areas of intervention include:

Strengthening safe, regular Labour Migration Pathways through Effective Policy and Community Engagement Program Description: This program aims to enhance safe and orderly labour migration by advocating for robust policies and fostering active community involvement. We will collaborate with government agencies to develop and implement comprehensive policies that protect migrants' rights and facilitate their integration. Concurrently, we will engage local communities in dialogue and educational initiatives to raise awareness about the benefits of legal migration, reduce stigma, and promote a supportive environment for migrants. Through research, advocacy, and collaboration with local authorities, we aim to create more accessible, transparent, and secure migration processes.
Strengthening Migrant Integration and Reintegration through Community Engagement and Social Cohesion Program Description: Focused on fostering social cohesion, this program addresses the challenges migrants face during integration and reintegration. We will create community-based support networks to provide resources and assistance to migrants, including language and vocational training, cultural orientation, and mental health services. By facilitating community engagement activities, we aim to bridge gaps between migrants and local populations, ensuring a harmonious and inclusive society where migrants can thrive and contribute meaningfully.
Building Resilient Communities to Eradicate Human Trafficking and Smuggling Program Description: This program is dedicated to eradicating human trafficking by strengthening community resilience and awareness. We will implement educational campaigns and workshops to inform communities about the dangers and signs of human trafficking and establish local task forces to monitor and report suspicious activities. By empowering community leaders and members with the knowledge and tools to combat trafficking, we aim to create a vigilant and proactive environment that protects vulnerable individuals and supports survivors. The program will also incorporate cross-cutting themes such as health and gender inclusivity in all aspects of the program.
Preventing, Protecting, and Supporting Children on the Move Program Description: The program focuses on safeguarding children who are on the move, whether due to migration, displacement, or trafficking. The program will provide immediate protection and support services, including safe shelters, medical care, and psychosocial support. We will also work on preventive measures by educating children and families about the risks of unsafe migration and trafficking. Additionally, we will advocate for policies that protect child migrants and ensure their rights are upheld, advocate for access to social protection services, and create safer pathways for their journeys.
Program Title: Addressing Intersecting Crises: Climate Change and Gender in Migration Program Description: This programme seeks to enhance safe, orderly, and regular migration pathways, focusing on the intersections between climate change and gender vulnerabilities. Recognising the significant impact of climate change on migration, particularly for women, children, and marginalised communities, this initiative prioritises community resilience, gender equity, and sustainable livelihood opportunities. By integrating climate adaptation strategies with gender-sensitive approaches, the programme addresses the unique risks faced by women and girls—such as heightened vulnerability to exploitation and forced migration—while promoting equitable access to resources, protection, and empowerment.
Promoting the Health of Vulnerable Populations: Comprehensive Care for Migrants, Refugees, Marginalized Communities, Women, and Children on the Move Program Description: Our program is dedicated to enhancing the health and well-being of vulnerable populations, including migrants, refugees, marginalized communities, women, and children on the move. Recognising the unique health challenges faced by these groups, we offer a comprehensive approach that includes HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment, mental health support, and holistic healthcare services. By integrating HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment with mental health support and comprehensive healthcare services, we aim to improve overall health outcomes, reduce health disparities, and enhance the quality of life for migrants, refugees, marginalised communities, women, and children on the move.

Research, Monitoring and Evaluation

As a participatory development-oriented organization we undertake research, monitoring, and evaluation on a wide range of socioeconomic themes relevant to the rule of law, community development, and poverty reduction, to understand the dynamics of these issues, and offer remedial alternative courses of action. We have a proven track record undertaking research with varied methodologies like participatory rural appraisal, mixed methods, qualitative, quantitative, and impact evaluations across several sectors.

To this end, we undertake:

Public policy analysis
Monitoring evaluation systems tools
Baseline midline end-line studies
Impact assessment

Organisation Development

We help strengthen internal mechanisms and controls and build the staff capacity of organizations to enable them to function at optimal levels and improve efficiency, transparency, and accountability in a manner that best serves constituents and stakeholders.

Our intervention includes:

Developing training manuals and curriculums

Facilitation capacity-building training for community leadership, civil society organizations, and government agencies stakeholders
Develop organisational systems, and structures including strategic plans

Fundraising and proposal development

Internships

MRL is committed to the human capital development of students and other professionals with interest in human rights, advocacy, community development, migration management, human trafficking, research, and forced labour. MRL partners with academic institutions and accepts individual applications for placements in experiential learning.