The European Commission has awarded Dr Laura Hammond, Head of Development Studies at SOAS University of London, a €4 million contract to direct a Research and Evidence Facility in support of the work of the EU Trust Fund for Africa. IMI director Oliver Bakewell will lead the research on migration and development as part of this project.
The EU Trust Fund for Africa’s work address crises in the regions of the Sahel and Lake Chad, the Horn of Africa and in parts of North Africa. It aims to support stability and contribute to better migration management as well as addressing the root causes of destabilisation, forced displacement and irregular migration, in particular by promoting resilience, economic and equal opportunities, security and development, and addressing human rights abuses.
This award supports a project focusing on the Horn of Africa region, with the Research and Evidence Facility working closely with a consortium involving SOAS, IMI, and the Nairobi-based think tank Sahan Research.
The 30-month project is anticipated to begin in the coming months.