Think Creative Issue 8

Dispatches

updates from around our world

Creative launches Center for Migration & Economic Stabilization

Creative’s new Center for Migration and Eco- nomic Stabilization aims to drive innovation and program responsiveness to an ever-present global phenomenon. “Our launch is timely since COVID-19 has generated new urgencies around migration,” says Creative President and CEO Leland Kruvant. “This Center will combine technical rigor and ingenuity with Creative’s on-the- ground programmatic experience to address the pressing challenges that lure migrants into risking it all.” The Center for Migration and Economic Stabi- lization builds on Creative’s 2019 groundbreak- ing research on the drivers of migration from Central America’s Northern Triangle. Pablo Maldonado, Creative’s Chief Operating Officer, says those motivations to migrate north remain as present as ever and will combine with the effects of the pandemic to generate a powerful impetus to migrate. “Migration is connected and overlaps with oth- er systemic challenges facing Central America, West Africa and elsewhere,” Maldonado says. “Unfortunately, long-standing development

challenges will intersect with the economic hardship of COVID-19 to create a perfect storm for migration. We will see shifts in migra- tion activity and trends, including changing attitudes, internal migration and relocations across borders all caused by the economic squeeze.” The Center will serve as a hub of thought lead- ership on the issue of migration both as a cause and byproduct of other development challeng- es. Its focus will be on serving the underserved, those who are not typically touched by more traditional economic development, including youth, women and those working in informal economies. The Center will continue and expand on Creative’s earlier migration pursuits, including methodical data gathering to track migration and its drivers, demystification of popular migration beliefs that are not supported by evidence and, more broadly, the creation of programs that are material to the decision to migrate —mostly in the economic arena, Maldonado says. “The Center will help us stay at the forefront

Creative’s 2019 study found that intention to migrate among youth was highest for Honduran women like Dayra.

Photos by Janey Fugate

8 | Think Creative | Fall 2020