DYNAMIG project (2023-2025)

About the project

The DYNAMIG project aimed to create a more thorough understanding of how people make decisions on whether and how to migrate. We analysed to what extent the diverse experiences of migrants are taken into consideration when migration policies – or policies that impact migration – are made. We also explored how effective these policies are in shaping migrants’ decisions and behaviour.

The DYNAMIG project focused on EU policies and on migrants from African countries and regions because Africa is the continent where proportionally the most people have aspirations to migrate and African countries are central to EU policies that aim to influence migration. Some of these policies aim to limit irregular border crossings, while others seek to improve living conditions elsewhere, promote regular migration or protect migrants’ rights.

But to analyse the extent to which EU policies influence migration movements and decisions on the African continent, we needed to take into account the diversity of migrants’ personal experiences and consider policies in origin, transfer and host countries. That is why we had conversations with migrants who are planning to leave, who are in transit and who have returned, and looked at African policies that impact migration.

We aimed to shed light on the complexities and challenges of migration and managing migration movements, and to contribute to a more nuanced and evidence-based understanding of the diverse trajectories of migration and of policies that impact migration.

The DYNAMIG project employed a mix of innovative data collection and analysis methods and drew on a range of social sciences: development economics, geography, media, politics, sociology and social statistics. The project’s most detailed data collection focused on five African countries from three regions: Morocco, Tunisia, Senegal, Nigeria and Kenya.

Funding, timeline and partners

The DYNAMIG project was financed through the European Commission’s Horizon Europe programme and ran from 1 January 2023 until 31 December 2025. The project involved eight research institutes and universities in Europe and Africa, and was led by the Kiel Institute.

• Kiel Institute (Germany)
• ECDPM (the Netherlands and Belgium)
• Elizade University (Nigeria)
• African Migration and Development Policy Centre (Kenya)
• Mohammed VI Polytechnic University (Morocco)
• University of Luxembourg (Luxembourg)
• European University Institute – Migration Policy Centre (Italy)
• Middlesex University Higher Education Corporation (United Kingdom)

This project was funded by the European Union’s Horizon Europe research and innovation programme under grant agreement number 101094347.

ECDPM's contributions

ECDPM led the project's outreach and impact efforts, with a strong focus on bridging research and policymaking.

We contributed to DYNAMIG analysis and provide advice, training and support to the project team to enhance the policy relevance and uptake of DYNAMIG research. We organised six policy workshops in Brussels – held in 2023 and 2025 – and hosted the project's final conference in late 2025, also in Brussels. We also contributed to policy workshops organised by our partners in Nairobi and Rabat in 2024.

In addition, we developed and implemented the project's visual identity, website, and outreach and impact strategy.

More information

For questions about the project, visit the project website or contact management coordinator Tobias Heidland. For communications or media enquiries related to the project, get in touch with Nina Thijssen.