National Workshop on: “IOM’s Displacement Tracking Matrix (DTM) to collect, analyze and disseminate migration data”

International Organization for Migration (IOM) – the UN Migration Agency, Mission to Turkmenistan in partnership with Ministry of Foreign Affairs and State Migration Service of Turkmenistan organized Online Workshop for the national partners on «Displacement Tracking Matrix (DTM) to collect, analyze and disseminate migration data» within the framework of the " Comprehensive Action Plan for Afghanistan and Neighbouring Countries” project, funded by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC). 

Objective of this activity was to introduce IOM’s Displacement Tracking Matrix (DTM), migration data, research programs, share with national counterparts the experience of the countries of the European Union, Central Asia, Turkey, Thailand, and Mongolia in collecting data on returnees and stranded migrants, assessing, analyzing their vulnerabilities, and disseminating data on migration. The activity would contribute the capacity at the central and local levels of key government agencies for migration policy development and collecting migration data. The workshop brought together representatives from the Ministries and departments of Turkmenistan government including the State Migration Service, Ministry of Internal Affairs of Turkmenistan, Ministry of Labor and Social Protection, State Committee on Statistics, Administration of Ashgabat (Hakimlik) and the State Border Service of Turkmenistan.

DTM Regional Project Coordinator from the Republic of Austria- Mrs. Esra Kayi introduced to participants how the DTM was developed, practical use of collecting data, experiences of other countries relating to the DTM, and its benefits for governments and migrants as well. This new concept of migration data management aroused interest and further discussions between national partners on its possible deployment in Turkmenistan.

The meeting began with welcoming remarks by Mr. Azat Atajanov, the Head of IOM mission in Turkmenistan:

«DTM is the advanced system that will assist in regularly collecting, processing and disseminating multi-level information about the mobility and vulnerabilities of mobile populations during times of crisis.», DTM Regional Project Coordinator Mrs. Esra Kayi continued that: «The overall aim of the DTM methodological framework  is to provide guidance on the selection process, expected results and limitations associated with various components, tools and methods used by DTM for quantification of displacement and mobility.»