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We’ll Find A Way

For vulnerable people to have more opportunities to advance themselves

Who We Are

Our Vision

Our vision is for a world in which vulnerable people have more opportunities to advance themselves.

Our Mission

The purpose of our social enterprise is to work with vulnerable people to build a better future for them.

Our Values

You can read more about the qualities of our work in English, Arabic, Danish, Dari, French, German, Indonesian or Pashto.

LEARN MORE ABOUT US

Our Themes

These are our areas of expertise, in which we have been working with various organisations and local communities to help vulnerable people.

Migration

Our unique advantage comes from taking the migrant’s perspective – with that insight, we magnify the positive impacts of migration and mitigate the downside for migrants, their families and destination communities.

Human Trafficking & Modern Slavery

From child trafficking to modern slavery among domestic workers to exploitation in the fishing industry, we apply our services to promote better outcomes for low-skilled migrants.

Social Inclusion

Our mission is to expand opportunities for marginalized groups to access employment and to promote social mobility.

Environment

Climate change and environmental destruction is making the lives of the most vulnerable, even more precarious. Seefar is drawing down carbon and restoring biodiversity through projects that provide opportunities for our beneficiaries.

Migration Spotlight

Seefar is a leader in the migration field. We conduct migration awareness-raising and behavioural change

campaigns in some of the most difficult operating environments in the world. Take a glimpse at our recent work.

Campaigns

Our flagship migration communications campaign “The Migrant Project” informs potential migrants about the risks of irregular migration and empowers them to make safer and more informed migration decisions.

Research

Our research aims to understand the best responses to challenges that impact vulnerable people, such as our study on a destination country’s brand in the minds of people considering irregular migration

Innovation

Our 3E-impact method of communication employs an integrated approach to migration campaigns. Through direct community influence, we enhance knowledge, shift attitudes, and change behaviours.

Where We Work

LEARN MORE ABOUT OUR SERVICES

Our Supporters

We achieve more because we work with good partners. Here are some of them.

SEE MORE OF OUR SUPPORTERS

Latest News

Pregnancy Partner: Seefar launches an app to empower parents with reliable information

Navigating a pregnancy can be a daunting experience, especially during a pandemic. All over the world, antenatal care services have been restricted, leaving expectant parents feeling anxious and lost. Pregnancy Partner – Seefar’s latest innovation – is a mobile phone application which aims to empower people to strengthen the heath and wellbeing of their whole …

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Curbing COVID-19 through Community-Driven Communications

In 2020, billions of dollars were poured into mass communications campaigns to spread information about the COVID-19 disease. However, many communities around the world were either unable or unwilling to adopt preventative measures despite having been exposed to official messaging on the topic. Seefar’s success in behaviour change communications is based on our unique focus …

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TERA: The Ethical Recruitment Agency

The lack of good job opportunities at home drives millions of people to seek work abroad and can discourage migrants from considering returning to their home countries. In pursuing better jobs and economic opportunties, migrants often end up in situations of trafficking, modern slavery and irregular mirgrant status. Vulnerabilities begin at the earliest stages of …

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LIFT: reimagining livelihood interventions for survivors of CSE and trafficking in India

There is an increasing need to deviate from traditional livelihood projects and to employ livelihood approaches tailored to the specific needs of survivors of commercial sexual exploitation (CSE) and trafficking. Seefar’s LIFT India project places mental health and empowerment training as critical building blocks to successful livelihood pathways for survivors. With funding from the Global …

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Exploring migrants’ trust in humanitarian organisations

Seefar’s past research as part of the IMREF consortium has shown that a lack of trust in humanitarian organisations affects migrants’ willingness to seek available assistance. However, evidence on the factors shaping migrants’ trust in humanitarian actors and how organisations can effectively mitigate this access barrier is limited. This study therefore provides an improved understanding …

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Exploration de la confiance accordée aux organisations humanitaires par les migrants

Les recherches menées par Seefar dans le cadre du consortium IMREF ont montré que le manque de confiance dans les organisations humanitaires affecte la volonté des migrants de rechercher l’aide disponible. Cependant, les preuves sur les facteurs qui façonnent la confiance des migrants dans les acteurs humanitaires et sur la façon dont les organisations peuvent …

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COVID-19, migration intentions and human trafficking in Benin City, Nigeria

Our latest report on the effects of COVID-19 on migration looks at how the global pandemic is changing attitudes and behaviours of potential migrants in Edo State, Nigeria – and what these changes mean for supporting them in their migration decision-making and reducing their vulnerability to human trafficking. After exploring the impact of COVID-19 on …

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Study on Child Trafficking and Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children in West Bengal, India, reveals gaps in knowledge and risk perception among children, their families and their communities

Gaps in knowledge and risk perception on the child trafficking (CT) and commercial sexual exploitation of children (CSEC) are among some of the key drivers for continued exploitation of children in West Bengal, India, a new study shows. The study, “Understanding Child Trafficking and Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children in West Bengal India”, was commissioned …

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Activating personal initiative behaviours among youth in Afghanistan

Over 400 Afghan youth in Herat and Nangarhar provinces have been provided with soft skills training aimed at activating personal initiative behaviours. This personal initiative training, implemented by Seefar between November 2020 and February 2021 with the support of the World Bank, is the first of its kind in Afghanistan. Having personal initiative means to …

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Comprendre les relations entre les communautés locales et les migrants à Gao et Agadez

Cette étude examine les relations entre les communautés locales et les migrants en transit à Agadez, au Niger et à Gao, au Mali. Agadez et Gao sont deux importants centres de transit migratoire au Sahel, où l’ampleur de la programmation en matière de développement et d’aide humanitaire a considérablement augmenté au cours des cinq dernières …

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Understanding Relations between Local Communities and Transit Migrants in Gao and Agadez

This study examines the relations between local communities and transit migrants in Agadez, Niger and Gao, Mali. Agadez and Gao are two important migration transit hubs in the Sahel where the scale of development and humanitarian programming has increased significantly in the past five years. Findings draw on a desk review of 58 sources, semi-structured …

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Request for proposals – develop an Android mobile app for teachers

Seefar has a network of teachers in countries such as Mali, Nigeria, Afghanistan and Indonesia. We support them to improve their knowledge and skills. In 2021, we will adapt some of our content for delivery as modules in a mobile application (“the app”). Version 1 of the app will be a one-way content delivery platform. …

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Over half of irregular migrants consulted in Mali choose safer migration options

Seefar’s behaviour change campaign in Mali has resulted in more than half of consultees making safer and more informed migration decisions, according to evaluation data. The campaign ran from February to December 2020, and was aimed at raising awareness about the dangers of irregular migration amongst potential migrants to protect them from harm and exploitation. …

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COVID-19 preventative behaviour change campaign pilot in Ethiopia

Seefar’s pilot campaign in six refugee camps in Ethiopia has resulted in more than half of beneficiaries taking active measures to prevent COVID-19 transmission, according to evaluation data. Active measures include avoiding crowded spaces, wearing masks, frequent handwashing and covering coughs and sneezes. The pilot ran from July to October 2020, and was aimed at …

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One-in-three irregular migrants in transit choose safer migration options after receiving counselling from On the Move campaign

Seefar’s pilot remote migration communications campaign in Turkey and Serbia has resulted in over one third of transit migrants making safer and more informed migration decisions after receiving a consultation on the risks and realities of irregular migration. The campaign, On The Move, ran from April to December 2020 and was aimed at informing transit …

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Addressing the risks of irregular migration amongst transit and potential migrants in Niger

Seefar’s campaign in Niger has successfully raised awareness amongst 7,500 transit and potential migrants about the risks and realities of irregular migration, enabling them to make safer migration decisions and avoid serious and potentially deadly risks on the journey to Europe. The campaign ran from June 2019 to May 2020 and was aimed at providing …

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Campaign to inform migrant decision making in Afghanistan

Seefar’s migration communications campaign in Afghanistan has successfully resulted in more than half of consultees making safer and more informed migration decisions, and avoiding potentially deadly encounters on the journey to Europe. The campaign ran from February to December 2020 and was aimed at informing potential Afghan migrants about the risks and realities of irregular …

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The Seefar Foundation launches Climate Change Program

Clarification Questions The Seefar Foundation needs partners able to deliver a range of climate positive initiatives across Africa, Europe, the Middle East and Asia.Specifically, we want to hear from organisations and individuals with a track record or expertise in at least one of the following: Rewilding at scaleLow carbon regenerative plant-based agriculture and/or Biocyclic FarmingIndustrial …

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Measuring a destination country’s brand in the minds of people considering irregular migration

This paper demonstrates the power of a country’s brand name in attracting and repelling people considering irregular migration – a dynamic we label your “brand impact”. Four out of five European countries show a clear positive or negative effect in a test designed to isolate the influence of the country’s name. For countries engaged in …

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Accéder aux migrants les plus vulnérables à Ouagadougou et Agadez

Les personnes qui voyagent d’Afrique de l’Ouest vers l’Afrique du Nord sont vulnérables aux abus sur la route,. Pourtant, les parties prenantes s’accordent à dire qu’assister ces migrants en transit est particulièrement difficile car ils font face à des défis spécifiques qui diffèrent des autres contextes de déplacement humanitaire. Cette étude examine les vulnérabilités des …

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Accessing the Most Vulnerable Migrants in Ouagadougou and Agadez

People in mixed migration journeys on the Central Mediterranean Route are vulnerable to harm, including violence, physical abuse and exploitation. Yet, stakeholders agree that providing direct assistance to these transit migrants is difficult because it comes with specific challenges that differ from other humanitarian displacement contexts. This study looks at vulnerabilities among migrants in two …

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Explorer l’impact de COVID-19 sur les vulnérabilités des migrants sur la route de la Méditerranée centrale

Les mesures visant à freiner la propagation de la COVID-19 ont eu des effets importants sur les migrants sur la route Méditerranéenne centrale. Dans le cadre du consortium IMREF*, Seefar a interrogé des migrants bloqués à Gao (Mali), Agadez (Niger) et Ouagadougou (Burkina Faso) pour mieux comprendre les défis auxquels ils font face. Cette étude …

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Exploring the Impact of COVID-19 on the Vulnerabilities of Migrants on the Central Mediterranean Route

Measures to curb the spread of COVID-19 have had significant effects on migrants via the Central Mediterranean Route (CMR). As part of the IMREF consortium*, Seefar has interviewed migrants stranded in Gao (Mali), Agadez (Niger) and Ouagadougou (Burkina Faso) to understand the challenges they face. The study explores the effects of COVID-19 containment measures on …

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Emerging Needs & Limitations: Adapting migration communication campaigns during the coronavirus pandemic

The current coronavirus pandemic has brought far-reaching consequences to communities across the globe: pushing health systems to their limits, isolating vulnerable individuals and worsening pre-existing inequalities. Seefar works with severely affected communities in East Asia, Central Asia, South Asia, the Middle East, East Africa, North Africa, West Africa, the Sahel, and Europe, delivering communication campaigns to people …

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Empowering Uganda’s Most Vulnerable People

As many countries weaken their commitment to vulnerable people and refugees, Uganda stands apart as a progressive model of community-based protection and refugee integration. Yet millions of people remain vulnerable despite stark needs, including urban refugees. These women, men and children are acutely vulnerable to exploitation. But with a few simple changes that engage community-based …

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Seefar in West Africa: mission-driven and innovative with a sustained impact

Since 2015, Seefar has worked on several projects in West Africa spanning Niger, Mali, The Gambia, Nigeria, Burkina Faso, Ivory Coast, Senegal, and Guinea. Our work in the region centres around themes such as modern slavery, and drivers of migration. Recent projects based in and on West Africa have included major mixed-methods research and strategic …

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Using Machine Learning to build an Asylum Coalition Index

The Asylum Coalition Index (ACI) uses machine learning to group European governments according to shared priorities on irregular migration and asylum. By identifying where two or more European countries share an origin country of concern, governments have the information they need to build strategic partnerships.The ACI is created using an automated tool called “k-means clustering.” …

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Understanding forced labour amongst migrant domestic workers in Asia

Forced labour affects almost 25 million people globally. Migrant workers, and particularly overseas domestic workers, are vulnerable to exploitation at the hands of recruiters and employers due to a range of legal, cultural, social and economic factors. Since 2015, Seefar has been conducting a large-scale research project, funded by the Macquarie Group Foundation. The research aims to …

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LIFT: Livelihoods Initiative for Transformation

LIFT provides financially attractive livelihoods to vulnerable or marginalised groups in developing countries through access to the booming global freelance economy. LIFT provides the infrastructure, mentoring, targeted language training, technical skills, and support to help vulnerable people earn a living through online freelance platforms. THE PROBLEMS WITH TRADITIONAL LIVELIHOOD PROGRAMMING FOR VULNERABLE POPULATIONS LIFT was …

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How the Afghan peace process and emotional well-being impact migration decision-making

Despite the cease-fire between the Government of Afghanistan and the Taliban in June 2018, the conflict continues to be a driving force behind the displacement of many Afghans. Insecurity and ongoing political developments combined with natural disasters and unemployment create a complex migration landscape. How the Afghan peace process and emotional well-being impact migration decision-making is the fourth …

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Who are the most vulnerable Indonesian prospective migrants?

Modern slavery is a global issue deeply connected to labour migration. Migrants and those pursuing work abroad are often at risk of financial, emotional and physical exploitation. Overseas domestic workers are particularly vulnerable because they live and work in private households. In Indonesia, prospective female domestic workers face acute risks early on in their migration planning but …

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Refugee Integration in Europe: Life and other Plans among Iranian Irregular Migrants Settling in Europe

For more than four years, we have been interviewing a panel of Iranians planning and executing irregular migration. Our latest report is Refugee Integration in Europe: Life and other Plans among Iranian Irregular Migrants Settling in Europe. More than 25% of the people we found in Iran with a plan to migrate irregularly in 2014 have now …

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Sustained Interest, Delayed Migration: Emerging Irregular Migration Dynamics in Afghanistan

Afghanistan has experienced decades of political instability, economic challenges, conflict and insecurity. This context has created a complex picture of migration and displacement marked by large numbers of internally displaced persons, migrants and returnees. The complex migration context remains understudied and little is known on how migration decisions are reached and how decision-making evolves over time. Sustained Interest, …

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Supporting the choices of irregular child migrants

European Union cooperation with Turkey and Libya and the family separation crisis in the United States show global failures in reconciling ‘tough’ border policies with every child’s right to live free from violence and exploitation. Many child protection measures in Western destination countries do not address children’s needs before or during difficult journeys. Effective and …

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Distant Dreams: Understanding the aspirations of Afghan returnees

Millions of refugees and migrants have returned to Afghanistan since 2012. Most come from neighbouring countries, driven out by protection concerns, fears of deportation, economic difficulty and integration challenges. In the European Union (EU), asylum recognition rates for Afghans are falling; in Turkey and the Western Balkans, expanded immigration enforcement and harsh conditions drive movements both onwards …

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Examining Return and Reintegration in Afghanistan: Why Psychosocial Interventions Matter

The biggest repatriation project in recent history is occurring with the forced exodus of millions of Afghan refugees from Pakistan and Iran, and failed Afghan asylum seekers returning from Europe. To better understand the challenges returning Afghans face, as well as the emotional and psychosocial impacts of return and reintegration for returning migrants and hosting …

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Windows of opportunity: Iranian irregular migration and return 2014-2016

Iran has been out of the public eye as EU decision-makers focus attention and money on more significant regions of origin of irregular migration. Yet Iran, previously a major source of irregular migration to Australia, has consistently been a source of asylum applicants in Germany, the UK, and elsewhere in the EU. We cannot predict …

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Recommendations from the US Trafficking in Persons Report – What’s the point?

In the ecosystem of international efforts against human trafficking and modern slavery, there is a plague of recommendations. Some are intelligent recommendations, which are hard to follow among the noise. Some are less intelligent recommendations, adding to the din without illuminating opportunities. Many are irrelevant, ill-conceived or ignored. The industry has reached a stage of …

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Understanding how irregular migration dynamics and attitudes are evolving in Afghanistan

Afghanistan presents a complex migration context in which large numbers of Afghans set out on dangerous journeys to Europe. While there is a significant body of migration research in Afghanistan, existing research tends to focus on high-level, structural drivers of migration. Little is known about how migration decision-making evolves over time for those who intend on leaving. To address …

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What Next for Trafficking and Slavery Communications Campaigns in Vietnam?

The Government of Vietnam, Vietnamese civil society, and donors to Vietnam have tried a lot of different approaches to communications campaigns on human trafficking and modern slavery. Interventions have ranged from television and celebrity outreach to informational packets distributed to local authorities and community members. Yet, few of these projects have been able to demonstrate impact on the …

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How West African migrants engage with migration information en route to Europe

As irregular migrants continue to embark on dangerous journeys, governments and civil society have sought to reduce the inherent dangers. Migrant communications have emerged as an important part of this strategy alongside traditional humanitarian responses. The European Commission engaged Optimity Advisors and Seefar to study information consumption and decision-making processes among West Africans planning to …

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Reluctant Journeys: Why Afghans migrate irregularly to Europe

Even as forced and voluntary returns from Europe and elsewhere increase, many in Afghanistan continue to plan new irregular journeys. Although there is more research on migration in Afghanistan than ever, still little is known on exactly how and why decisions to migrate are reached. Migrants continue to feel the potential rewards of reaching their …

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Who is Generous to Refugees?

What does it mean for a country to be ‘generous’ to refugees? The term “generous” is frequently used in discussions about displacement, but often with different connotations. Countries that accept large numbers of refugees—such as Canada’s 2015 decision to resettle 25,000 Syrian refugees—have been praised as ‘generous’. At the same time, the term is used by …

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Migrant decision making in Iraqi Kurdistan

Seefar built on its work with Iraqi Kurds by recently completing a mixed-methods research project in Iraq and Greece focussed on Iraqi Kurd migrants. The aim of this latest research was to understand: The location and intentions of pockets of Iraqi Kurd and Arab migrants, Their motivations and what influences their decision-making processes, Destination preferences, andRelevant protection …

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Large-scale research into mixed migration in Libya

Seefar is implementing a major study of irregular migration and smuggling in migrants through Libya. Researchers have conducted interviews with migrants from the Horn of Africa and West Africa, the facilitators of their journeys, and other key informants expert in the subject. We also surveyed over 450 migrants of the same nationalities to generate much …

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Return, Stay, or Migrate? Understanding the Aspirations of Syrian Refugees in Turkey

The Syrian conflict has displaced millions and continues to be one of the world’s most urgent humanitarian emergencies. By the end of 2017, Turkey had registered over 3.4 million Syrian refugees. Today, refugees face discrimination and rising tension with host communities, restricted movement within Turkey, and sharp protection vulnerabilities. Their immediate needs and future aspirations …

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Center for International Legal Cooperation Midterm Evaluation

Earlier in 2017, Seefar was entrusted by the Center for International Legal Cooperation (CILC) and their implementing partner, the Jakarta Centre for Law Enforcement Cooperation (JCLEC), to evaluate an ambitious program to design new curricula on combatting transnational crime for the Indonesian National Police. Capitalizing on our experience in evaluating similar initiatives, we worked with program stakeholders to garner evidence of the project’s …

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Analysis of communications campaigns in Afghanistan

Since the 2001 invasion, the people of Afghanistan have been exposed to many strategic communications campaigns, most of which were funded by international organisations, militaries or other countries. These campaigns and the research conducted in Afghanistan since 2001 have been directed towards the significant challenges the country faces – security, development, capacity building and reducing emigration. We analysed campaigns …

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Integration of Syrian Refugees in South Australia: A Snapshot

In 2017, Seefar commissioned a short, qualitative research study to provide a snapshot of the Syrian refugee experience in South Australia. The aim of the report is to review progress on integration, map strengths and weakness of the government and resettlement services, and suggest lessons to be learned. The study includes multiple stakeholder views, including …

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Migrant research in Africa

Seefar’s approach to migrant research focusses on understanding the perspectives of the actors – the displaced people, migrants and smugglers. Since 2014 Seefar has conducted primary research with more than 20,000 individuals in Nigeria, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Sudan, Libya, Mali, Niger, Somalia, Senegal, Burkina Faso, Kenya, Tunisia and Egypt. In April 2017, we will have completed …

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Migration communications in Africa

Seefar has been working in North Africa, East Africa, the Horn of Africa and West Africa continuously since we were created. Our East African and North African presence is one of our biggest, with teams working on multiple projects including research and surveys, program design, consulting, counselling, evaluating programs and strategic communications. West Africa is …

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Eritrea Network

In 2016 Seefar completed a project in North Africa and the Horn of Africa to assist Eritrean migrants to make more informed decisions about onward migration. This was a communications project conducted in Ethiopia, Uganda, Sudan and Libya. It delivered counselling services and information in person to several thousand migrants in transit and in total reached almost 200,000 migrants. The campaign involved direct counselling …

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Zuara: a Formula for Change in Libya? Libyan Perspectives on the Migrant Crisis

When migrant boats sank off the coast in 2014 and 2015 and dozens of bodies arrived on its beaches, the Counter Crime Unit in the town of Zuara responded to the local community’s wish to stop smuggling through its area. A new report from Seefar, Zuara: a Formula for Change in Libya? Libyan Perspectives on …

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Transnational crime and security in Southeast Asia

Economic globalisation has led to growth in trade across borders, but also an increase in organized criminal activity. In Southeast Asia, major issues revolve around drug and precursor trafficking, and the illicit movement of goods and people. Shaping effective responses requires robust information and analysis. Seefar’s expertise in mapping and analysis is increasing understanding of …

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Trafficking in Persons in Southeast Asia : Analysis of data from the US Trafficking in Persons Report

Abuse of low-skilled migrants and human trafficking is a global problem. At Seefar, we are keen to help prevent people from being trafficked. It is therefore important to understand how different countries combat and prevent human trafficking, and to understand the work yet to be done. The Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in …

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Data crunching: the story behind economic indicators and enrolment rates in Indonesia

In Indonesia, Seefar is interested in promoting social equality and mobility among disadvantaged and marginalized groups. The first step to action is understanding how social mobility is influenced by education and the economy. We have analyzed macro-level statistics available on Indonesia to discern trends and establish whether economic welfare and school enrollment in Indonesia are …

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Somali migrants in Kenya, Italy and Libya

In 2017 Seefar conducted a qualitative study leading in-depth interviews with potential Somali migrants in Kenya, in-transit migrants in Libya and in Italy. The aim of this research was to understand whether there are large pockets of Somalis intending to migrate to Europe, what their decision-making processes are, locations of these populations and destination preferences. Further …

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Three Perspectives on Migrant Smuggling

We spend a lot of time researching migrant smugglers and talking to governments about migrant smuggling. We have noticed that most commentary on migrant smuggling unknowingly combines conflicting assumptions. The link below takes you to a brief that aims to untangle different perspectives on migrant smuggling, in order to clarify analytical and political options. The brief …

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Helping low-skilled migrant workers benefit more from their employment

For us, low-skilled labour migration is a great opportunity to improve life for poor people. However, the markets for this labour demand attention because of the abuse and exploitation that is so common in them. The ethics and effectiveness of a system that shifts an extra $10 a month to a Qatari (GDP per capita …

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Aid and migration: how aid affects Choices

Aid has increasingly been viewed as a tool to reduce migration. Few studies have actually investigated these assumptions. Seefar conducted research to explore how development programs influence the migration intentions of Afghan potential migrants. This pilot research, entitled “Alternatives to irregular migration: how aid affects choices among Afghan potential migrants”, comes at a time when large amounts of development …

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Reviewing assistance to IDPs and refugees in Afghanistan

Denmark’s Region of Origins Initiative (ROI) was a groundbreaking effort to link humanitarian, development and refugee management ambitions. It is now in its third phase, giving Denmark a lot of experience to draw on in responding to the European refugee crisis, including to address protracted displacement and onward movement. Seefar is proud to have the …

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Towards a drug control policy for Myanmar

The Myanmar Government is undertaking measures to tackle the production, trafficking and use of illicit drugs occurring across the country. As the primary source of poppy cultivation and producer of opium in the region, the drug challenges facing the country are significant. Seefar is pleased to be working with the United Nations Office on Drugs …

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Skunk Works: Finding ways to solve the big issues of Migration

Seefar is a social enterprise, which means we use the flexibility, speed and entrepreneurialism of a corporate structure to help vulnerable people build a better future. This means that Seefar reinvests our working capital into projects and initiatives to improve the lives of the most vulnerable. Our program for migration, displaced people, human trafficking and modern slavery is currently developing initiatives to address …

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Combating migrant smuggling and human trafficking in Mali and Niger

Seefar conducted an assessment mission in Mali and Niger to produce an action plan for the EU funded Global Action to Prevent and Address Trafficking in Persons and the Smuggling of Migrants (GLO.ACT) program. The GLO.ACT program is a four-year (2015-2019) joint initiative by the European Union (EU) and the United Nations Office on Drugs …

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Information for migrants in Europe

Migrants in Europe are considered by many to be the ‘safe’ and ‘lucky ones’. However, migrants in Europe are still vulnerable. One of the biggest drivers of this vulnerability is access to information. Our research has shown that migrants in refugee camps or government centres in Europe feel they have insufficient information to understand the processes they are in …

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Communications in Afghanistan

Seefar has been working in Afghanistan continuously since we were founded. Afghanistan has one of our biggest teams working on multiple projects across our main services. Afghanistan is also the test-bed for pilot initiatives we are developing to help deal with overlapping issues of displaced people, countering violent extremism and migration. Seefar’s personnel have implemented strategic communications and counselling services in Afghanistan since 2010. Our understanding of the communications landscape in Afghanistan and how …

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Updating Danish development support to Afghanistan

Following a series of changes in the political, development and economic sphere in Afghanistan, the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) identified a need to review their Afghanistan Country Programme 2014-2017. Seefar played a supporting role during the formulation of the Country Programme and we are excited to conduct a review of the ongoing relevance and …

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UK diaspora migration Research

In 2016, Seefar carried out research with Syrians, Sudanese, Afghans, Eritreans, Iranians, and Iraqis recently arrived in Europe. The aim of the research was to understand the potential for working with and through the UK diaspora in order to communicate with migrants intending to travel to Europe and those in transit. We conducted 900 surveys and compared the responses between the …

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Listening to displaced Syrians in Turkey

Since 2011, almost 5 million people have fled Syria. With over 2.9 million registered Syrians, Turkey currently hosts the largest community of Syrians displaced by the ongoing conflict. The conflict and its human impact is one of the greatest humanitarian and refugee crises in modern time. Through qualitative research, Seefar aims to understand the migration experiences of Syrians …

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Preventing Nigerians from entering modern slavery in the UK

Currently, the issue of modern slavery of Nigerians in the UK is not deeply researched. There is thus a deficit in understanding the issue and preventing Nigerians from being enslaved in the UK. Many of the victims trafficked from Nigeria, mostly young female, are sent to a Nigerian family, an “auntie” (extended relative or not), …

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Helping migrant domestic workers in Indonesia benefit more from their Employment

For Seefar, designing programs around low-skilled labour migration is a great opportunity to improve life for poor people. We are working with first time migrant domestic workers in Indonesia to ensure that they are able to better protect themselves from current exploitative industry practices. This will mean that they can benefit more from their employment abroad. However, the markets for this …

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Tracking social inclusion Results

Socially excluded groups in Indonesia, such as transgender people and children with disabilities, don’t have the same opportunities as other groups in society. They often find it hard to access education and healthcare because they lack information about the kinds of services available to them or because these services don’t cover their specific needs. Program …

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Denmark’s Sahel Engagements Review

Africa’s Sahel region faces many complex challenges arising from instability, food shortages and climatic variations. Denmark has a long history of contributing to national and international efforts to reduce these challenges. In recent years, this has included a Regional Peace and Stabilisation Program for the Sahel, covering Mali, Senegal, Niger and Burkina Faso. Seefar has …

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Where next for migration and development in Afghanistan?

Concern over irregular migration has for years seen EU policymakers utilize both ‘stick’ and ‘carrot’ to secure cooperation from origin countries in migration management. As the EU migration ‘crisis’ reached its apex in 2015, calls to link aid and migration intensified. Yet, the emergence of programs explicitly linking aid and humanitarian budgets to migration management objectives – …

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Why Migration Issues are Difficult for Aid Agencies

Migration issues have traditionally travelled in exile around the core development agenda. People moving to seek refuge or a better job have been seen as a consequence of development trends, rather than a primary target for development programming itself. With migration and asylum issues more prominent on the global agenda, governments are demanding the development industry address …

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Beyond ‘mass arrivals’: insights into Afghan irregular migration

The Brussels Conference on Afghanistan features a high-level dialogue on migration dedicated to finding ways to manage irregular migration from the country. In a country where resurgent conflict in one province coexists with promising development advances in other parts of the country, there are no easy answers. A new article from Seefar, Irregular Migration to the European Union: …

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Survey Cost Calculator: a new tool to expand research horizons

Field research is not easy or cheap – especially in tough environments. Establishing a realisticestimate of survey costs is an essential first step towards an ambitious, winning research proposal and effective project planning. For researchers who specialise in issues endemic to sensitive and sometimes dangerous contexts, it can be easy to dismiss data collection in …

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Measuring International Migration: The Real Picture Of Forced Displacement

In recent years we have heard that displacement has reached historic and unprecedented levels – it has been common to note that 65 million people are now forcibly displaced. Intrigued by these claims, Seefar collated widely published data on the issue and explored exactly what they say about displacement. Displaced people – What is the …

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Countering violent extremism: researching challenges in program design and Evaluation

Despite the current focus on countering violent extremism activities as the principal preventive approach to combat terrorism, there is little understanding about what actually works. What we know is that there is no ‘one-size-fits all’ approach to this global threat. Effective countering violent extremism programs must be tailored to the operating environment and the specific needs of …

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Migrant destination decision making

In July 2016, Seefar conducted a survey of migrants who had recently settled in European countries to determine if migrants changed their destination preference once they arrived in Europe. The study also identified where and why migrants changed their mind. The migrants surveyed were selected if they had: Settled in The United Kingdom, The Netherlands,Germany, or a combination of …

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Irregular Migration from Iran to the European Union

Seefar carried out over 250 surveys and interviews with Iranians considering migrating to Western destinations. This research resulted in two reports on irregular migration to Australia and the UK. The latest in the series, Who Dares Wins: Understanding the decision-making of irregular migrants from Iran, begins to shed light on why so many people attempted to …

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Going West: Where’s the Evidence behind EU Policy on Illegal Migration?

As domestic solutions falter, the migration and Syrian refugee crisis has been propelled to the top of the European Union foreign policy agenda. The EU will expand cooperation at the highest level with countries along major migration routes, with a likely emphasis on border control and returns. But the EU has been here before, spending nearly …

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Research on security and justice among religious minorities in Indonesia

The Indonesian constitution provides freedom of religion for 6 officially recognized religions. East Asia has traditionally had a high level of tolerance towards diverse religious practices, but religious intolerance seems to have been growing in recent years, indicated among other things by violence and discrimination towards religious minorities. For example, the Setara Institute reported 197 violations against freedom of …

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Iranian Refugees: Irregular Migration to the UK

This working paper, Iranian Refugees: An Exploration of Irregular Migration to the UK, utilizes data collected from a series of interviews to explore the motivations and expectations of people in Iran intending to migrate irregularly to the UK. From this initial group of 199 interviewees, we reconnected with 45 migrants 12 months later, in December 2015, to determine how they had progressed …

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Large Scale Research on Modern Slavery in East Asia

Seefar is conducting innovative modern slavery research in four countries to measure the prevalence of indicators among migrant domestic workers. The first publication related to this research was released in February 2016: Modern Slavery in East Asia: Protecting the rights and promoting the autonomy of domestic migrant workers from Indonesia and the Philippines. Visit the research …

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Reducing Social Exclusion in Indonesia: Disability Program

The new Village Law with a set of new regulations has been passed by the Indonesian House of Representative. It must improve the welfare of people in approximately 75.000 villages. One of the components in this law is the development of websites at village level. Seefar is supporting this movement with funding from DFAT and has started with a …

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Peace and Stability: Programme Design and Management in the Sahel

Africa’s Sahel region has faced many challenges in the recent years, although the various crises have been overshadowed by situations in Libya and the Middle East. Denmark’s engagement in the region has been longstanding, with recent years including a Peace and Stabilisation Program, focused on Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger. Seefar has been supporting Denmark to update the …

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Innovative Research on Migrant Smuggling to Europe

In response to the migrant smuggling crisis in the Mediterranean, the Migration Policy Institute asked Seefar to contribute experience and insights into migration pathways to the southern shores of the Mediterranean. The results and conclusions of this study were published in May 2015 (click here). First, the study looked at the process of irregular migration from the …

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Research in tough environments: North Africa

The situation for migrants in Libya is dangerous, and the many migrants interviewed as part of our research tell us that staying there for an extended period is a big risk. Local fighting, fragmented security forces and violent smuggling methods are convincing migrants that they need to reach Europe as fast as possible. More migrants than ever are expected to try and cross …

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Iranian Refugees: Irregular Migration to Australia

This working paper, Iranian Refugees: An Exploration of Irregular Migration to Australia, is based on two sets of data. The first covers the Iranian diaspora in Australia and the arrival of Iranians by boat to Australia, part of a contentious border management challenge. The second draws on 199 interviews with people in Iran preparing to migrate irregularly. These …

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Immigration and Welfare States: Migrants as Welfare Providers in Belgium

This brief is inspired by sustained attention to the idea that some migration occurs because migrants benefit from the welfare state without contributing to it. The idea reflects and reinforces a distinction between desirable migrants, who make economic contributions to the host state, and undesirable migrants who do not, such as asylum-seekers, labor migrants who have not managed to …

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Migration Research: Modern Slavery in Southeast Asia

Seefar is conducting quantitative research in East Asia to understand and reduce the prevalence and impact of modern slavery among migrant domestic workers, made possible by a grant from the Macquarie Group Foundation. There is a broad and diverse range of issues associated with modern slavery and migrant exploitation and marginalisation in East Asia and Southeast Asia. Geographically, the programme …

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Monitoring and Evaluation of the Rule of Law in Lebanon

Improving cooperation between Lebanon‘s communities and their security services is a big challenge, but critical to strengthening the rule of law in Lebanon. Seefar feels privileged to have the opportunity to provide a contribution to the monitoring and evaluation efforts of Search for Common Ground in their work supporting the Internal Security Forces and the people of Beirut to find …

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Diaspora Engagement in Development – the Role of Refugees

In the literature and policy-making on migration and development, migrants are increasingly recognized as transnational actors who can make contributions to their countries of origin from the country of settlement. With this recognition, many aid agencies, including EU member states have become to increase diaspora engagement in development programs. In this process, however, the challenge they face …

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Denmark Launches the new Afghanistan Country Programme

We’re excited to see that Denmark has approved and launched its new Country Programme for Afghanistan, 2015-2017. Seefar played a supporting role among many other experts during the formulation of the Country Programme, first being asked to provide quality assurance of the draft program, then to finalize it in preparation for seeking approval from the Danida Grant …

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6 Ideas for Interpreting Drug Seizure Data

A perennial challenge when analyzing drug trafficking is that the most common reliable data comes from ventures that have failed, i.e. when arrests have occurred or contraband has been seized. There are thousands of drug seizure reports a year, but the question is: what can seizures tell you about the underlying trade? If there is …

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Migrant Smuggling by Sea in East Asia

Much of Southeast Asia’s ‘territory’ is in fact water, with around 80% of the region being sea or coastal waters. The countries of the region have recognized the importance of managing marine resources and migration through territorial waters and in the high seas, for economic and security reasons. Maritime security is critical to Southeast Asia’s economic development, …

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Theories of Change for Social Inclusion in Indonesia

Seefar is supporting The Asia Foundation in implementing PNPM Peduli, Indonesia‘s national development program focused on addressing social inclusion. Our job is to provide the monitoring, evaluation and learning team, as well as to design and maintain the management information system (MIS) that will coordinate and monitor action among the 70+ NGOs participating. PNPM Peduli works with six diverse groups: vulnerable …

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Understanding and Responding to Child Exploitation in East Asia

Recent decades have seen some successes in combating sex crimes against children in Southeast Asia, but the problem clearly continues. The sexual exploitation of children is a crime exposing a lack of protection for some of the most vulnerable members of society. Seefar has been analyzing current threats in this domain and developing plans in response. …

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Designing the 2015-2018 Somalia Country Programme

For decades, Somalia has been one of the world’s most fragile countries. However, in recent years it has been emerging from more than 20 years of conflict and humanitarian disasters towards a more stable, peaceful and increasingly democratic state. Denmark’s activities in Somalia have aimed to support different aspects of this transition. Seefar is pleased to be a …

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Women’s Empowerment in Georgia: Financial Inclusion from Below

Seefar had the privilege of travelling to Georgia as part of the HERA (Her Equality, Rights and Autonomy) International Grants Programme team for 2014. HERA is a UK-based charity that works to prevent trafficking by empowering women to become economically independent through a number of programs, one being the annual International Grants Competition, which awards small grants …

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Evaluating Saferworld’s EU Funded Project in Central Asia

Approaches to effective security are increasingly involving communities and civil society in law enforcement. Saferworld’s EU funded project in Central Asia made great contributions with a focus on this approach. Seefar jumped at the chance to work with Saferworld and to evaluate the project. The project has aimed to democratize police and security issues through supporting civil society engagement …

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What Happens Before Migrants Get on Boats to Europe?

Good migration policy for destination countries certainly requires an understanding of domestic needs, but it also depends on the harder challenge of understanding the perspectives and practices of migrants. As Europe struggles to deal with tens of thousands of migrants crossing the Mediterranean by boat, the Migration Policy Institute has asked Seefar to contribute experience and insights …

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Designing Development Assistance for Afghanistan Beyond 2014

The year 2014 has been the subject of a lot of commentary and expectation in Afghanistan and in the development community interested in Afghanistan. Now that the year is here, life goes on and preparations need to be made for continuing support to the country and its people with a much-reduced foreign military presence. As a small contribution …

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Syrian Refugees: A Rare Intensity of Displacement

Humanity’s tragedy in Syria, the humanitarian burden on Syria’s neighbors and human smuggling across the Mediterranean towards Europe represent physical, social and conceptual links in a chain of displacement. The last four years of Syria’s conflict have resulted in more refugees and internally displaced persons (IDPs) than comparable countries have experienced on comparable timelines. By …

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Towards Inclusion: Reflecting on the Elements of Social Exclusion

Social Exclusion – An Introduction The purpose of development in a society is to improve the quality of life of its people. This is confirmed by some of the main ways used to measure development, for example the UNDP Human Development Index, which was created to emphasize that people and their capabilities should be the ultimate criteria …

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Supporting The Asia Foundation and PNPM Peduli in Indonesia

PNPM Peduli is Indonesia’s national development program focused on addressing social exclusion. Run in a pilot phase over recent years by the World Bank, in 2014 Peduli will transition to management by The Asia Foundation, in close cooperation with Indonesia’s Kemenko Kesra or Coordinating Ministry of Welfare (in November 2014 changed to Kemenko PMK or Coordinating Ministry for Human …

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Evaluating the Jakarta Centre for Law Enforcement Cooperation

Seefar is excited to be working with Social Science Dimensions on an evaluation of the Jakarta Centre for Law Enforcement Cooperation (JCLEC). Indonesian and Australian inspiration to create JCLEC grew out of the Bali bombings in 2002, which demonstrated a shared threat and showcased a positive experience of cooperation in response. Established in 2004, JCLEC is approaching its 10th …

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