INFORMA: Promoting Informed Migration Decisions and Viable Referrals in Senegal and Niger
Empowering informed decisions at critical junctures
Implemented by Seefar as part of a consortium led by COSPE, the INFORMA project was launched in response to growing irregular migration pressures in Senegal and Niger. The project sought to influence decision-making among potential and transit migrants by raising awareness of the risks of irregular migration and the benefits of local and legal alternatives. Through a multilingual social media campaign, personalised 1:1 counselling, and a growing network of referral partners, INFORMA helped individuals reassess their plans and, in many cases, reimagine their futures.
The Challenge
In Senegal and Niger, growing numbers of young people consider irregular migration as their primary route to a better future, often without access to accurate information about the risks involved or the local and legal alternatives available to them.
Our Approach
Seefar combined personalised 1:1 counselling, a targeted multilingual social media campaign, and a network of referral partners to help individuals reassess their migration plans and connect with real local and legal opportunities.
Project Details
| Timeline | May 2023 – August 2024 |
| Countries | Senegal and Niger |
| Target Audience | Potential and transit migrants aged 18–44 |
| Beneficiaries Reached | 3,263 received counselling; 1,946 referrals to job training and opportunities; 2.7M+ social media engagements |
How the Project Worked
From Awareness to Behaviour Change: The Role of Personalised Counselling
The heart of INFORMA lay in its individualised counselling model, which delivered 3,263 one-on-one consultations in less than a year – 1,772 in Senegal and 1,491 in Niger. Counsellors tailored each session to the beneficiary's age, gender, migration status, and needs, building trust through honest dialogue.
By the three-week follow-up, 33.4% of consultees had already abandoned their irregular migration plans. Three months later, that number had grown to 39.6%, while only 9.3% continued to consider irregular migration. Those who rated the counselling as relevant, trustworthy, and helpful were significantly more likely to abandon risky plans entirely.
"After my consultation, I realized the risks and let go of the idea. I applied for a job locally and got it. I'm now building a life here."
– Female potential migrant, 34, from SenegalReaching the Right People with the Right Message
To drive signups for counselling, INFORMA ran a robust social media campaign through Seefar's TMP-branded Facebook pages. With over 2.7 million engagements, the campaign exceeded expectations and played a crucial role in identifying high-risk audiences. Beneficiaries who signed up through Facebook and Instagram were screened and referred to counselling based on need and risk level.
Across both countries, 200 media posts ranging from videos to infographics dispelled myths about irregular migration and promoted legal pathways and local opportunities. The online approach proved especially powerful for younger migrants, with over half of consultees aged 18 to 24 abandoning their plans following consultations.
Referrals, Ripple Effects, and Community Impact
A key innovation of the project was its external referral system, which connected nearly 2,000 individuals to over 200 employment and training opportunities. From job seeker visa applications to vocational training, these referrals gave beneficiaries practical next steps. Some even secured employment within weeks.
The project's influence extended beyond individual beneficiaries. By the three-month mark, former consultees had begun sharing learnings with peers, creating a ripple effect of awareness at the community level.
"Thanks to the project, I realized I could build my future at home instead of risking my life in the desert. I've started my own business from scratch."
– Male potential migrant, 34, Niger
INFORMA project beneficiaries, Senegal and Niger
A Real Shift Toward Local Alternatives
Before receiving counselling, nearly 58% of consultees considered irregular migration their top priority. Just three weeks later, this had dropped to 2.2%, with most shifting their focus to legal migration, local employment, and entrepreneurship.
considered irregular migration their top priority before counselling
still prioritised irregular migration three weeks after consultation
had fully abandoned irregular migration plans three months later
Concrete investments followed. Job-seeking jumped from 14% to 56%. Interest in starting a business grew nearly tenfold. Legal migration preparation – such as applying for passports and collecting visa documents – more than doubled. These changes reflected a broader mindset shift: not just about rejecting risk, but about investing in what is possible here and now.
Key Achievements
Risky migration dropped from 58% to 2.2% as a top priority
2,700,000+ social media engagements
3,263 beneficiaries received 1:1 consultations
1,946 connected to 202 local job and training opportunities
39.6% abandoned irregular migration plans after 3 months
55.8% began job-seeking, up from 14% pre-consultation
Interest in entrepreneurship grew from 2.2% to 20.2%
Learning and Looking Forward
INFORMA demonstrated that personalised counselling, when paired with a strong social media funnel and a robust referral network, can produce rapid and lasting shifts in migration behaviour. The project's ability to move consultees from awareness to action – helping them not just abandon risky plans but actively pursue local and legal alternatives – sets a strong model for future programming.
The ripple effect observed at the community level, where former consultees began sharing learnings with peers, suggests that individual behaviour change can catalyse broader shifts in migration norms when the right support structures are in place.
Future iterations should invest further in expanding the referral network, building stronger employer and training partnerships, and extending follow-up periods to capture the full arc of behaviour change over time.