What is 4Mi?

Since 2014, 4Mi has been developing a unique network of field monitors situated along frequently used routes and in major migratory hubs. It aims to offer a regular, standardized, quantitative and potentially globalized, system of collecting primary data on mixed migration flows.

4Mi’s male and female monitors conduct in-depth interviews on a continuous basis with men, women and youths. Where possible they also interview smugglers and others involved in the facilitation of mixed migration. Monitors are trained and closely supervised and use a smart phone-based survey application to record and transmit completed interviews to regional 4Mi hubs for storage and analysis. On average, 4Mi collects approximately 1000-1200 interviews per month.

4Mi predominantly uses a closed question interview survey to invite respondents to anonymously self-report on a wide range of issues that results in extensive data relating to individual profiles, migratory drivers, means of movement, conditions of movement, the smuggler economy, aspirations and destination choices.

Why 4Mi?

Information collected directly from refugees and migrants on the move or who have recently arrived at a point of destination or returned home is critical to the work of the Mixed Migration Centre (MMC).

It is critical to our understanding of the drivers of migration, the choices people are making in terms of their journeys and destinations, their intentions and aspirations, and especially necessary to understanding the conditions under which they travel and their protection needs.

Where is 4Mi?

As of early 2020, more than 100 4Mi monitors are conducting interviews with refugees and migrants on key mixed migration routes in 6 regions: (South and South-East Asia; East Africa, North Africa; West Africa, Latin America and Europe. This is likely to expand through 2020 to new countries within these regions and new areas such as Central America.

Who uses 4Mi?

4Mi fills information gaps around protection and vulnerabilities with a view to informing policy and humanitarian programmatic response as well as enhancing sector understanding and knowledge on migration dynamics. It is managed by the Mixed Migration Centre, Geneva under the overall auspices of the Danish Refugee Council.

The data gathered from the 4Mi network is increasingly becoming the foundation of our analysis and policy influencing work and is used in reports and databases of other agencies. As we constantly seek to improve the methodology and widen the scope of 4Mi’s reach, we place those on the move and what they say at the heart of our understanding of the mixed migration phenomenon.

All data collected through 4Mi will become available on this website through interactive infographics, visualisations and mappings.