Call for Participation: CESLAM Kathmandu Migration Conference 2025
CESLAM Kathmandu Migration Conference 2025 organised by the Centre for the Study of Labour and Mobility (CESLAM) at Social Science Baha will be held on 17-18 February 2025, tentatively from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm NPT. This is an online event and open to all with free registration. Those interested in taking part in the conference are requested to register HERE.
Schedule
Panel 1: Lived Experiences of Nepali Migrants across Borders
10:05 –11:45 amChair and Discussant
Arjun Kharel, Research Fellow, Centre for the Study of Labour and Mobility (CESLAM)
Lunch Break
11:45 –12:45 pmPanel 2: Migrants’ Aspirations and Return Experiences
12:45–2:25 pmChair and Discussant
Sanjay Sharma, PostDoc Scholar, Aarhus University
Break
2:25–2:45 pmSpecial Panel: Defining Regional Agenda for Migration Health: Policies, Priorities and Perspectives from South Asia
2:45–4:05 pmMigration health remains an underexplored area in South and Southeast Asia with limited focus on the health and social care needs of transient and diverse migrant population.(1) Existing literature on migration health in the region, and the specific countries it constitutes, , remains patchy, often restricted to specific health conditions –infectious diseases, non-communicable diseases, maternal and maternal and reproductive health.(2) This does not capture the complexities of migration trajectories, the socio-economic and geopolitical contextual realities, or the wider social determinants of migration health in the region. This fragmented body of evidence creates challenges in designing and developing evidence informed policies, programs, and interventions that are regionally and nationally relevant.
Against this backdrop, this panel in the CESLAM Kathmandu Migration Conference aims to shed light on recent regional developments in enhancing migration health scholarship for inclusive and sensitive/ responsive policies. The panel will also showcase highlights of regional level research prioritization (CHNRI) from India and Pakistan, while detailing preliminary results from Nepal; followed by introduction to the migration health policy appraisal toolkit MigPolX and its regional applications. Following the discussions on priority-setting and policy appraisals, there will be discussion on key policy gaps from the local perspective. The panel will conclude with orienting the audience to the upcoming 2nd World Congress on Migration, Ethnicity, Race and Health.
Panel Outline
Ground Setting MiHSA Objectives About GSMERH Expectation-Setting
(2.45 – 3.00 PM)
Prof Anuj Kapilashrami, CGHIER and MiHSA
A South-Asian take on research priorities for migration health – CHNRI Result highlights from India and Pakistan, and Preliminary findings from Nepal
(3.00 – 3.15 PM)
Obindra Chand, CGHIER and MiHSA
Sadikshya Bhattarai, CESLAM, Nepal
Case studies on profiling, policy mapping, indexing and deep-diving – MigPolX in Pakistan, India and Cambodia – Rationale and Application of the toolkit
(3.15 – 3.30 PM)
Dr Roomi Aziz, CGHIER and MiHSA
Ishita Garg, MiHSA, India
Key policy gaps in Migration Health and Policy Priorities for Nepal
(3.30 – 3.45AM)
Dr Anup Kanti Das, IOM, Nepal
Discussion and Conclusion
(3.45 – 4.05 PM)
Prof Anuj Kapilashrami, CGHIER
Prof Bernadette Kumar, NIPH
Panel 1: Lived Experiences of Nepali Migrants across Borders
10:05 –11:45 amChair and Discussant
Arjun Kharel, Research Fellow, Centre for the Study of Labour and Mobility (CESLAM)
Lunch Break
11:45 –12:45 pmPanel 2: Migrants’ Aspirations and Return Experiences
12:45–2:25 pmChair and Discussant
Sanjay Sharma, PostDoc Scholar, Aarhus University
Break
2:25–2:45 pmSpecial Panel: Defining Regional Agenda for Migration Health: Policies, Priorities and Perspectives from South Asia
2:45–4:05 pmMigration health remains an underexplored area in South and Southeast Asia with limited focus on the health and social care needs of transient and diverse migrant population.(1) Existing literature on migration health in the region, and the specific countries it constitutes, , remains patchy, often restricted to specific health conditions –infectious diseases, non-communicable diseases, maternal and maternal and reproductive health.(2) This does not capture the complexities of migration trajectories, the socio-economic and geopolitical contextual realities, or the wider social determinants of migration health in the region. This fragmented body of evidence creates challenges in designing and developing evidence informed policies, programs, and interventions that are regionally and nationally relevant.
Against this backdrop, this panel in the CESLAM Kathmandu Migration Conference aims to shed light on recent regional developments in enhancing migration health scholarship for inclusive and sensitive/ responsive policies. The panel will also showcase highlights of regional level research prioritization (CHNRI) from India and Pakistan, while detailing preliminary results from Nepal; followed by introduction to the migration health policy appraisal toolkit MigPolX and its regional applications. Following the discussions on priority-setting and policy appraisals, there will be discussion on key policy gaps from the local perspective. The panel will conclude with orienting the audience to the upcoming 2nd World Congress on Migration, Ethnicity, Race and Health.
Panel Outline
Ground Setting MiHSA Objectives About GSMERH Expectation-Setting
(2.45 – 3.00 PM)
Prof Anuj Kapilashrami, CGHIER and MiHSA
A South-Asian take on research priorities for migration health – CHNRI Result highlights from India and Pakistan, and Preliminary findings from Nepal
(3.00 – 3.15 PM)
Obindra Chand, CGHIER and MiHSA
Sadikshya Bhattarai, CESLAM, Nepal
Case studies on profiling, policy mapping, indexing and deep-diving – MigPolX in Pakistan, India and Cambodia – Rationale and Application of the toolkit
(3.15 – 3.30 PM)
Dr Roomi Aziz, CGHIER and MiHSA
Ishita Garg, MiHSA, India
Key policy gaps in Migration Health and Policy Priorities for Nepal
(3.30 – 3.45AM)
Dr Anup Kanti Das, IOM, Nepal
Discussion and Conclusion
(3.45 – 4.05 PM)
Prof Anuj Kapilashrami, CGHIER
Prof Bernadette Kumar, NIPH
Panel 1: Migration and Social Change in Nepal
09:00–10:40 amChair and Discussant
Anna Røer Falch, Research Assistant, Peace Research Institute, Oslo (PRIO)
Break
10:40–11:00 amPanel 2: Different Dimensions of Migration
11:00–12:55 pmChair and Discussant
Khagendra Acharya, Associate Professor & Associate Dean, School of Management, Kathmandu University
Closing Remarks
12:55 PMPanel 1: Migration and Social Change in Nepal
09:00–10:40 amChair and Discussant
Anna Røer Falch, Research Assistant, Peace Research Institute, Oslo (PRIO)
Break
10:40–11:00 amPanel 2: Different Dimensions of Migration
11:00–12:55 pmChair and Discussant
Khagendra Acharya, Associate Professor & Associate Dean, School of Management, Kathmandu University
