Assessment Report : Migration & Socio-Economic Impact of Covid-19: Assessment of Return Communities in Nepal

Nepal entered a complete lockdown on 24th of March 2020 and mobility was restricted to contain the spread of the virus. The measures included the closing of Nepal's international borders and the suspension of all commercial flights. The COVID-19 lockdown and mobility restrictions in countries of destination and Nepal resulted in job losses and increased physical and mental health vulnerabilities for migrants, their families and communities. Furthermore, as restrictions eased, many migrants returning to Nepal also faced bleak prospects of securing employment and income opportunities. Job losses in Nepal have also increased the fear of many, especially vulnerable and marginalized groups, that they will pulled further into poverty.

This study is an endeavour to reflect the return migrant population in the relevant COVID-19 response and recovery plans in Nepal. This assessment report addresses protection issues, vulnerabilities and the needs of return migrants and their communities, and the impact of COVID-19 on the socio-economic recovery in Nepal.

The study uses both primary and secondary data to assess the socio-economic conditions experienced by return migrants and migrant communities, guided by the pillars of the UN Framework for the Immediate Socio-Economic Response to COVID 19 (UNSERF)3 . Using a sample size of 800 respondents, the Snowball Sampling Technique was applied, and surveys were conducted remotely through mobile phones. This assessment was conducted in Mechinagar Municipality and Biratnagar Metropolitan in Province 1 and Simta and Panchapuri rural municipalities in Karnali Province. The survey divided the respondents into two categories: a) return migrants, and b) migrant family/community. In addition, interviews with key local and national stakeholder4 were undertaken to complement the survey findings.