The International Organization for Migration (IOM) conducts and supports research designed to guide and inform migration policy and practice. The Migration Policy Research Division is based at IOM Headquarters within the Department of International Cooperation and Partnerships, and has the institutional responsibility for supporting the conduct and management of applied research on salient migration topics. Research is designed to enhance IOM's programme delivery and contribute to a broader understanding of migration patterns and processes, as well as the links between migration research and migration policy and practice. Research also feeds directly into IOM’s role as a publisher of applied research findings, including through IOM's flagship publication, the World Migration Report, papers published in the Migration Research Series, and IOM Migration Profiles.

The Research Objectives of the Migration Policy Research Division include:

• Contributing to IOM's efforts to inform and shape migration policy agendas through policy-oriented research.
• Supporting and strengthening research expertise within the Organization; providing technical support and guidance to field offices and departments at headquaters in developing (and implementing) research projects; and reviewing final reports/research/studies for publication.
• Providing technical expert advice to governments and institutions; supporting efforts to enhance research capacities of governments and other bodies in order to contribute to sound policy-making.
• Monitoring and supporting IOM migration research activities, and contributing to the knowledge base through gathering lessons learned and identifying best practices in activities related to migration research.
• Identifying, promoting and fostering strategic and technical partnerships globally in the area of migration research.
• Initiating research/studies in strategic areas of interest designed to enhance and improve IOM's programme delivery.