Main area: Migration
Theme: Addressing irregular migration – border management
Assessment: ODA-eligible
Provider country: Canada
Recipient country: Mexico
Implementing agency: UNHCR
Budget (CAD million): 0.1
Year(s): March 2021 to TBD
Purpose code: 15190
Case number: Migration / 9
Digitization of files to strengthen the adjudication of asylum claims by Mexico’s COMAR
Mexico has experienced an exponential growth of asylum claims since 2018 and the emergence of COVID-19 has added to these challenges. Through the digitalization of files, the Mexican Asylum Agency (COMAR) will be able to better analyse and categorise its current claims back log and remotely adjudicate files, which will ultimately improve the efficiency of the system, during the current COVID-19 pandemic, and afterwards.
The objective of this project is to increase the Mexican Asylum Agency’s (COMAR) capacity to efficiently adjudicate asylum claims through digitizing the paper-based asylum claims in their Tapachula office, including allowing for its agents to access and adjudicate files remotely.
Activities:
Preparation: Prepare the premises of the COMAR office in Tapachula to properly store the physical files, conduct a file inventory, and update file information in the evaluation system SIRE: Sistema de Información de Resultados de las Evaluaciones;
Scanning and File Management: Scan and reorganize physical files at COMAR office in Tapachula and implement file tracking and digital file management system; and
Training: Train COMAR staff on use of the file tracking system and the digital and physical storage methodology.
This project has the following expected results: strengthened migration and refugee protection systems in Mexico aimed at facilitating safe, orderly and regular migration, by increasing COMAR’s Tapachula office’s capacity to efficiently adjudicate asylum claims, allowing for COMAR agents to access and adjudicate files remotely, and minimizing the risk of data loss.
This will be measured by:
The number of case files digitized at COMAR’s Tapachula office; and the approximate number of physical files not digitized at the time of Project completion; and
Data on how the project has led to COMAR adjudication efficiencies, as available to UNHCR.
This activity is deemed ODA-eligible. The project’s objective is to support more robust protection systems in Mexico, which directly contribute to the safe, orderly and regular migration flows in North America. It benefits Mexico as a host community through capacity building and is conducted in the best interest of migrants as it decreases the amount of time asylum seekers are left in limbo, waiting for a decision. The project is hence well-aligned with the examples of eligible activities listed in Criterion 4.
Canada indicated that there may be indirect benefits to Canada, as an improved asylum system in Mexico aligns with its priorities in promoting regular migration in the Americas region and the protection of vulnerable women, children and LGBTI individuals from Central America. However, the project activities are tailored to Mexico’s needs and Canada’s domestic goals do not impact project direction, demonstrating that the development goal comes before any other goals as required by Principle 3 (the possible indirect benefit to Canada do not preclude ODA eligibility).
This work was approved and declassified by the Development Assistance Committee’s Working Party on Development Finance Statistics.
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