The main aim of the research is to widen the international debate about the growing need for consistent migration policies in Latin America in particular, and in developing countries in general.

The specific objectives are:

• Creating the "Experimental Observatory on International Migrations in Urban Areas of Latin America"
• Setting up a database on the ongoing migration processes and on the related policies and strategies adopted to govern them in the three case cities.
• Icentifying what lessons can be learnt from policies addressing international migration in Europe and Canada, countries where since many years the phenomenon is at the forefront of the public debate.
• Creating the Observatory web-site, as a mean for diffusing the research outcomes.
• Raising the awareness of Municipalities and local stakeholders about the relevance of the phenomenon in their cities.