The project “Maximizing the Gains and Minimizing the Social cost of Overseas Migration in the Philippines” was initiated by Filipino Women's Council (FWC), CISP-Comitato Internazionale per lo Sviluppo dei Popoli and Atikha-Overseas Workers and Communities Initiatives Inc., to build the capacity of migrant Filipinos in Italy and their families in the Philippines to address both their economic and family issues brought about my migration.

Their aim was to strengthen migrant organizations and socio-economic integration of Filipino workers in Italy while, at the same time, enhancing their contributions to development projects in their home country.

Furthermore, the project aims to build the capacity of the local government, schools and other stakeholders in providing social and economic services for migrants and families left behind. The project was made possible through the support of the EC-UN Joint Migration and Development Initiative (EC-UN JMDI).

Over the course of eighteen months, in order to respond to the needs of Filipino migrants in Italy and their families in their mother country, FWC and CISP implemented innovative practices of raising awareness and training of community leaders on financial literacy. At the same time, the Filipino NGO Atikha has coordinated new or upscale activities on addressing migration issues and potential in the cities of Batangas and Laguna and in the provinces of Cavite, Tarlac and Pampanga in the Luzon Island.

The project, “Maximizing the Gains and Minimizing the Social cost of Overseas Migration in the Philippines” demonstrated that the nexus between migration and development could be achieved thorough the empowerment of migrants through information and training.

The collaboration between CISP, FWC and Atikha has aimed at a synergy between non-profit organizations and institutions towards advocacy for change in policies involving migration, the raising of awareness of the Italian and Philippine government and civil society on issues of migrants and contribution of migration to development, and implement innovative interventions in the Philippines and in Italy. In so doing, the project has achieved several Best Practices.