In brief

About the project

Positive leadership thrives on example, inspiration and a sense of community. Stories of courageous leadership are waiting to be discovered and shared. We live in a world where the dynamics of migration are increasingly contested, presenting leaders with a complex landscape to navigate. In the face of these challenges, one constant remains - people are on the move, and more of them will be in the future.

The "Leadership in Migration Initiative" (LMI), a joint initiative of the Fletcher School at Tufts University and the Robert Bosch Stiftung, emerges as a beacon of resilience and foresight in this turbulent terrain. Recognizing that migration is not just a political chess piece but a deeply human experience, the initiative seeks to elevate a new narrative around ‘good’ leadership on migration issues. In a climate where the issue is often exploited for political gain, the Initiative believes that bold and compassionate leadership, rooted in human rights, is not only essential but a moral imperative.

Drawing on best practices from different geographical regions, the LMI works to promote constructive dialogue, advance positive policies and practices, and empower individuals across sectors to lead on migration with empathy and strategic vision. 

Over the course of 2024-2025, the initiative will publish research and other work, host public events, and develop an online training for practitioners in the field. The initiative will bring together past, present, and future leaders working on human mobility, fostering a culture of innovation and excellence for effective, inclusive and deliberate leadership in migration.

The initiative, led by Prof. Karen Jacobsen and Prof. Carlos Alvarado Quesada (former President of Costa Rica), is based at the Leir Institute for Migration and Human Security at the Fletcher School of Tufts University. It is supported by a Leadership in Migration Advisory Group.

Your contact

Karen Jacobsen
Henry J. Leir Professorship in Global Migration
Tufts University, Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy
e-mail to Karen Jacobsen
Carlos Alvarado
Professor of Practice
Tufts University, Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy
e-mail to Carlos Alvarado

Contact at Robert Bosch Stiftung

Dr. Raphaela Schweiger
Director
Phone+49 711 46084-678
e-mail to Dr. Raphaela Schweiger
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