MIDEQ has worked closely with five international organisations since its inception: the International Organisation for Migration (IOM); the International Labour Organisation (ILO); UN Human Rights (OHCHR); the UN Research Institute for Social Development (UNRISD), and the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) which has UN observer status. All are formal, funded, partners and were involved in co-producing the proposal and subsequent plans. In addition, MIDEQ is informally partnered with the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) through Co-Director Alison Phipps, UNESCO Chair of Refugee Integration through Languages and the Arts and Professor Tim Unwin (WP9), UNESCO Chair in ICT4D.

International organisations have leverage within the international arena, yet, to date, they have often lacked knowledge and research on the relationships between South-South Migration, inequality, and delivery of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). As this knowledge gap was the overall rationale for establishing MIDEQ, international partners have proactively engaged from the start providing solid foundations for MIDEQ impact. The funding model for MIDEQ’s collaboration with OECD and UN partners is highly innovative for academic institutions in the UK which normally engage staff from these organisations on a non-costed basis as external advisory committees. It was designed to secure more far-reaching development impacts.