On 24th of October 2026, the State Migration Service of Ukraine presented its new Situational Centre for Migration Monitoring and Risk Analysis. The opening brought together representatives of the State Migration Service, international organisations, diplomatic missions and partner institutions. ICMPD was represented by Radim Zak, Head of Region, Eastern Europe and Central Asia (EECA).
The Situational Centre is intended to provide a strong analytical basis for migration management by bringing together information from different sources and supporting its systematic analysis and visualisation. Its functions include monitoring the current migration situation, identifying and assessing risks, developing scenarios and forecasts, and providing analytical support for managerial decision-making and coordination among institutions involved in migration management.
The need for such capacity has become increasingly important as migration processes are shaped by a combination of demographic, economic, security, and international factors. As highlighted during the opening, effective migration governance requires not only an understanding of what is happening today, but also the ability to anticipate possible developments, assess their implications and prepare appropriate responses.
“In this sense, the Centre is more than a technical facility; it is an important part of the architecture for informed and forward-looking migration governance”, Radim Zak mentioned in his opening words.
The Situational Centre is therefore envisaged not simply as a technological facility, but as an institutional capacity for analysis and foresight. By bringing together data, analytical expertise and technological resources, it can support decision-makers with a more comprehensive understanding of migration developments and emerging risks.
Supporting Ukraine’s migration analytical capacity
ICMPD has supported the establishment of the Situational Centre through a combination of international expertise, capacity building and technological support. The support was provided within CORE‑UA project (Comprehensive Support for the Resilience of Displaced Persons from Ukraine) with financial support from the (National) German AMIF programme and the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (BAMF).
Drawing on experience with migration monitoring, risk analysis and situation-centre capacities in different countries, ICMPD has supported the exchange of practical experience and international approaches. The focus has been on learning from what works in different contexts and identifying approaches that can be adapted to Ukraine’s institutional needs.
Strengthening human capacity has been an equally important part of this support. ICMPD contributed to capacity building for State Migration Service staff in risk analysis, recognising that the effectiveness of an analytical centre ultimately depends on the knowledge and expertise of the professionals who work with the information it provides.
ICMPD also supported the Centre’s technological foundation, including the procurement of high-performance servers and other equipment. While less visible than the Centre’s analytical functions, this infrastructure represents its technological heart, providing the computing and data-processing capacity required to support information management, analysis and forecasting.
“Today marks the beginning of a new phase. The Centre has all the capacities to become an important platform for coordination across institutions and cooperation with other state authorities to make the risk analysis process holistic”, highlighted Radim Zak in his speech.
Strategic role of the Situational Centre
For Ukraine, strengthening the capacity to monitor migration developments and assess risks is particularly relevant in the context of profound changes in mobility, displacement, demographics and socio-economic conditions. The ability to identify emerging trends and develop forward-looking analysis can contribute to better preparedness and more coordinated responses.
The role of the Centre is also to serve as a platform for continued cooperation and exchange with European and international partners, building on international experience while further developing Ukraine’s own analytical capacities.
For ICMPD, supporting the establishment of the Situation Centre forms part of its broader cooperation with Ukrainian authorities to strengthen evidence-based migration governance, institutional capacities and forward-looking approaches to migration management.
