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IOM Development FundDEVELOPING CAPACITIES IN MIGRATION MANAGEMENT

A U T U M N 2 0 1 6 N E W S L E T T E R

Plurinational State of Bolivia - Pilot project on Migration and Climate Change in Indigenous and Rural Communities in a Vulnerable Situation

IOM DEVELOPMENT FUND NEWSLETTER

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The IOM Development Fund provides access to a unique source of funding for developing Member States to help strengthen their capacity in migration governance. With over 580 projects implemented in more than 114 countries worldwide, the Fund is successfully addressing the needs of eligible Member States by providing essential seed funding for innovative projects.

In 2015, the Fund financed 53 capacity-building projects in 90 countries. This newsletter features articles on 11 projects which were developed and implemented in close collaboration with Member States, local partners and migrant communities. The projects, which range from the gender mainstreaming among the Border Forces of Tajikistan to the contribution of the diaspora to the development of Burundi as well as the protection of migrants workers in South-East Asia, represent the diverse array of initiatives that the Fund supports around the world. This year, the Fund has a budget of USD 7.5 million, which is approximately USD 1 million less than in 2015. As the number of requests from eligible Member States for worthwhile initiatives continues to increase, we are seeking additional support from our generous donors. Our goal is to expand the Fund to USD 20 million in order to respond to the growing needs of Member States. I hope that this newsletter will inspire you to learn more about the IOM Development Fund and to further explore the initiatives it supports. More information about the Fund and the projects it has financed can be found on the IOM website at: https://developmentfund.iom.int/

NOTE FROM THE DIRECTOR GENERAL

All pictures : © 2016 International Organization for Migration (IOM). All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise without the prior written permission of the publisher.

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NOTE FROM THE DIRECTOR GENERAL

FEATURED ARTICLEPerspectives of Gender Mainstreaming among the Border Forces of Tajikistan 4

AFRICADiaspora Engagement for Migration and Development in Burundi 6Vocational Training and Livelihood Opportunities for Regularized Migrants in Morocco 8Developing Cross-Border Coordination Mechanisms to Assist Victims of Trafficking in Togo, Benin and Gabon

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LATIN AMERICA AND THE CARIBBEAN A Helping Hand upon Return 11Strengthening the Capacities of the Indigenous People from the Bolivian Amazon to Prevent and 12Respond to Emergencies Related to Climate Change

HOW TO APPLY TO THE FUND 14

ASIA AND OCEANIAUpholding the Rights of Migrant Workers in Special Economic Zones by Ensuring Supply Chains 16are Exploitation Free: Viet Nam, Cambodia and Lao People’s Democratic Republic

Peacebuilding Empowers Women in Papua New Guinea 18Advancing Regional Health Security through Intercountry Coordination and Partnerships on Labour 20Migration Health Screening Practices

EUROPEAlbanian Communities Abroad: Building the Bridge to a Promising Future 22Who Are We? Moldovan Children from the Diaspora Discovering their Country of Origin 23

PRIMA 24

CONTENT


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PERSPECTIVES OF GENDER MAINSTREAMING AMONG THE BORDER FORCES OF TAJIKISTAN

The lack of attention paid to gender issues has created new challenges that must be solved by applying gender mainstreaming approaches to border management systems worldwide.

Rayhonabegin Abdumajidova, a 29-year-old Captain and soon-to-be Major, worked for five years as a senior inspector at a border checkpoint between Tajikistan and Afghanistan and now teaches at the Border Institute in Dushanbe.

Joint training for Tajik and Afghan female border guards on Humanitarian Border Management (HBM).

FEATURED ARTICLE

The admission of women to the institute

was carried out between 2004–2006 but then it was stopped. I think it is necessary to resume the admission of female candidates because a professional military education provides many opportunities to young Tajik women.

Rayhonabegin Abdumajidova.

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Over the past 10 years, the legal framework concerning female border guards in Tajikistan has been amended. Although now allowed to serve in the border areas, their access to military education remains limited. Conditions do not currently allow for women with children under 8 years of age to enlist and, although national legislation prohibits discrimination, restrictions on women’s career development within the force border system are prevalent.

Despite this phenomenon, expanding women’s representation in the border forces has been very successful. With the support of IOM, short-term training courses have been carried out in the Dushanbe and Khorog training centers and the percentage of women serving in border checkpoints has risen from 4.5 to 7 per cent. In addition, joint military training events have been conducted for Tajik and Afghan female border guards.

Through the IOM Development Fund project, Gender Mainstreaming for Secure Borders in Tajikistan (GEMSBO), a self-assessment among the staff of the Border Forces of Tajikistan was conducted between July and September 2016. This assessment aimed to consider opportunities and barriers to the increase of women’s involvement at all levels of border force management, with a special emphasis on services within border checkpoints.

The self-assessment demonstrated that motivation to serve, and thus support the future development of both the border forces and an independent Tajikistan, is essentially the same for both men and women. Although security was not considered a barrier to women serving in border areas, there were concerns regarding the quality of the living conditions and infrastructure in remote areas, particularly from the husbands of female border guards.

Ensuring female border guards receive high-level training is crucial not only to the improvement of the admission and retention of female staff, but to demonstrate the valuable role that Tajik women play in securing and stabilizing society.

Dragan Aleksoski, Chief of Mission, IOM Tajikistan.

In order to show the importance of having female staff within the border management system and the sustainability of the IOM Development Fund project, a short documentary-style video is currently being produced. It will soon be shared among stakeholders and placed on the IOM Tajikistan Facebook page.

Practical lessons for Tajik and Afghan border guards on Humanitarian Border Management (HBM).


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Despite continued efforts by the Government of Burundi to improve the national health system, morbidity and mortality rates in Burundi are still among the highest in the world according to the World Health Organization's 2016 annual World Health Statistics report. When it comes to mental health, the needs are even higher still.

To address this issue, the Ministry of Health (MINISANTE) of Burundi set out to establish a mental healthcare system in the country. However, the process faces a number of challenges due to insufficient resources, lack of mental health experts, as well as stigma relating to mental health issues.

AFRICA

DIASPORA ENGAGEMENT FOR MIGRATION AND DEVELOPMENT IN BURUNDI

The Ministry of External Relations and International Cooperation (MRECI) has sought to engage its diaspora in redressing the shortage of professionals trained in mental health. In July 2014, upon official request from the MRECI, the IOM Development Fund financially supported the launch of a pilot project, Diaspora Engagement for Migration and Development in Burundi. The project aims to bring mental health professionals from the diaspora to Burundi to provide professional training to medical students who are specializing in mental health.

Launching of the National Policy.

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The project was implemented in partnership with the MRECI and medical institutions, namely, the Institut National de Santé Publique, INSP (National Institute for Public Health) and the Centre Neuro-Psychiatrique Kamenge, CNPK (Neurological Center of Kamenge). A total of 60 students were trained by five diaspora professors, and 19 students who are in their third year of study are currently undergoing internships at different hospitals and health centres across the country.

In 2014, for a population of ten million, there was only one psychiatric medical doctor and one psychiatric nurse in the whole country of Burundi. Thanks to this project, it is expected that an increased number of young psychiatric doctors and nurses will be trained and become active in Burundi in the long term.

Through this project, Burundi has made

great strides in promoting mental health and in mobilizing the diaspora. The country is hosting the first psychiatric nurses trained and certified on Burundian soil. The opening of the mental health and psychiatric ward would not have been possible without the invaluable support of diaspora experts who came to dispense specialized courses.

Mr Epimaque Ntirushwumbwenge, Director of Diaspora Department, MRECI.

The Diaspora Department and IOM have played a significant role in facilitating engagement between the Burundian diaspora and their country of origin. There are an estimated 365,000 Burundian living abroad, of which a significant number are highly skilled and living mainly in Eastern and Southern Africa, United States of America and Europe.

One of the five professors, Dr Angélus Nindereye, who came back from Senegal to teach, stated:

I decided to come to Burundi to

contribute to the training of these students and I hope this year the first class of graduates will help hospitals to better meet the current needs.

Dr Nindereye added:

The positive acts that diaspora members can bring to their countries of origin are precious. They will grow and leave an indelible mark through their commendable action.


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VOCATIONAL TRAINING AND LIVELIHOOD OPPORTUNITIES FOR REGULARIZED MIGRANTS IN MOROCCO

Morocco has evolved from being largely an origin and transit point to a destination country for migrants. Morocco has developed a new, respectful and humanist migration policy, aware of the importance of better managing migration flows and supporting socioeconomic integration.

To support the Government of Morocco in the implementation of its new strategy, in June 2014, the IOM Development Fund launched the project, Vocational Training and Livelihood Opportunities for Migrants in Morocco, to encourage the socioprofessional integration of female migrants with children, as well as to strengthen and improve their employability by providing them with personal and professional skills training.

IOM conducted a preliminary study to analyse the profile of women migrants, identify key sectors for migrant employment, and assess the capacity of support structures to accommodate and empower this population.

I want to thank the IOM Development

Fund for having given us the opportunity to test a joint and innovative approach for the integration of migrant women with children in Morocco. This target group faces specific challenges that must be addressed for their integration into their host communities.

Ana Fonseca, Chief of Mission, IOM Morocco.

Beneficiary of the project, Casablanca, Morocco, 2016.

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The project is currently helping 135 women mi-grants strengthen their language, coaching, soft and life skills and entrepreneurship acumen while also offering career counselling; beneficiaries have been placed in vocational training programmes and in employment with participating companies. This helps them to be more independent financially and facilitates their integration into Moroccan society.

Ms C1, a 51-year-old woman from Senegal who managed to find a job in a company through the above-mentioned project, stated the hopes and ambitions of many migrants in Morocco:

We want to be fully integrated in the Moroccan society and I'm already starting to see positive developments.

The project also aims to foster opportunities for public institutions to reach out to migrant com-munities to enhance understanding and col-laboration. Two awareness-raising workshops have been organized to allow relevant institu-tional partners2 to interact with the migrant com-munity and promote the various programmes they offer for migrants and Moroccans alike.

1 Name has been changed. 2 Office de la Formation Professionnel et de la Promotion du Travail (OFPPT), Entraide Nationale, Office de Développement et de la Coopération (ODCO), Agence Nationale de Promotion et des Compétences (ANAPEC) and Agence de Développement Social (ADS).

Two intercultural training workshops have also been organized to sensitize partners on migration and cross-cultural communication as well as to provide them with a better understanding of the situation of migrants in Morocco.

The project has developed a pilot approach to better orient migrant women, taking into account the expectations and constraints re-lated to integration and also enhancing the role of civil society to better support these migrants.

Ministry of Moroccans Living Abroad and Migration Affairs.

Intercultural training with the representatives of the relevant institutional partners, Rabat,

Morocco, 2016.


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DEVELOPING CROSS-BORDER COORDINATION MECHANISMS TO ASSIST VICTIMS OF TRAFFICKING IN TOGO, BENIN AND GABONIn Benin and Togo, the practice of “confiage”— entrusting the care and education of a child to a family member or another person — is common. This practice, however, has become undeniably corrupted and can result in the abuse and exploitation of children.

In recent years, the Government of Togo has increased its effort to promote the development of counter-trafficking initiatives, especially with regards to the exploitation of women and children. Despite its good will, challenges remain and relevant stakeholders have to prioritize their resources in line with the latest trends on trafficking in human beings.

In order to tackle the above-mentioned issue of cross-border trafficking in Benin and Togo, the project, Capacity Building of the Governments of Benin and Togo to Fight against Child Trafficking, funded by the IOM Development Fund, was launched in 2016. With a duration of 18 months, the project aims to address the lack of cross-border coordination mechanisms between Benin, Togo and Gabon in order to better assist victims of trafficking and provide return assistance.

An important component of the project will be capacity-building activities targeting relevant government officials working in areas with a high prevalence of trafficking. Radio spots in the local languages will also be broadcast to increase awareness of the phenomenon. In addition, IOM will provide support to local NGOs to assist in the return and reintegration of trafficked children coming from Gabon.

In order to strengthen the work undertaken by key stakeholders and foster cross-border collaboration, the project will support the establishment of an information sharing mechanism between the three countries.

Finally, in order to accomplish this project’s objective, a steering committee comprised of members from the Ministries of Justice, Security and Civil Protection, Labour and Foreign Affairs as well as other active partners such as local NGOs and related stakeholders, has been created and meets regularly to oversee the activities of the project.

Beneficiary of the project, Casablanca, Morocco, 2016.Beneficiary of the project, Casablanca, Morocco, 2016.

Visit of the border pin Cinkassé, Togo.

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I learnt to see things differently, with the talks, and have begun my studies.

The support provided by CANAF falls under the project on Government Capacity Buildingfor Post-Arrival Assistance to Unaccompanied Minors Returning to El Salvador and Honduras, being financed by the IOM Development Fund.

Through technical support and staff training, IOM works with local stakeholders to promote best practices and improve processes for reintegrating minors returning to both countries. Furthermore, the synergies created in both El Salvador and Honduras will pave the way for implementing comprehensive action plans to protect and help meet the needs of migrant minors from a perspective that guarantees the fulfilment of their rights.

LATIN AMERICA AND THE CARIBBEAN

A HELPING HAND UPON RETURN

At just 17 years old, Juan and his 8-year-old sister began a perilous journey to the United States to be reunited with their mother, who they had not seen in five years. While travelling through Mexico, they were both detained and later repatriated to San Miguel, El Salvador.

Juan and his sister are among 4,282 minors who returned to El Salvador between January and July 2016. After their return they were referred to the Centre for Child, Adolescent and Family Care (CANAF), where they were awarded a scholarship and are receiving psychosocial care in preparation for their return to their community of origin.

Together with his aunt, Juan is taking part in workshops run by CANAF on issues such as the strengthening of the family, the preparation of life plans and the challenges of irregular migration.

Returnee migrant children and teenagers participate in workshops to strengthen their self-esteem at the Municipal Office for Children in San Pedro Sula, Honduras.

Beneficiary of the project, Casablanca, Morocco, 2016.Beneficiary of the project, Casablanca, Morocco, 2016.


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STRENGTHENING THE CAPACITIES OF THE INDIGENOUS PEOPLE FROM THE BOLIVIAN AMAZON TO PREVENT AND RESPOND TO CLIMATE CHANGE

According to 2001 census data, the Plurinational State of Bolivia3 is the country with the highest percentage of indigenous people in Latin America: 66 per cent of its total population is indigenous. They are spread through the Amazon basin, the valleys and the highlands, both in urban and rural areas. Indigenous people of rural areas are especially vulnerable to climate change, which manifests itself through devastating floods during the rainy season and extreme droughts. The latter lead to wildfires that affect the productive systems, threatening people’s customs and traditions and forcing them to leave their land.

Thanks to the financial support of the IOM Development Fund through the project, Migration and Climate Change in Indigenous and Rural Communities in a Vulnerable Situation – Bolivia, activities will be carried out to identify the impact of climate change on migration processes in the Amazon region and formulate strategic guidelines to help governmental actors plan prevention and preparedness actions for climate change-related hazards.

In partnership with local and national authorities, the project promotes territorial planning processes,4 in which indigenous communities5 identify their weaknesses against possible threats and formulate risk management plans based on their own ancestral practices and knowledge

about their land. In addition, local authorities and indigenous communities will receive training on camp management and coordination to improve their capacity to respond to these adverse events. In this regard, Heber Romero, project focal point from the Vice-Minister of Civil Defense said:

In order to manage to keep people in

their territories, we expect with this project to strengthen rural capabilities, especially the indigenous ones.

It is hoped that these activities will help indigenous populations to plan for and adapt to climate change: a phenomenon for which they are not responsible, but one from which they will suffer if no measures are taken.

2 Insect from the Bolivian tropical area.3 Hereinafter, due to space issues, Bolivia will be used.4 Law Nº 777 of 21 January 2016. Law of the Integral Planning System of the Plurinational State of Bolivia.5 Indigenous communities are: Bolpebra: achineri, Yaminagua, Noaya; Santa Ana of Yacuma: Cayubaba, Movima, Chimán and San Ignacio: Moxeño and Ignaciano, Chimán.

We know there are going to be floods this year, the turo2 lays its eggs at the water

level that will be reached. Francisco Moreno, Machineri Indigenous community.

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Project proposals may be submitted by eligible Member States directly to the IOM Development Fund for consideration, including via Permanent Missions in Geneva. Projects may also be presented on behalf of Member States by IOM Offices, or by the relevant department at IOM Headquarters. All projects are referred to the participating IOM Office(s) for coordination and support.

Identify an eligible thematic area where IOM’s technical expertise can be used to build capacity for your government to more effectively manage migration. Refer to the Fund website to help you with the application process: https://developmentfund.iom.int/how-apply

Approach your local IOM Office, or the Fund directly, to discuss the viability of your project idea.

If your project idea is considered viable by the Fund management, you can begin putting together a project proposal.

You can work closely with your local IOM Office, or IOM Headquarters, to shape and finalize the document and the project design. It is not necessary for eligible Member States to create the project document by themselves.

Projects must be presented in the IOM Development Fund template, with complete budgets, wherein the total of staff and office costs should not be more than 30 per cent of the total budget. Consistent with the IOM Project Handbook, projects should also receive endorsement from the relevant Regional IOM Office (RO). In addition, projects may be reviewed and endorsed by the relevant department at IOM Headquarters before final consideration by the Fund’s management team.

Your project proposal, including those submitted through your Permanent Mission in Geneva, must be supported by a written endorsement and request for IOM Development Fund funding by your capital. This endorsement should take the form of a letter from the cooperating arm of the government, addressed to the IOM Development Fund or the Chief of Mission of the local IOM Office, citing the specific project and making specific reference to the IOM Development Fund. You must assign a focal point for the project prior to implementation.

Once you have submitted the complete (RO endorsed) project proposal and supporting letters, that’s it! Your proposal will be evaluated by the Fund, a recommendation made to the Director General and, if approved, your government will benefit from IOM Development Fund support!

HOW TO APPLY TO THE FUND

Are you an IOM Development Fund-eligible Member State?If so, you can apply for funding by taking the 5 following steps:

The templates mentioned in Step 3 can be downloaded from:https://developmentfund.iom.int/project-template

STEP 1

STEP 2

STEP 3

STEP 4

STEP 5

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The IOM Development Fund was established in 2001 with an initial allocation of USD 1.4 million. The Fund has grown to USD 7.5 million in 2016 thanks to successful project outcomes and the generous support of Member States.

To date, the Fund has been supported through operational support income as well as Member State donations specifically earmarked for the programme. The vast majority of funding received goes to project implementation, while programme management and administration account for less than 5 per cent of total expenditures.

Recent expansion of IOM membership has resulted in a remarkable increase in demand from eligible Member States for assistance in developing capacities in migration management. Currently, this demand strongly exceeds IOM donors’ contributions. The IOM Development Fund is dedicated to bridging this funding gap in order to respond to the many deserving requests by Member States. Support the IOM Development Fund:

• Member States can support the Fund through annual earmarked contributions.

• Private organizations and foundations can support the Fund through single donations or annual contributions.

• Individuals can contribute to the Fund online via the “Donate Now” menu on the website’s home page.

• In-kind donations are also welcome and their scope can be discussed with the Fund management.

WE APPRECIATE YOUR INTEREST IN THE IOM DEVELOPMENT FUND.

IOM COULD NOT CONTINUE ITS WORK

WITHOUT YOUR SUPPORT.

United States of America

Austria

Belgium Hungary

Italy Morocco

Spain

Member States which have supported the IOM Develoment Fund to date are:

SUPPORTING THE FUND

Australia


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UPHOLDING THE RIGHTS OF MIGRANT WORKERS IN SPECIAL ECONOMIC ZONES BY ENSURING SUPPLY CHAINS ARE EXPLOITATION FREE: VIET NAM, CAMBODIA AND LAO PEOPLE’S DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC

ASIA AND OCEANIA

The development of transportation connections and Special Economic Zones (SEZs) in Cambodia, Viet Nam and Lao People’s Democratic Republic has led to increased rates of internal migration and cross-border mobility between the three countries.

Unfortunately, human rights violations and other exploitative practices remain a concern in Southeast Asia, including the practice of imposing excessive recruitment fees, deception around employment conditions and confiscation of identification documents.

To date, nearly 21 million people are victims of forced labour across the world – about 11.7 million people or 56 per cent in the Asia–Pacific region alone. Too often the victims are trapped in jobs into which they were coerced or deceived.

As an organization that promotes and upholds migrant rights, the IOM with the support of the IOM Development Fund is implementing the project, Upholding the Rights of Migrant Workers in Special Economic Zones By Ensuring Supply Chains Are Exploitation Free: Viet Nam, Cambodia and Lao People’s Democratic Republic, to help ensure regional supply chains are free of exploitation and protect migrant workers.

In pursuit of this objective, the team is delivering two sets of inter-related outcomes that focus on improving the business sectors’ understanding of corporate social responsibility principles related to ethical recruitment as a "smart investment", and enhancing the business sectors’ capacity to adopt ethical recruitment practices.

True to the spirit of the IOM Development

Fund, this project has paved the way for strengthening Viet Nam’s position as a regional hub for expertise on labour migration and ethical recruitment, and has directly expanded IOM Viet Nam’s role as a key player in combatting labour exploitation in regional supply chains.

David Knight, Chief of Mission, IOM Viet Nam, and Regional Coordinator for Viet Nam, Cambodia and Lao People’s Democratic Republic.

The project continues to move forward with demonstrated success. Within the first six months IOM Missions have:

• Signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the global accounting firm Grant Thornton which will assist IOM in developing research on ethical recruitment and building a business case for ethical trading, recruitment and management of migrant labour.

• Engaged in private sector outreach by delivering a presentation at a Cooperated Social Responsibility workshop in Tokyo (August 2016), in partnership with Green Energetic, a Japanese NGO.

• Forged new ground in identifying potential project partners and innovative methods for engaging the private sector, part of the broader objective of assessing recruitment practices, risks of forced labour, as well as the potential for improvement across the business community in different Special Economic Zones/Industrial Zones.

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The involvement of IOM in building

capacity for private sectors on ethical recruitment as well as forced labour is really crucial and it is also helping the Department of Labour and Vocational Training do the role of labour inspection to look for forced labour and labour exploitation. The firms themselves will find their workplace out of exploitation.

Chim Chanthla,Deputy Director of Department of Labour and Vocational Training in Svay Rieng province of Cambodia.

WAY FORWARD

Cambodia We plan to conduct supply chain mapping in the SEZ of Svay Rieng to enhance transparency employment conditions of the workers and engage in further dialogue with private sectors and local authorities.

Viet NamWe are going to deliver training on counter-trafficking to middle managers from manufacturing companies and continue to promote the adoption of ethical recruitment as a win-win strategy among businesses, local authorities and migrant workers by way of dialogue and support.

Lao People's Democratic Republic We are working to improve government and the business sectors' understanding and adoption of ethical recruitment and Corporate Social Responsibility frameworks, through training and awareness raising activities which share existing good practices.

David Knight, Chief of Mission, IOM Viet Nam, speaking at the Supply Chain Seminar.


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Imagine being forced to leave your home to have to settle in an unfamiliar place with only a tent to serve as your shelter, and beyond this shelter you cannot move freely as your safety is at risk.

This is unfortunately the reality for women like Gawi, who for the past few years has had to reside at the Bulolo Care Centre. The centre, which hosts 6,000 people, is a makeshift community in Morobe Province of Papua New Guinea for those who have been displaced as a result of tribal conflict. Gawi said:

In the past we were free to move around. We didn’t walk with this fear hanging over us. Now we’re so scared that even touching something that belongs to someone else may trigger conflicts. For many years we have lived like this.

PEACEBUILDING EMPOWERS WOMEN IN PAPUA NEW GUINEA

Since 2010, Gawi and her people have been displaced more than three times as a result of tribal conflict and sorcery-related accusations, both of which are prevalent in Papua New Guinea.

For this reason, the Community-Based Tribal Conflict Mitigation and Peacebuilding for development (COMBAT-COMIT) project, funded through the IOM Development Fund, aims to promote sustainable peace and reconciliation solutions. Thanks to this initiative, internally displaced persons (IDPs) like Gawi and their host communities can work together to rebuild and develop their relationships. While it may appear as though COMBAT-COMIT is attempting to totally eradicate violence in these vulnerable communities, it is rather working to identify the root causes of conflict through activities such as intensive peace and development planning sessions.

Temporary shelter in Bulolo.

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COMBAT-COMIT is built on the premise that inclusive development which meets diverse socioeconomic needs helps conflict-affected communities to collectively reach consensus.

Without harmony, however, women and children will continue to bear the brunt of conflicts. IOM recognizes this issue and is working hard to roll out COMBAT-COMIT with the project in its initial assessment stage.

Despite the fact that the COMBAT-COMIT narrative is still quite fresh, people like Gawi are willing to consider it as a way forward for their community. They’re determined to rebuild their lives after having lost so much. Gawi said:

The displacement has disrupted the

education of many children and has made it nearly impossible for women to do normal chores like gardening and fetching water as they are vulnerable to attacks. But I’m thankful that IOM has come, especially when we have this great need. For many years we have relied on no one but ourselves. We were worried for our children, and more so for their future but not anymore. A door has opened where our need for development is now being recognized.

Gawi’s optimism and renewed strength show us that women can be agents of change in their community by embracing a culture of forgiveness. This atmosphere of trust and solidarity will enable communities affected by displacement and migration to actively engage with one another.

Local government structures will give a voice to marginalized populations and mitigate potential outbreaks of violence in the future. The Bulolo District Authority, for example, has seen the tangible advantages of collaboration instead of conflict at a community level, and the replicability of this approach for promoting peace and reconciliation throughout the district and country at large. The COMBAT-COMIT project ensures Papua New Guineans in the same situation as Gawi will one day achieve sustainable peace through facilitated collaboration and capacity-building.

Furthermore, the project aims to enhance the knowledge and capacities of the displaced populations to allow them to customize their own interventions and take ownership of their development projects. In so doing, displaced persons learn how to achieve a gutpela sindaun (good relationship) with their neighbours and host communities.

PEACEBUILDING EMPOWERS WOMEN IN PAPUA NEW GUINEA

Child victim of flooding in Bulolo, assisted by IOM.


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ADVANCING REGIONAL HEALTH SECURITY THROUGH INTERCOUNTRY COORDINATION AND PARTNERSHIPS ON LABOUR MIGRATION HEALTH SCREENING PRACTICES

The Colombo Process is the Regional Consultative Process on the management of overseas employment and contractual labour for countries of origin in Asia. On 25 August 2016, the Director General of Health Services (DGHS) of the Ministry of Health (MoH) Sri Lanka, at its 5th Ministerial Consultation, urged Member States to include migrant health as an autonomous thematic area.

Labour migrants must be healthy,

and pre-departure health assessments are conducted to ensure a healthy labour migrant.

The DGHS called on receiving country governments to improve migrant health care access, thus empowering labour migrants to change their behaviours for a healthier lifestyle.

Many labour migrants today undergo pre-departure health assessments as a recruitment pre-requisite. Nonetheless, existing evidence shows that health assessment providers often operate in isolation, with little to no formal association with a country’s public health system. If health assessments are to meaningfully contribute to greater public health, good national health systems linkages must be complemented by health promotion measures that empower migrants to independently take health improvement measures.

Colombo Process.

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Dr Nenette Motus, IOM Asia and the Pacific’s Regional Director, commented on the importance of first:

Standardizing and coordinating pre-

departure health assessment services and minimizing the burden to the migrants of going through the same tests at pre-departure and upon arrival, which can result in denial of entry.

In its effort to contribute to regional health security, IOM initiated the project, Promoting and Integrating Inclusive and Migrant-Friendly Health Assessment Services in the National Health System of Sri Lanka, with financial support from the IOM Development Fund.

Child victim of flooding in Bulolo, assisted by IOM.

A four-country rapid assessment was conducted over a six-month period from February 2016 in Sri Lanka, Philippines, Nepal and Bangladesh, whereby the objectives were to assess current immigration medical examination (IME) practices, and to develop a position paper and effective guidelines on migrant-friendly Sri Lankan IMEs.

Preliminary findings were used to successfully initiate regional discourse through multi and bilateral dialogues.

As a result of IOM Sri Lanka’s and MoH’s continued outreach, 2016’s Colombo Process Declaration recommends migrant health to be included as a dedicated thematic area, and the multi-country rapid assessment findings will aid in collaboratively progressing towards better migrant health in the labour context.

Fifth Ministerial Consultation of the Regional Consultative Process on the management of overseas employment and contractual labour for countries of origin in Asia.


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EUROPE

The potential for the diaspora to become active agents of social and economic development is recognized worldwide more and more each day.

Remittances, connections, ideas, and so much more flow freely between the country of origin and the country of destination. Like many other developing countries, Albania has experienced significant migration movements where practically every family has been directly or indirectly impacted. With so many Albanian Communities Abroad (ACA) spread out in various countries such as Greece, Italy and the United States of America, the interest to engage with the ACA has peaked more than ever. In fact, the Government of Albania will organize a Diaspora Summit in November 2016, which is seen as a chance to establish a cooperation structure.

The summit will be a major event, with

the government and other international actors discussing with the representatives of the Albanian diaspora from more than 50 countries. Concrete steps and action plans will be discussed, led by the need to build a bridge between us, the Albanians abroad and those in Albania.

Prime Minister Edi Rama, promoting the Albanian Diaspora Summit in an official visit to the United States of America.

However, interest alone is not always enough for successful collaboration and governments in the countries of origin often face difficulties engaging their diaspora effectively. The impact created from the diaspora engagement never truly surpasses the household level and thus never realizing the full potential that is social and economic development on a national scale. Due to the lack of capacity and appropriate policy that often act as deterrents to cultivating a beneficial relationship, the Government of Albania has requested the support of IOM in order to support its efforts in engaging with the ACA.

Through the project, Harnessing the impact of Albanian Migration for the Development of Albania, funded by the IOM Development Fund, IOM plans to build the capacities of the GoA through training workshops, equipment and increase exchanges with the Albanian Communities Abroad through outreach activities.

The Government of Albania, with the support of IOM, has also finalized the policy on Engagement with Albanian Communities Abroad (ACA). The initiatives foreseen in the policy’s Action Plan aim to positively impact the following areas: institutional and leadership development, ACA and human capital, ACA and economic development and the support provided for a better organized ACA. By laying down the groundwork, the Government of Albania, with the assistance of IOM, hopes to foster a fruitful collaboration with the ACA and consolidate the missing links for building trust and promoting growth.

The prospect for engagement and

collaboration is very high. The Albanian Communities Abroad are quite promising in terms of human, social, cultural, political and economic capital. Let us utilize these resources to their greatest potential.

Alma Jani, Head of Office, IOM Tirana.

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ALBANIAN COMMUNITIES ABROAD: BUILDING THE BRIDGE TO A PROMISING FUTURE

Outreach in Rome.

AUTUMN 2016

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WHO ARE WE? MOLDOVAN CHILDREN FROM THE DIASPORA DISCOVERING THEIR COUNTRY OF ORIGINImagine being from the Republic of Moldova and not speaking the native language. This is the reality for more than 40,000 Moldovan children (who were either born in the Republic of Moldova and then taken abroad, or born abroad) living in over 30 countries across the globe. Moldovan parents bring up their children in countries that bear little or no resemblance to their homeland. Their social and cultural ties gradually erode, until they sometimes stop identifying with their homeland altogether.

Luckily, the second-generation diaspora is known to explore their national culture at weekly or monthly gatherings, organized by their parents, diaspora associations and sometimes churches in their local communities. They get to celebrate main national holidays and practice their native language. But that is as far as it goes.

Thanks to the IOM Development Fund support through the project, Enhancing the Development Impact of the Republic of Moldova through Engagement with Diaspora-Homeland Partnerships, children of the Moldovan diaspora will benefit from

ASIA AND OCEANIA

the implementation of ten Diaspora Educational Centres (whose location will be determined through a competition and with the help of the diaspora), which will carry out comprehensive language and culture courses starting in 2017.

In June 2016, IOM Moldova, the Diaspora Relations Bureau (DRB) of the State Chancellery and the Ministry of Education of the Republic of Moldova launched a grant scheme to set up the ten Centres. The Centres will receive books, national garb and other educational materials. Children from the diaspora have different educational needs than their peers in the Republic of Moldova. This is why two successfully acclaimed national experts will develop a modern curriculum aimed at 5 to 12 year-olds from the diaspora. The curriculum should be easily adaptable and will best serve the needs of the second-generation diaspora regardless of where it is based. Training activities for implementing the curriculum will be also conducted. The curriculum will be launched on the occasion of the International Children’s Day, 1 June 2017.

Children from the diaspora taking selfies with a goat in Orheiul Vechi, Republic of Moldova.

17, route des Morillons, 1211 Geneva 19, SwitzerlandTel. + 41 22 717 91 11 • Fax: + 41 22 798 61 50 • E-mail: [email protected]

The IOM DEVELOPMENT FUND supports developing Member States in the development and implementation of joint government–IOM projects to address particular areas of migration management. Since its inception in 2001, the Fund has supported over 580 projects in various areas of IOM activity and has benefited over 114 Member States.

PRIMA Project Information and Management Application

The PRIMA development team continues to collaborate with key internal partners to ensure proposed organizational strategic initiatives, including Results-Based Management, the Migration Governance Framework, Gender and Evaluation, can be effectively integrated into the system’s design.

PRIMA’s project monitoring functions are also expected to be highly valuable in ensuring projects adhere to timeframes and are delivered most effectively.

We will continue to keep you updated on the progress of PRIMA. Should you have any questions please email [email protected].

PRIMA Version 1.2.5 was successfully deployed on 7 October 2016 and includes considerable enhancements and bug fixes which were identified in the previous versions. The most significant features in the latest version include new functions that enhance the user friendliness of the application, including auto-generation of important project information, and new features that automatically highlight revisions to project information as well as to outcomes, outputs and activities within a project. A range of additional enhancements mean that the system is increasingly proving to be a highly intuitive and efficient experience for users. Version 1.2.5 continues to support the following features:

• generating dashboards that provide various summary views of IOM Development Fund project data and information across regions and funding years;

• capturing information of target beneficiaries (type, characteristics and number) as well as actual beneficiaries reached;

• capturing the percentage of budget allocated per area of work (e.g. labour migration, health promotion and migrant assistance, etc.) and per activity (e.g. research, training, awareness raising, etc.);

• generating reminders for submission of reports;

• granting access to all staff within a country office to work on projects in PRIMA which are being developed/managed by their office, provided that authorization to do so has been forwarded to them by the person responsible (e.g. Project Developer or Project Manager);

• exporting extensive project data into Excel to allow users to use the data for further analysis;

• a visual timeline that illustrates the progress of the project.

A Global PRIMA Training and Application rollout for all IOM Development Fund projects is currently underway, with training having already taken place for related project staff in Regional Offices in Pretoria, Nairobi, Cairo, Bangkok, Vienna and Dakar. Further training is planned to take place in the Autumn of 2016 for the Americas Region.

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