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Regional Cooperation and Capacity Building

Workshop on strengthening the collection and use of International Migration data for Development

21 November 2014

Addis Ababa

International Organization for Migration

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As an introduction… Globalization and increased migratory

flows: in today’s world, 1 person out of 7 is an International Migrant

Most African Migrants move within the

continent.

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Regional Cooperation on Migration in Africa

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Various platforms for international and Regional cooperation on Migration related issues:

UNGA High Level Dialogue Global Migration Group (GMG) Global Forum on Migration and Development

(GFMD) Regional Consultative Processed (RCPs) etc.

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Outline: I. Regional Cooperation on Migration in

Africa Who are the key actors? What are the existing tools and

mechanisms? II. Migration Data and Capacity Building What are the challenges? Any Good practices in the continent?

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Who are the key Actors? The African Union (AU): political decisions at the Heads of State level

Regional Economic Communities (RECs): “building blocks” of the AU with significant role and

leverage power at the regional level Eg.: ECOWAS and the Free Movement of Persons regime in West

Africa, EAC and the Common Market ( Free movement of Persons) Regulation in East Africa

Member States: sovereign countries who are the only ones who can

ensure implementation of continental and regional strategies

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Neighboring regions outside Africa: geographic proximity makes inter-regional discussions necessary (eg.: Europe and the Middle East)

International Partners: Technical expertise, producers of

international Migration Statistics (UN, IOM, ILO, OECD, etc.)

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Existing tools and mechanisms for regional cooperation

Regional Consultative Processes (RCPs) An information-sharing and discussion forum for states with an

interest in promoting cooperation in the field of migration: repeated regional meetings dedicated to discussing specific

migration issues. RCPs bring together countries from the same ‘region’,

depending on the scope of the migration issue to be addressed.

Informal: participants are not put in a negotiating position to defend national interests or positions

non-binding: states do not negotiate binding rules and are not obligated to implement any changes following meetings

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There are 5 RCPs in which African countries are participating:

Migration Dialogue for Western Africa (MIDWA) Migration Dialogue for Central Africa (MIDECCAS) Migration Dialogue for East/Horn of Africa (IGAD

RCP) Migration Dialogue for Southern Africa (MIDSA) 5+5 Dialogue for the North Africa and Mediterranean

Region

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These RCPs discuss and create bilateral/multilateral cooperation on:

- Irregular migration - Migration and development - Migration and health - Capacity building in migration management - Forced migration - Labour migration - Migration policies, legislation and data

collection - etc.

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The Migration Policy Framework for Africa

- A guideline for a comprehensive approach to Migration at the national and regional levels.

- Emphasis on regional/inter-regional cooperation

- 9 thematic migration issues with sub- themes and policy recommendations for RECs and AU Member States

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The MPF covers:

1) Labor migration, 2) Border Management, 3) Irregular Migration, 4) Forced Displacement, 5) Human Rights of Migrants, 6) Internal Migration, 7) Migration Data, 8) Migration and Development, and 9) Inter-State co-operation and partnerships.

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IGAD has been the first REC to develop a Regional Migration Policy Framework (RMPF) in line with AU’s recommendation.

The framework was adopted by the IGAD

Council of Ministers in July 2012. IGAD has now a regional roadmap to tackle

Migration issues and has started discussions with its Member States for the implementation on the IGAD RMPF.

African Institute for Remittances: - Remittance flows to Africa grew from about

15,000 billion USD to 65,000 billion USD between 2003 and 2013 (Source: World Bank, 2013 report on Remittances)

- Need for Diaspora data analysis - AIR project (AUC, WB, AfDB, IOM, EU): develop the

capacity of Member States, remittance senders and recipients and other stakeholders to implement concrete strategies and operational instruments to use remittances as development tools for poverty reduction.

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The AU-Horn of Africa Initiative against Human Trafficking and Smuggling

- Started in November 2012 - Emphasizes collective responsibility by

source, transit, destination countries, International Organizations, NGOs to address trafficking & smuggling challenges

- The Khartoum Declaration, AU-HOA TORs & strategy adopted by Ministers of concerned countries in October 2014

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Migration Data and Capacity Building

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What are the challenges? Lack of accurate and comparable data Difficulty sustaining data collection and

analysis process Irregular nature of some migratory

movements Unregulated cross-border movements (cross-

border traders, pastoralists, etc.) Lack of coordination among national

authorities dealing with migration Lack of investment/resources – both financial

and human resources

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Good practices in the area of Migration data and capacity building National Migration profiling exercise enhancing governments’

capacity as they develop this framework for data collection and analysis

13 done in Africa: Benin, Sudan, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Ivory Coast, DRC, Ghana, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Zimbabwe

+ 9 are underway: Burkina Faso, Kenya, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, Seychelles, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda.

Increasing number of National Platforms on Migration in the

continent improving internal coordination among concerned agencies at the national level (eg.: Lesotho, work in progress in the 8 IGAD Member States)

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Regional coordination: Regional Migration Coordination Committee (RMCC) in the IGAD Region. Directors of Immigration from the 8 IGAD Member States meet regularly to exchange information and discuss migration related issues.

Increased role of Civil Society: Regional Mixed Migration Secretariat (RMMS) monitoring mixed migration trends and data in the Horn of Africa Region covering Djibouti, Eritrea/Sudan, Ethiopia, Kenya, Puntland, Somalia, Somaliland and Yemen. Monthly distribution of information.

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Conclusion

- Africa is a continent on the rise. - Accurate data on migration = effective

migration policies that could positively impact economies.

- Potential for Free Movement of persons and regulated Labor Mobility that will contribute to regional integration.

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Thank you!