Migration Program

8 May 2019, NAIROBI (Kenya): The Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), in partnership with Maseno University and the Organisation for Social Science Research in Eastern and Southern Africa (OSSREA), this morning inaugurated an “International Scientific Conference on Forced Displacement and Mixed Migration in the and East and Horn of Africa” in Nairobi.

 Participants are comprised of researchers, policy makers, development partners and practitioners working in and outside the IGAD region.

 The three-day conference that ends on 10 May 2019 is an effort to provide a convergence platform for reflections on forced displacement and mixed migration to address the issues in a more humane and sustainable manner for both those displaced persons and host communities.

 This conference is aimed at enabling a scholarly and policy interrogation of the relationship between forced displacement and other forms of migration (mixed migration flows). Secondly, it will be an opportunity to assess and analyse new knowledge and developments in migration management in the Horn of Africa in particular and the African continent as a whole. The participants will also discuss how these mixed migration flows are influenced by the political economy of international migration.

 In discussing these broad dynamics, the conference aims to help in shaping future directions of the forced displacement and mixed migration discourse, interventions and policy in the Horn and East Africa.

 During a comprehensive opening session that saw interventions by representatives of the host country, the IGAD Chair, OSSREA, Maseno University, the UNHCR, the International Organisation for Migration, the German development agency GIZ and the World Bank, the Director of Health and Social Development Division at IGAD, Ms Fathia A. Alwan, highlighted that migration and forced displacement required “sound legal frameworks and policies for the protection and empowerment of vulnerable populations and for enhancing the developmental impacts of those who are affected”.

 “Sound legal frameworks and polices, in turn, need reliable data and scientific research in scaling up responses to existing needs and we must make our response even more relevant”, she said; thus the rationale behind the conference.

 This conference is made possible with financial support from the German Cooperation, the World Bank, and the Swiss Government.

 Background

Forced displacement presents a major development challenge in the East and Horn of Africa Region, accounting for some of the world’s most protracted displacement cases with limited prospects for return or self-reliance. In light of this, the “New York Declaration for Refugees and Migrants”, adopted the Comprehensive Refugee Response Framework (CRRF) which provides an imperative to overcome the long held view of refugees and migrants as burden to societies while calling for increased solidarity and responsibility sharing in addressing displacement and mobility.

 It is within this context that the IGAD Special Summit held in 2017 adopted the Nairobi Declaration and its accompanying Plan of Action on durable solutions for Somali refugees (with a much broader reach on solutions for refugees and host communities in the region). The Nairobi Declaration is the regional application of the CRRF which seeks a multi-sectoral approach in dealing with displacement and takes cognizance of the development impacts of displacement on host communities and governments.

                                                                                                ஜஜ۩END۩ஜஜ

07 May 2019, NAIROBI (Kenya): The International Labour Organisation (ILO) Country Office in Ethiopia in partnership with the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) this morning inaugurated a Migration and Mobility Governance Tripartite Sub-Regional Validation and Consultation Workshop in Nairobi

 This IGAD Member States-ILO-Workers and Employers Association two-day meeting is to validate the draft findings of the two below studies conducted by the ILO implemented project and to enhance the contribution of social partners on the draft IGAD Protocol on Free Movement of Persons:

• assessment of labour migration and mobility governance and the potential of Skills development; and
• recognition for regular labour mobility

 A total of 85 participants are attending the sub regional tripartite validation workshop.

 The overall objective of the tripartite validation and consultation workshop is to foster linkages between research findings and policy making, and promote exchange of ideas and practices among government actors, workers’ organizations, employers’ organisations and other stakeholders involved in labour migration and mobility governance in the IGAD region. It is also aimed at enhancing the engagement and contribution of social partners in the drafting of the IGAD protocol on Free Movement of persons.

 In her opening remarks, Ms Fathia A. Alwan, Director of IGAD Health and Social Development Division, thanked ILO for convening the meeting and for the timeliness support to IGAD and its member States in “improving opportunities for regular Labour Mobility”.

 She recalled that IGAD was currently spearheading the negotiations of a regional Protocol on Free Movement of Persons and Transhumance. “IGAD initiatives aim to complement continental processes by customizing the continental protocol to address the peculiarities of the IGAD region”, she said.

 Below are the expected outputs at the end of the workshop:

• Improved knowledge about labour migration and mobility governance, skills development and recognition as well as the link between climate change, labour market and migration in the region;
• Enhanced network to facilitate ongoing exchange of experiences and information sharing about migration to achieve multiplier effect;
• Gathered concrete inputs and recommendations to further enrich the findings of the studies; and
• Coordinated actions and strategies on the publication and wider dissemination of the findings of the studies.

 In order to support IGAD and its member States towards free movement of persons and transhumance in the region, the ILO is implementing a three year technical cooperation project titled “Free Movement of Persons and Transhumance in the IGAD Region: Improving Opportunities for Regular Labour Mobility”. The project is being implemented in collaboration with the IGAD and its member States with the financial support of the European Union.

                                                                                                      ஜஜ۩END۩ஜஜ

02 May 2019, Tadjourah, Djibouti: The Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), in collaboration with the Ministry of the Interior of Djibouti, this morning inaugurated a country-level consultations workshop on the establishment of a National Coordination Mechanism (NCM) on Migration the coastal town of Tadjourah.

 This three-day workshop is also an opportunity to operationalise the Global Compact for Migration and to introduce the Development Approach to Displacement.

 The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of the Interior, Mr. Siraj Omar Abdoulkader, presided over the opening ceremony in the presence of the Prefects of Tadjourah, Dikhil and Arta Regions of Djibouti, the Director of IGAD Health & Social Development Division, Ms Fathia A. Alwan, and the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) country representative.

 Participants are drawn from the Office of the prime Minister, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of Environment, National Office in Assistance of Refugees and Disaster Victims (ONARS), the National Police, the prefectures of the 5 regions, the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Labour, the Ministry of Transport, the Ministry of Defence, the Ministry of Gender and Women, the National Assembly, National Security, UNHCR and IOM to Djibouti.

 This national dialogue is be used to introduce and familiarize stakeholders with the national, regional and global initiatives towards durable solutions efforts in general, and the roles of the Development Response to Displacement Impacts Project (DRDIP) in Djibouti in particular. The workshop is also to provide a starting point for a common development approach for working together within government structures to inform solutions strategies and response, and for building comprehensive responses.

 In her opening remarks, Ms Alwan, recalled that IGAD, similarly to other regional economic communities, put in place a regional migration framework in line with the African Union continental one. She highlighted the necessity of a multi-sectoral and human rights based approach to tackle the phenomenon considering its amplitude in recent years.

 Mr Abdoulkader took the floor to stress the need for a coordination mechanism in Djibouti as in other IGAD Member countries that will contribute the regional debate on the matter. The Prefect of Tadourah, Mr Abdoulmalik Mohamed Banoita, officially opened the workshop.

 Among the specific objectives to achieve by the end of these three days are:

• To encourage the implementation of international, continental and regional policies and initiatives related to migration at the national level
• Discuss to domesticate the Global Compact for migration and refugees (CRRF) and how to implement the Nairobi, Djibouti and Kampala Declarations and plan of actions at national level;
• Establish a monitoring and evaluation mechanism for national migration issues; and
• Facilitate a coordinated resource mobilization at national level.

 The National Coordination Mechanism on Migration (NCM) is a multi-sectoral coordination mechanism under the auspice of the government coordinating different stakeholders working in migration issues. This mechanism will strengthen national leadership in migration management, optimize the implementation of migration activities and facilitate the mobilization of resources for the management and care of migration.

                                                                                                                           ஜஜ۩END۩ஜஜ

28 March 2019, KAMPALA (Uganda): The Prime Minister of Uganda, Hon. Ruhakana Rugunda, today inaugurated the “Ministerial Thematic Meeting on Livelihoods and Self-reliance for Refugees, Returnees and Host Communities” called on by Intergovernmental Authority on Development in collaboration with the Government of Uganda in Kampala.

9 Ministers and State Ministers participated in this one-day meeting which saw the issuance of the attached Communiqué’.

In his opening remarks, Hon.Rugunda said his understanding and that of African leaders that a comprehensive response was “the only way forward to address the needs of refugees and host communities – including livelihoods and self reliance needs – and to ensure that hosting refugees contributes to economic growth and national development”.

The Ministers present were:

DJIBOUTI

H.E. Hassan Omar Mohamed, Minister for Interior

H.E. Hassan Idriss Sambrieh, Minister for Labour

ETHIOPIA

H.E. Zeynu Jemal, State Minister for Peace

KENYA

H.E. Ukur Kanacho Yatani , Cabinet Secretary for Labour

SOMALIA 

H.E Hamza Said Hamza , Minister for Humanitarian Affairs                       

H.E. Abdulkadir Ahmed Kheyr, State Minister for Foreign Affairs                                           

SOUTH SUDAN

H.E. James Hoth Mai, Minister for Labour

UGANDA

H.E. (Eng.) Hilary Onek, Minister for Relief Disaster Preparedness and Refugees

H.E. Persis Namuganza, State Minister for Lands

This meeting was preceded by a three-day gathering of Experts from IGAD Member States’ line ministries, including lead agencies that handle refugee matters; ministries of finance (treasury); ministries of planning and those responsible for local government (devolution, federalism or decentralization), as well as ministries of agriculture, livestock development and those responsible for labour.

Development and humanitarian partners, as well as the private sector and the civil society groups from the humanitarian and development spheres to support commitments towards refugees, returnees, and host communities also participated.

                                                                                                      ஜஜ۩END۩ஜஜ

Attachments:

ENGLISH DECLARATION SIGNED.pdf	[ ]	2847 kB	2019-03-31 03:41
FRENCH DECLARATION SIGNED (1).pdf	[ ]	3516 kB	2019-03-31 03:37

25 March 2019, KAMPALA (Uganda): The Minister of Relief, Disaster Preparedness and Refugees of Uganda, Hon. Hilary Onek, this morning opened the “Regional Thematic Meeting on Livelihoods and Self-reliance for Refugees, Returnees and Host Communities” in Kampala organised by the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) in collaboration with the Government of Uganda.

Minister of State of Youth and Children Affairs of Uganda - Hon. Florence Nakiwala Kiyingi, was in attendance at the high table along with the Director of Health & Social Division at IGAD - Ms Fathia Alwan, as well as representatives from the European Union, the UNHCR, and the International Labour Organisation (ILO).

The three-day gathering is a meeting of Experts to pave the way for a ministerial level meeting due to take place on Thursday 28 March at Speke Resort Munyunyo in Kampala.

The regional thematic meeting is bringing together IGAD Member States, development and humanitarian partners, as well as the private sector and the civil society groups from the humanitarian and development spheres to support these commitments.

Participants are drawn from IGAD Member States’ line ministries, including lead agencies that handle refugee matters; ministries of finance (treasury); ministries of planning and those responsible for local government (devolution, federalism or decentralization), as well as ministries of agriculture, livestock development and those responsible for labour.

Representatives of refugee and host communities, international finance institutions, partners engaged in securing durable solutions and the IGAD core group of partners to the Nairobi Plan of Action will are expected. Others include the private sector, civil society and the Diaspora who are champions for refugees.

The meeting is looking at a range of issues connected to the access of refugees and host communities to livelihood and economic opportunities including challenges accessing supporting services and functions (e.g. financial, information, training, infrastructure, business development services, etc.); as well as barriers in the regulatory and policy environment preventing refugees and host communities to fully take advantage of available opportunities.

In his inaugural speech, Hon. Onek said his belief that this forum was critical to “further explore mechanisms of promoting economic inclusion of refugees, returnees and host communities in the IGAD region”. He also noted that his country was “delighted to share good practices, lessons learnt and opportunities on the creation of jobs and livelihoods”.

In her opening remarks, the Director of Health & Social Division at IGAD-Ms Fathia Alwan, noted that IGAD started implementation of the Nairobi Declaration immediately after its adoption with support from partners such as the European Union, the German Agency for Development, and UNHCR among others. She added that promoting livelihoods and self-reliance was a “major concern for national and global stability and security”.

IGAD expects to achieve the following key outcomes from the deliberations in the next three days.

• removing policy barriers both at national and regional levels;
• strengthening regional coordination mechanisms for effective implementation;
• a comprehensive action plan; and
• a coherent results framework (M&E Tool) to track progresses.

Central to the principles of the Nairobi Declaration and Action Plan of March 2017 is the promotion of self-reliance and economic resilience for refugees, returnees and host communities. IGAD Member States have committed themselves to:

“Enhance, with the support of the international community, education, training and skills development for refugees to reduce their dependence on humanitarian assistance, and prepare them for gainful employment in host communities and upon return”

                                                                                               ஜஜ۩END۩ஜஜ

14 March 2019, KAMPALA (Uganda): Following successful consultations towards the Protocol on Free Movement of Persons at national level in each of the seven Member States, the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) today kick started a “Regional Experts Review Meeting of the Draft Protocol on Free Movement of Persons and its Road Map for Implementation” in Kampala.

 This four-day meeting has drawn high level experts from the African Union, the International Labour Organisation, the UNHCR, the International Organisation for Migration, the Platform for Disaster Displacement, the East African Community,  ECOWAS and International Trade Union Confederation, the German Agency for Development GIZ, the European Union, Switzerland and the United States, as well as Universities of Makerere (Uganda) and Bristol (United kingdom) to deliberate on the final draft provisions of the Protocol on Free Movement of Persons in IGAD Region.

 The aim of the meeting is to undertake a thorough technical review of the Draft Protocol on Free Movement of Persons in IGAD Region and review the Draft Road Map for the Implementation of the said Protocol.

 The Director of Health and Social Development at IGAD, Ms Fathia Alwan, recalled that it has been a year since “IGAD commenced the National Consultative Meetings (NCMs) to deliberate with Member States on the zero draft Protocol on Free Movement of Persons, and seek their inputs for the barriers to free movement and benefits from free movement regime". “These consultations and study form the basis for the substantive provisions of the draft Protocol and its Roadmap that are tabled for your meticulous scrutiny”, she added.

 The ILO Chief Technical Advisor for the Project Free movement of persons and transhumance in the IGAD region, Mr. Richard Lavallée, acknowledged outstanding achievement by IGAD “in setting normative and policy frameworks and migration governance architectures which are operational at national and regional levels”.

 He highlighted that “the ILO is closely working with IGAD on a project called, “Free Movement of Persons and Transhumance in the IGAD Region: Improving Opportunities for Regular Labour Mobility” thanks to the financial support of the European Union”.

                                                                          ஜஜ۩END۩ஜஜ

20^thFebruary 2018, Naivasha, Kenya: Kenya’s Cabinet Administrative Secretary in the Ministry of Interior, Hon. Patrick Ole Ntutu launched the National Consultative Workshop towards the development of the Regional Protocol on Free Movement of Persons in Naivasha yesterday.

12-02-2018, Mogadishu (Somalia): The Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) yesterday launched the National Consultation Workshop towards the development of the IGAD Protocol on Free Movement of Persons in the IGAD Region in Mogadishu during an inauguration session with Mr. Ali Mohamed Ali, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Somalia, as the Guest of Honour.

This four-day workshop is aimed at getting inputs from national stakeholders and Experts on benefits and barriers to free movement of persons; deriving National Recommendations towards the Provisions of the Protocol and Developing a Road Map for the Negotiation and adoption of the Protocol on Free Movement of Persons in the IGAD Region.

This National Consultative Workshop is bringing in experts on migration and related themes as well as all national stakeholders from each of the Ministries and Authorities of Government, Civil Society Organizations, Academia, Private Sector and Media to contribute to effective migration governance.

Speaking for IGAD Executive Secretary, Dr Ahmed Hassan-HIV & Health Senior Advisor at the Health & Social Development Division, recalled that the creation of a Regime of Free Movement of Persons in the region was an aspiration in the Agreement Establishing IGAD of 1986. He continued that the IGAD Secretariat mandate therefore was to “facilitate Member States to develop a common understanding of benefits and barriers of this Regime of Free Movement of Persons in the Region”.

“The Federal Republic of Somalia is also expected to provide to the IGAD Secretariat information on critical measures and requirements to be acted upon that can fast track the effective conclusion and adoption of this Protocol,” he concluded his opening remarks.

The Ambassador of Ethiopia to Somalia, the Deputy Special Representative of the Chairperson of the African Union Commission (DSRCC) for Somalia, representatives from the European Union, UNHCR, IOM, as well as high level dignitaries from Somalia including the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Somalia and the Director General of Internal Security gave keynote speeches in support of the process while highlighting the benefits of a Protocol for the free movement of persons in the region.

Specific Objectives of the National Consultative Workshop:
a) To gather information on Benefits and Barriers to Free Movement of Persons in IGAD Region;
b) To generate national recommendations towards the Provisions of the Protocol on Free Movement of Persons in the IGAD Region.
IGAD has received a grant from the European Union Emergency Trust Fund with the intention of facilitating the establishment of a free movement regime within the IGAD region. This is aimed at promoting the regularization of the high volume of informal movement that currently takes place, and increase the opportunities for legal mobility.