The active participation of young people is pivotal in driving sustainable development and realizing the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals. Young people’s perspectives, innovation, and expertise are necessary in creating a more equitable and inclusive future. In this context, migration stands as a salient issue, as youth and children constitute over 21 percent of migrants globally. Thus, it is important to center the voices of youth and young migrants in policy-, decision- and change-making.

International Youth Day 2023

International Youth Day, celebrated annually on 12 August, serves as a reminder of the significance of youth in change-making. Spearheaded by the United Nations, International Youth Day is an opportunity to celebrate the contributions of young people to a more sustainable future. The theme for this year’s International Youth Day is “Green Skills For Youth: Towards A Sustainable World” — an issue that resonates deeply with the challenges our world faces today.

United Nations Headquarters Celebration

To launch International Youth Day 2023, the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs organized a global webinar in collaboration with the UN Global Initiative on Decent Jobs for Youth and Generation Unlimited. The webinar highlighted new data on green skills for youth and facilitated a youth-led discussion about the role of green skills for a more sustainable future.

IOM Office to the United Nations Celebration Together with AFS Intercultural Programs

As part of the global celebration, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) Office to the UN commemorated the day by fostering dialogue about green skills and migration as a part of the 28th Session of the AFS Youth Assembly. The Assembly is a global platform that cultivates an international network of young leaders and changemakers through exchange, education, action and impact. This year’s Assembly gathered over 1,000 young people from 100 different countries to discuss climate entrepreneurship, international affairs, global education, and more. The theme of this year’s Assembly was “Breakthrough to a Better Future.”

One highlight of the Office’s engagement was a panel discussion featuring Ms. Amira Nassim, a Migration Policy Officer at IOM’s Office to the United Nations. The panel was themed “Green Skills for Youth: Towards a Sustainable World” and took place on 11 August, the first day of the Assembly. In the panel, Amira discussed the connection between green skills and migration acknowledging that green skills encompass far more than just a set of technical skills — rather, green skills are a philosophy embodying the knowledge, values, and attitudes needed to live in, develop, and support a sustainable and resource-efficient society. Thus, IOM recognizes green skills as a tool for empowerment and resilience-building among migrants.

“We want to draw attention to the fact that migrants with green skills are in the middle of climate action and at the front lines of the climate emergency. Their skills will not only help them access better jobs and fill in labor gaps, but also make them, in practice, a first line of defense against climate change. Thus, it is of the utmost importance to center their voices in this conversation.” — Amira Nassim, IOM Office to the United Nations

Additionally, the IOM Office to the UN commemorated International Youth Day by facilitating a workshop titled, “Global Solidarity: Multilateralism and Regional Cooperation for a Better Future” on August 13, the last day of the Assembly. The workshop featured a case study that examined the intersection of migration, youth, multilateralism and regional cooperation for a better future. Themes that emerged from the case study included the importance of protection and access to basic services, including health and education, as well as the need for social integration and linguistic services. The issue of skills transfer and recognition of qualifications was also discussed as a method of facilitating youth migration.

“We talked about language, because it is most important that they are able to communicate in the place they are migrating to. We recommend implementing language development opportunities, healthcare policies, social cohesion opportunities — everything a migrant would need to get on their feet as they are integrating into a new community.” — Youth Participant in Workshop, Debrief after Case Study

In conclusion, International Youth Day 2023 was an opportunity to reflect on and celebrate the role of youth, including young migrants, in sustainable development. IOM’s Office to the United Nations’ engagement, particularly through the panel discussion and workshop, underscored IOM’s commitment to uplifting the voices of diverse young people and empowering them to take the lead in promoting sustainable development. We look forward to continued conversations about how we can play a meaningful role in creating space for youth voices from all over the world.

This article was written by Ms. Willow Newcomb, Migration and Sustainable Development Unit, IOM Office to the United Nations.

Sources: Essentials of Migration Management 2.0, 2020

Indeed, there is no shortage of interlocking global challenges. As United Nations (UN) Secretary-General António Guterres said, “Our world is plagued by a perfect storm on a number of fronts.” With deepening inequality between and within nations, persistent gender inequity, soaring inflation, disrupted global supply chains, conflict in Ukraine, and the continued threat of and fallout emanating from climate change, the 2023 SDG Summit represents a critical opportunity to put the planet back on track to realize the SDGs.

These global challenges are especially acute for those with intersections of marginalization. Thus, it is essential that these interlocking vulnerabilities are considered at the Summit. One helpful conceptual tool to achieve this is intersectionality, a concept that finds its roots in American Black feminist thought and articulates that social identities such as race, class, gender, sexuality, ethnicity, nationality, ability, and age interact with one another in a reciprocating, constructing fashion — consequently shaping complex social inequalities.

For example, applying the intersectional prism to a hypothetical migrant might reveal how that migrant’s racial and gender identity, and education and economic backgrounds, create a unique set of challenges. By identifying the sources of these challenges to the intersecting social identities that migrant holds, better targeted and more holistic policy and programming interventions could be put forth to ameliorate that migrant’s circumstances.

Intersectionality is a tool that has seen widespread consideration by the UN system. As early as 1995, the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action noted that some women and girls, “face multiple barriers to their empowerment and advancement because of such factors as their race, age, language, ethnicity, culture, religion, or disability, or because they are indigenous people.” The Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (2006) was the first human rights treaty to recognize multiple and intersecting forms of discrimination. UN Women has also emphasized the importance of an intersectional approach to eliminate violence against women and published an Intersectionality Resource Guide and Toolkit in 2021, underscoring the importance of using intersectionality to understand who exactly is left behind from sustainable development currently and why, to better shape policies and programming pertaining to the SDGs.

By applying an intersectional approach, decision-makers can better understand the social vulnerabilities that lead people to migrate. The concept could also reveal the social barriers that inhibit human mobility — such as traditional gender roles that prescribe that women and girls should stay at home. In countries of destination, an intersectional prism could reveal the multifaceted challenges migrants face as they sit at the center of several social identities, many of which may have their own unique set of vulnerabilities.

When key stakeholders gather at the 2023 SDG Summit in September, an intersectional prism must be used to understand the numerous social identities that the world’s most ostracized peoples identify with. Doing so will enable better strategizing and decision-making to achieve the SDGs by painting a better picture of who exactly is left behind and why. Ultimately, this will make real the promise to Leave No One Behind.

This article was written by Justin DesRochers, Migration and Sustainable Development Unit, IOM Office to the United Nations.

As the main United Nations platform on sustainable development, the High-level Political Forum (HLPF) has a central role in providing policy guidance and direction on the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). However, less than ten years out from the deadline to meet the 2030 Agenda, and in the midst of an increasingly worrying outlook for achieving the SDGs, recent reviews of the HLPF have highlighted several gaps.

The HLPF’s treatment of migration is a good illustration. Despite migration being widely recognized as a powerful driver of sustainable development for migrants and the communities they travel between, the HLPF has given insufficient attention to the issue, even with many actors seeking to place the topic higher on the political agenda. However, 2021 offers new opportunities to elevate migration in the UN’s development framework and to act on the SDGs, and there are some indications that this year’s HLPF may just deliver when it comes to migration.

In 2016, the General Assembly decided to review the format and organizational aspects of the HLPF after its first four-year cycle. While the outcomes of these discussions were generally positive, several key critiques emerged. These included that the HLPF lacks effective integration with other sustainable development processes (such as those on climate change, financing for development, and biodiversity), and that it provides insufficient political guidance and leadership, including through its Ministerial Declaration.

While these critiques affect many different aspects of the 2030 Agenda, as a major cross-cutting phenomenon relevant to sustainable development, migration is illustrative of where improvements are needed. For example, despite migration being widely recognized as an essential issue for sustainable development, the HLPF has been slow to reaffirm the migration dimensions of the 2030 Agenda.

Other than making generic references to migrants amongst other groups not to be left behind, for example, or the need for disaggregated data by migratory status, only once — in 2019 — has the HLPF made any specific statement on the issue. Even then, the outcome text included only a brief recognition of the multidimensional reality of migration and was based on pre-existing language outlined in the 2030 Agenda. It did not provide any forward momentum towards improved migration governance or address new and emerging issues.

Even within the HLPF’s programme of work, migration has received little dedicated focus. While the HLPF agenda is naturally a crowded space, with the full breadth and depth of the incredibly ambitious 2030 Agenda requiring attention, the lack of attention to migration remains a weak spot, especially with the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration (GCM) — itself ‘grounded’ in the 2030 Agenda — having been adopted in 2018.

There have been some positive advances, such as a growing number of governments including migration in their Voluntary National Reviews (VNRs) as presented to the HLPF. But there too, commentators have suggested that the quality of references varies considerably. Some provide in-depth analysis of migration patterns and the policy actions taken by governments to address its multiple dimensions. Others refer to the issue only in passing, without citing any related policies or actions to enhance the impact of migration on development.

With SDG implementation lagging, and a global pandemic that has further undermined development, the 2021 HLPF is therefore an important opportunity for governments to make a renewed statement on the value of migration to sustainable development. Not only is SDG 10, the ‘central’ SDG related to migration, under review this year, but the HLPF is also taking place in the context of preparations for the first International Migration Review Forum (IMRF), itself the primary intergovernmental platform on GCM implementation. The IMRF is scheduled to meet in 2022, and a series of regional reviews have already taken place. If the HLPF is to address concerns about a lack of integration with other multilateral processes, it would do well to create specific GCM links.

Fortunately, there are signs that more space will be created for migration at the 2021 HLPF, and potentially at future sessions as well. First, the Director-General of the International Organization for Migration (IOM) participated in a formal HLPF panel on leaving no one behind, focused on new dimensions and challenges to protecting and empowering vulnerable groups in the years ahead.

“I call for the full inclusion of migrants, refugees, Internally Displaced People and people on the move not only in socio-economic recovery efforts, but also in social safety nets and access to healthcare starting with vaccines.” — IOM Director General António Vitorino

This was the first time that IOM had been invited to participate in such a manner. On the margins of the HLPF, the UN Network on Migration and the Group of Friends of Migration will convene the first ever VNR Lab on the topic. These informal platforms are intended for governments to share their experiences and reflections on the VNR process.

Second, the HLPF’s Ministerial Declaration may include robust language on migration, potentially making this year’s outcome the most substantive on migration to date. Amongst many other issues, the final draft text presented by the two governments leading the negotiations — Finland and Iraq — includes language calling upon Member States to include migrants in COVID-19 response and recovery efforts; notes the decision to convene the IMRF in 2022 (which, if translated into the 2022 programme of work, might help address concerns about lack of integration), and recognizes the positive contributions of migrants to inclusive growth and sustainable development. Other than the sheer amount of migration language appearing in the draft, a noteworthy feature is that it includes elements that go beyond that in the 2030 Agenda, particularly by dealing with the migration dimensions of the COVID-19 pandemic.

While such a positive outcome is not guaranteed (governments were still discussing the final text in the first few days of the HLPF), if the migration language is retained, governments will have taken a long overdue step to elevate migration at the central UN sustainable development body. It would also offer opportunities to expand the attention to migration at future sessions. As the Permanent Representatives of Finland and Iraq emphasized in their letter presenting the text of the Ministerial Declaration:

“[i]t is … time to show that the United Nations Member States are committed to international cooperation and solidarity to overcome the crisis and realize the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.”

Including migration in such a detailed way would help demonstrate that commitment.

This article was written by Chris Richter, Migration Policy Officer of IOM Office to the United Nations.

The COVID-19 pandemic should be seen as a pivotal opportunity to reset the dial on access to rights for migrant women, and promote their agency and leadership in order to build back better. This was one of IOM, the UN Migration Agency’s key messages when driving the discussion at the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW)’s 65th session.

This year’s CSW65, the United Nations’ largest gathering on gender equality, women’s empowerment and women’s rights, has set out robust blueprint in eliminating gender-based violence and in strengthening women’s leadership and participation in public life, including for women on the move.

The agreed conclusions, which UN Member States adopted unanimously under the priority theme of women’s participation, contain recommendations to adopt national gender-responsive migration policies and legislation; to protect the human rights of all migrant women and girls, regardless of migration status; to protect migrant women and girls against all forms of violence, exploitation and abuse. It also recognize the positive contribution of migrant women and girls and their potential to foster inclusive growth and sustainable development in their countries of origin, transit and destination.

As the COVID-19 pandemic sparked a “shadow epidemic” of violence against women, this strong pledge is a vital step to ensure migrant women are included in recovery decisions that protect their rights, meet their demands, and acknowledge their contributions on the road to achieve sustainable development.

It is encouraging to see that gender and migration being more systematically incorporated into global policy frameworks. According to the IOM’s World Migration Report 2020, migrant women represent around 74% of the service industry, which includes domestic work, who in many cases experience job insecurity. Some initial assessments have shown that they have been amongst the hardest hit by COVID-19 related unemployment. Due to the subsequent movement restrictions, jobs losses, cramped living situations and economic pressures with support services which remain temporarily closed, emerging data and reports from those on the front lines have shown that all types of violence against women and girls, particularly domestic violence has intensified. Migrant women and girls are particularly vulnerable in these situations due to language and information barriers. Migrant women are still “left behind” when policies, laws and programmes fail to consider migrants’ needs from a gender perspective and to recognize migration and development are inextricably linked.

Going forward, concrete actions are needed to scale up support to all women, including migrant women, who may be in need of services, protect them from harmful repercussions of the crisis, and ensure they are included in accessing the COVID-19 measures implemented by the destination countries including financial support packages and social protection. Doing so would also strongly acknowledge their vital role for their families and communities, as well as the value of migrant women’s labour in keeping many countries’ health and social care systems and households running during this crisis.

IOM worked to advocate and build awareness on this issue together with UN Women and partners at the Commission. Dialogues were organized to draw attention to the realities of the situation faced by women during COVID-19, to advocate for all COVID-19 related preparedness and recovery plans to address violence against women and girls and ensure that these efforts are adequately resourced, to advocate for women’s equitable access to essential services, gender-responsive legal protections, so as to realize the economic, social, cultural, civil and political rights of migrant women.

A high-level virtual event was co-organized by IOM and UN Women on “the importance of eliminating gender-based violence to help ensure migrant women’s effective participation and decision-making in public life”, in partnership with the Group of Friends of Migration, the European Union, UNFPA, UNICEF and Women in Migration Network. The event was moderated by IOM Deputy Director General, Laura Thompson. Opening remarks was delivered by H.E. Amb. Alicia Buenrostro, Deputy Permanent Representative of Mexico to the United Nations. A moderated panel discussion featured speakers from European Commission, UN Women, UNFPA, UNICEF, Women in Migration Network (WIMN), and concluding remarks was provided by H.E. Amb. Brian Flynn, Deputy Permanent Representative of Ireland to the United Nations.

Ms. Wen Li, Director of Department of International Cooperation and Partnerships participated as a panelist in a side event entitled “COVID-19 and Violence Against Women in Migration: Policy Responses” organized by the NGO Committee on Migration, and called for ensuring women’s participation in decision making, as well as for strengthening advocacy on the increased risk of GBV during the pandemic, targeting particularly employers, law enforcement and social service providers.

An IOM institutional statement was delivered during the general discussion. Main messages include:

Firstly, there is no “one size fits all approach” in responding to this crisis: If we don’t address the specific needs and vulnerabilities of people on the move in an intersectional way, then these groups will fall through the cracks, which will further compound inequality levels and negatively impact sustainable development. It is vital to apply a gender lens to the design of fiscal stimulus packages and social assistance programmes to achieve greater equality, opportunities, and social protection.

Secondly, promoting inclusion of migrants: Migration is essential for creating a cohesive and inclusive society. It is important to include migrants, asylum seekers, refugees, stateless persons and IDPs, are able to access health services, and be included in the pandemic response, such as having access to the vaccine. This can be achieved through a range of efforts aimed at disseminating accurate information based on facts, fostering tolerance, bringing communities together through meaningful engagement, and taking positive measures that lift barriers leading to discrimination.

Thirdly, addressing structural inequalities so no one is left behind: We must “build better forward” to achieve a sustainable world by tackling structural inequalities based on ethnicity and race, for example, through affirmative action and positive inclusive measures, laws and policies, as well as by communicating, advocating, and acting through actions and programs that ensure effective equal access to opportunities and rights for all, in the areas of health, education and work.

Last, the development of the Global Compact for Migration, and the creation of the UN Network on Migration, presents an important framework for States to continue enhancing the international framework for protecting the rights of women and girls on the move.

“We need to move beyond fixing women and instead fix our systems. We must also support women leaders in all their diversity and abilities — including young women, migrant women, indigenous women, women with disabilities, women of colour and LGBTIQ+.” — United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres at the opening of CSW65

It has been clear that the agreed conclusions attested the Commission’s commitment to leave no one behind and represented the strong unity of women’s voices, including those on the move. The hard work now begins to ensure these commitments are reflected in progress at regional, national and sub-national levels, with the full engagement of stakeholders, to ensure governments design and implement policies that provide real impact to address the lives of women and girls.

The article was written by Xin Guo, Migration Policy Officer of IOM Office to the United Nations

Sexual violence against women and girls is a silent human rights violation in Somalia. A crime compounded by social taboos, which prevent survivors from seeking help, and one that largely goes unpunished. If a woman reports sexual violence, she is usually blamed and stigmatized for it. And if the woman lives under the control of the Al-Shabaab, speaking up can cost her life.

While significant advances have been made to reduce violent extremist activity and increase resilience to violent extremist influences, the presence of Al-Shabaab continues to fuel conflict and instability. It has been documented that regardless of their roles[1] within the group, women suffer systematic violence, including conflict-related sexual violence (CRSV), and that sexual violence is used by Al-Shabaab as a strategy of control.[2]

With the support of the International Organization for Migration (IOM), in 2013 the Federal Government of Somalia (FGS) developed the National Programme for the Treatment and Handling of Disengaged Combatants, with the aim of establishing a comprehensive process that allows for low risk disengaged combatants to rehabilitate and reintegrate back into their communities. This programme is implemented as a tool to counter the threat of continuous insecurity and is coupled with a declaration by FGS that low risk Al-Shabaab combatants who voluntarily defect from the group will be granted amnesty.

At first, the programme focused only on men as it lacked the capacity to respond to the complex needs of women associated with Al-Shabaab, many of whom are survivors of CRSV. This changed in 2019 when IOM started a unique project within the Women, Peace and Security framework in close partnership with the FGS, women-led civil society organizations, and the United Nations Assistance Mission in Somalia (UNSOM). The project is the first of its kind in the East and Horn of Africa. Since the pilot phase of 2019, the female component of the National Programme has provided 475 women with means to rebuild their lives in their communities.

“Through this Women, Peace and Security project, IOM supports the rehabilitation and reintegration of women formerly associated with violent extremist groups,” says one of IOM Somalia’s Project Officers involved in the project. “We support the women to recover from their traumatic experiences and provide them with opportunities to build their capacities and to actively contribute to peacebuilding processes in their communities.”

Gaining renewed resilience

Women, too often survivors of CRSV, who disengage from Al-Shabaab have diverse hopes and dreams. While their stories are unique, many parallels remain. Many of these women often find themselves as head of households, caring for young children, and yearn for safety, security and a better future for themselves and their families. On this journey, however, women often encounter stigma, isolation, displacement, and struggle to find a sense of belonging in their communities. Harmful coping strategies compound these struggles and worsen mental health outcomes.

Through transitional rehabilitation centres and women-led civil society organizations, IOM is providing holistic and gender-sensitive services to vulnerable women, including basic education and case management to improve their mental health and wellbeing, as well as business development and livelihood skills training to support with rebuilding their lives. The programme strives to contribute to reconciliation efforts within communities by promoting economic and personal resiliency, social integration, and community engagement.

Hafso* is among the women at one of the rehabilitation centres who arrived seeking a better life for herself and her family.

She is now participating in the activities organized at the centre, where she feels she has finally found a safe place to recover from past experiences and rebuild her resilience.

“I am happy to be enrolled in this rehabilitation programme. I have a chance to build a network and share the secrets and the shame I have been hiding my whole life,” she said. “This feels good. Here I am not judged. I finally feel as if a burden has been lifted from my shoulders.”

Women receiving survivor-centred support

Using survivor-centred psychosocial approaches, IOM has created opportunities for women to explore their identities, establish a sense of belonging within their communities, and build trust with other women. Leveraging IOM’s close partnership with line ministries, women-led civil society organisations, and UNSOM, these interventions include art-based workshops and other psychosocial support activities, funded through the UN Action-Conflict Related Sexual Violence Multi-Partner Trust Fund (CRSV-MPTF).[3]

“When survivors come to safe spaces like these, they are still in a traumatic state and are seeking opportunities to recover and heal,” says the IOM Director General, Mr. António Vitorino. “It is, therefore, essential that interventions with survivors consistently strive to create a safe and empowering environment, through an integrated and survivor-centred approach.”

Ms. Pramila Patten, UN Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Sexual Violence in Conflict and Chair of the UN Action Network highlights that “the UN-Action network through its CRSV-MPTF can transform survivors’ lives. The results are tangible and visible. In my last visit to Somalia in July 2019, I gained first-hand knowledge of the immense protection challenges faced by survivors, particularly in displacement settings. My dialogue with the national authorities was frank and constructive; they did not deny or downplay the gravity of the crimes of sexual violence. Such acknowledgement is critical as no problem in human history has ever been resolved through silence and denial.”

Through this project, it becomes clear that it is only by engaging Somali women on their own terms that we can begin to understand how to mitigate the consequences of conflict and contribute to sustainable peace.

*Launched in March 2007, UN Action represents a concerted effort by 18 UN entities to improve coordination and accountability, amplify advocacy, and support country efforts to prevent sexual violence and respond more effectively to the needs of survivors. Projects such as this one are funded through the CRSV-MPTF. We particularly thank the Government of Japan for its generous contribution to changing the lives of Somali women through partial funding of this project.

Invited by the SRSG-SVC, who chairs UN Action, IOM joined the initiative in March 2018. IOM is working towards many priorities of UN Action: Through community-based strategic interventions, IOM builds local capacities and promotes national ownership and leadership to safeguard the rights and recovery of survivors. In tandem, IOM fosters a longer-term approach focusing on resilience of persons at risk, identification of capacities and resources to self-protect, and ensuring that deep-rooted social, economic, and cultural shifts required to reduce CRSV move towards prevention.

*The name of the individual in this story has been changed to protect their identity

[1] Orly Stern, 2019. “The Invisible Women of al-Shabaab: Understanding the role of women in, and their influence on sons, husbands and brothers in, the processes of joining al-Shabaab, defecting from al-Shabaab, rehabilitation, and reintegration”.

[2] United Nations Secretary General, Conflict-Related Sexual Violence, report of the United Nations Secretary General, S/2020/487, 03 June 2020, available here.

[3] The CRSV-MPTF supports projects jointly implemented by UN Action Network entities to catalyze new initiatives and programming in order to enhance prevention, response and accountability efforts on CRSV through a survivor-centred approach.

Global conversations on Africa and migration in the past years were often centered around curbing migration flows and addressing irregular migration. However, a closer look of the multi-dimensional reality of flows from and within Africa constitutes a different landscape: crucial, but overlooked, is the huge developmental impact gained from migration.

Ghana and Ethiopia are two countries with dynamic and complex migration patterns as well as specific historical contexts. World Bank data shows that in 2019, Ghana received 3.5 billion USD, about 5% of its GDP, in terms of remittances by its emigrants — often the most direct and well-known link between migration and development. Ethiopia received over 530,000 USD. Labour migration emerged as one of the major features of Ethiopian international migration, with oil-rich Gulf countries and South Africa as main destinations, which created economic opportunities for many Ethiopians.

The diverse contributions by immigrants to the economy of both countries are also immense, ranging from skill transfer in labour markets to public finance. According to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), in Ghana, the contribution of immigrants to the government’s fiscal balance exceeds the contribution of the native-born population.

It is clear that now more relevant than ever, with migration enshrined in the 2030 Agenda and its Sustainable Development Goals, policy responses, including national planning processes, must be better used to harness the potential developmental benefits of migration.

In 2018, IOM, the UN Migration Agency jointly launched in Ghana and Ethiopia a two-year project Integrating migration into national development plans: towards policy coherence and achievement of the SDGs. The project was funded by the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA) through the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development Sub-Fund of the UN Peace and Development Fund, of which the People’s Republic of China is a major contributor. The project was designed to strengthen government and partner capacities in migration governance, enhance coherence on migration and development policies, and foster dialogues to share experiences in national and global fora.

It was also designed to address the challenges associated with today’s migration, and supports both government’s efforts by addressing key themes included in the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration (GCM) officially adopted in the same year.

The first priority was to ensure the policy direction for the governments on migration management, such as designated national migration coordination authorities, and incorporating migration into national development plans. Before the project kicked off, there had been ad-hoc coordination efforts on related matters such as diaspora engagement and trafficking in persons, but no structure existed to specifically address migration and development.

Under the project, both countries established a functioning structure to address policy and implementation aspects of migration and development. It is noteworthy that in Ghana, the project facilitated the completion of the audit of the Medium-Term National Development Policy Framework 2018–2021 (MTNDPF). A comprehensive standard operating procedure (SOP) and checklist to guide planning officials to include migration systematically in national development plans was developed, and the documents formed the basis for a toolkit for planning officers during the next planning cycle 2022–2025.

Another positive result is that Ghana moved one step closer to the establishment of the Ghana National Commission on Migration (GNCM) which will be in charge of advising the government on issues related to migration as well as of coordinating the implementation of the 2016 National Migration Policy. Two study missions were successfully carried out to Nigeria and Kenya to enhance stakeholders’ understanding of good practices in the creation and operationalization of a national migration management mechanism.

A second priority was to ensure that there strong inter and intra governmental coordination mechanisms were put in place, to ensure that the national governments took a ‘whole-of-government’ approach to migration management. Before the launch of the project, no sustainable consultation mechanisms on the SDGs and migration and development policy coherence (i.e. Inter-agency working group focusing on data collection and assessment) were in place.

Thanks to the project, national Technical Working Groups (TWGs) were created in both countries to monitor and track progress on migration-related SDG indicators. Five regular meetings of the TWGs conducted during the project period enhanced the government’s understanding of migration-related SDGs as well as further strengthened overall performance and coordination capacity.

A study was also carried out in the framework of the project to assess efforts by the Government of Ethiopia to mainstream migration into development plans, policies and strategies of Ethiopia, which identified recommendations that will support policy-making processes. The various consultations on the assessment, led by the National Anti-trafficking and Smuggling Taskforce Secretariat, enabled the creation of a viable platform among key stakeholders to enhance understanding of the overall migration mainstreaming efforts as well as the relevance of migration for the achievement of all SDGs.

A third priority was to support both governments to deliver on their commitments outlined in their national action plans on migration and development. In both Ghana and Ethiopia, two practical initiatives proposed in a national action plan have been implemented and evaluated. For instance, the project in Ethiopia focused on the effort of ensuring well-regulated overseas employment services for Ethiopian migrants. It made significant contributions towards the government’s efforts to facilitate regular overseas employment, as well as supported the establishment of a Migration Resource Center (MRC) on sustainable compilation, analysis and dissemination of migration data to support an evidence-based policymaking process. IOM also contributed to enhancing the skills trainings offered to potential Ethiopian labour migrants by providing materials to targeted Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutions.

The project successfully came to a close in 2020. It was a culmination of all the hard work that was done to equip governments and partners with the tools needed to support policy formulation and inter-agency coordination. It built up deep commitment of authorities through 12 capacity building and sensitization workshops/activities reaching over 300 government actors and other stakeholders in both countries. It developed emerging national structures which will have long lasting impact. It made significant contributions to the governments’ efforts to incorporate migration into their respective annual action plans of districts and sectors, and it also enabled a diverse range of government stakeholders to engage with one another on national migration and development issues for the first time.

“Mainstreaming migration into national development plans is a brilliant way of tackling our development challenges…it is obvious that no one single sector can handle the issues of migration alone and we must join efforts and resources to be able to attain the desired results” — Ms. Victoria Natsu, Acting Executive Secretary, Human Trafficking Secretariat, Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection of Ghana noted after participating in the launching workshop.

In December 2020, at the Workshop on the 5th Anniversary of the United Nations Peace and Development Trust Fund, this project was also featured as one of the success stories of the Fund.

At a time that the COVID-19 pandemic is disrupting the attainment of the 2030 Agenda which creates a greater risk for the most vulnerable to be left further behind, it’s clear that effective governance must include comprehensive strategies to better manage migration, assist people on the move, and strengthen cross-border cooperation in a safe and inclusive way.

Looking ahead, the efforts made by both countries through this project have contributed to these goals. The project served as a solid base for improving the well-being of migrants in Ghana and Ethiopia, empowered the governments to address their vulnerabilities while acknowledging them as solutions and co-developers in uncertain times, and was timely in building structures which have the potential to mitigate future socio-economic impact of COVID-19 on our societies.

The article was written by Xin Guo, Migration Policy Officer of IOM Office to the United Nations

For more information on the project, please contact

Benedetta Mangialardo, Email: bmangialardo@iom.int and

Eric Akomanyi, Email: akomanyi@iom.int

Indeed, a powerful message delivered from a young female leader to world leaders that gathered virtually to raise attention to topics relevant to them, and to issues that they feel are important. During the UN General Assembly’s General Debate many Member States took the floor and incorporated language on youth in their statements. Some countries spoke about issues like the need to build an inclusive society where young people can plan for their future in safety, and others expressed their desire to invest in youth empowerment and innovation to better equip them to lead on issues of today that will be there for their generation to deal with, such as, climate change.

Some countries such as Denmark and Norway shared their speaking time between a high-level representative and a youth-delegates — something that many youth-groups have been advocating for a long time — allowing the youth to speak for themselves in the spirit of “nothing for the youth without the youth.”

There were multiple side-events under the auspices of the General Assembly that included youth and focused on youth-related issues. One such event was hosted by Plan International with partners and addressed “A Girls’ Rights in the COVID-19 Crisis: and Intergenerational Dialogue”.

The event included a presentation from Plan International sharing their new research undertaken to address the gaps in understanding of the social impacts of COVID-19 and on the consequences for young people, especially girls. The research looked specifically at the impact of the current pandemic on girls and young women, collecting data from over 7,000 girls across 14 countries. The presentation touched upon the primary and secondary effects that COVID-19 has had on the lives of girls, including the worsening of pre-existing inequalities.

Plan International Youth Leaders in Australia and Viet Nam also shared the conclusions from a second piece of research: A Better Normal: Girls call for a revolutionary reset. This study looked at issues, both challenges and opportunities, that COVID-19 has exposed in systems across the world, drawing on the views of 1,060 girls and young women from 99 countries around the world. Key finds were identified in the answer to the question “what does a better normal” look like to girls. This better normal includes girls feeling valued and heard, a normal where gender inequity that restricts women is addressed, one where women and girls are centered in decision making and leadership positions, and the transformation on the education system and climate system. One of the key messages from the Report is inclusion and equality in power, particularly a focus on girls’ role in leadership and policy creation.

Another event shed light on “Youth perspectives on climate migration”. The UN Major Group for Children and Youth, IOM, Refugees International, Uprose, and Climate Cardinals discussed topics from the importance of agreeing on a legal definition of who counts as a climate or environmental migrant to the relationship between climate change and colonialism.

A representative from the Department of Political and Social Sciences of the University of Bologna advocated for the use of the term “environmental migrants” because the notion is broader than “climate migrants” and would therefore include more people and reflect reality more accurately. A senior thematic expert in migration and climate change from IOM noted that climate and environmental factors have recently been included in global policy reports, and emphasized two points, first that countries need to focus on climate action so that people are not forced to migrate, and second when people have no other choice but to leave, this needs to be facilitated at the regional and international level. She noted that while youth-related issues have been increasingly incorporated in the policy discussion on environment and climate change at the global level, this dimension is lacking at the national and regional levels.

A senior advocate and program manager from Refugee International stated that most people moving due to climate change do so within the borders of their countries and are therefore not entitled to the legal protection as international refugees. She noted that most of the images we see on climate change are from the South to the North and noted that this is not necessarily accurate as a lot of the movement happens within countries, such as rural to urban areas. She also highlighted that the language that we use matters. Seeing migrants as agents of change, rather than narrowly as vulnerable populations, is important in how we frame and discuss this issue.

The founder of Zero Hour also spoke about why representation and framing matters. He outlined that on their platform Zero Hour names four systems of oppression as the cause of climate change, namely, capitalism, colonialism, racism, and patriarchy, noting that these are all intertwined. He noted that climate change is the new colonialism based on the areas that it is impacting, the Global North being responsible for most of the global emissions and South being most affected by the results of the effects of climate change with a high impact.

Speaking about representation and inclusion, a member from the UN SG’s Youth Advisory Group on Climate Change noted that the Middle East is often left out from conversations about climate change which is a shame because temperatures in that region are rising by more than twice the global average. The Caribbean region and Puerto Rico specifically were addressed by young female leader from Uprose. She spoke about how climate change impacts the region and shared her experience in working in an organization that has an inter-generational approach to climate justice and urged others to adopt this approach.

Finally, the importance of working with youth to “build back better” during and after COVID-19, was recognized in the results of the UN75 survey. The UN75 dialogue participants overwhelmingly called for the UN to be more inclusive of the diversity of actors in the 21st century. They identified the need for greater inclusion of civil society, women, youth, vulnerable groups, cities and local authorities, businesses, regional organisations, and other international organisations.

The inclusion of not only youth topics but young people actively participating in the UN General Assembly is noteworthy. It is a direct result of their tireless efforts to expand space for themselves, and to build alliances with and within the UN and other multilateral platforms to make their voices heard. After all, it is young people who must be empowered to express how they see the world evolving in the years to come, as they will be the ones leading it.

Migrant remittances have received extensive attention in global policy discussions because of their potential gains to human development. Besides the immediate benefit to recipients, which can range from meeting essential day-to-day needs to supporting long-term health, education and housing, their potential multiplier effects on broader economic activity and growth are substantial.[1]

Add to this the fact that the scale of remittances worldwide has exceeded that of foreign direct investment and overseas development assistance (ODA), and it is easy to see why policy makers have taken a keen interest in remittances’ potential role in poverty eradication. However, a decline in remittance flows resulting from COVID-19-related lockdowns has raised concerns about the impacts on vulnerable families, leading to questions about whether governments might finally take action to unleash remittances’ development impacts.

Governments have committed numerous times to strengthen the impact of migrant remittances on sustainable development. In 1994, at the International Conference on Population and Development, United Nations (UN) member states produced an agreement outlining several measures to leverage the benefits of remittances. These included commitments to improve “exchange rate, monetary and economic policies, facilitate the provision of banking facilities that enable the safe and timely transfer of migrants’ funds, and promote the conditions necessary to increase domestic savings and channel them into productive investment.”[2]

In 2014, G20 countries also took up the issue, creating a process to reduce the global average cost of transferring remittances and improve the availability of remittance services, amongst other targets. More recently, a flurry of agreements, notably the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the Addis Ababa Action Agenda and the Global Compact for safe, orderly and regular migration, have also produced commitments on the issue. These have similarly focused on reducing the costs of sending and receiving remittances worldwide; the latter includes a range of other measures to promote migrants’ financial inclusion.

However, despite this interest and the regularity with which governments have committed to enhance the development potential of remittances, it is unclear that the level of action has kept pace with ambitions. For example, although the World Bank has reported a slight decline in the average cost or remittances worldwide (from 6.9 percent in 2019 to 6.8 percent in the first quarter of 2020), this figure is still significantly above governments’ stated objective of getting costs below 3 percent.[3]

The COVID-19 pandemic has again drawn the issue of migrant remittances to the forefront of governments’ consideration. It is expected that the economic fallout of the pandemic will include a 20 percent decline in the value of remittances, from $554 billion in 2019 to $445 billion in 2020.[4] While the ongoing crisis makes it difficult to know exactly what the implications of this drop might be, the potential is there to push hundreds of thousands of people, perhaps millions, into poverty.[5]

The decline could have particular impacts on communities in which remittances represent a significant portion of income.[6] The International Organization for Migration has suggested that “smaller countries with high levels of emigration are particularly vulnerable, with remittances accounting for, for example, 30% and 20% of GDP in Nepal and El Salvador respectively”.[7]

These possible impacts have prompted several governments to revisit the issue. At the end of May, Canada and Jamaica jointly kicked off a process with the UN Secretary-General on Financing for Development in the Era of COVID-19 and Beyond.[8] While focused on the full range of financial tools needed to respond to the economic impacts of the pandemic, the process includes discussions on remittances and has produced several policy options to enhance their role in COVID-19 recovery.

While some of these recommendations are new, reflecting the changed circumstances of the pandemic (such as declaring remittance services ‘essential’ and waiving taxes on remittance transactions), others restate commitments already made (such as further reducing transfer costs and promoting financial inclusion of remittance recipients).

This process will culminate in a meeting of Heads of State and Government on September 29, part of the UN’s annual General Assembly discussions. The stated objective of the meeting is to “consider the menu of policy options developed over the last four months with the ambition of supporting Member States in responding and recovering from the current global crisis”.

While the menu of policy options is not a negotiated document, it could offer governments practical ideas to move forward with the numerous commitments they’ve already made over the years. This may set the initiative apart from past efforts. But the proof, as always, will be in the implementation.

As is the case in many other areas of social, economic and environmental development, the COVID-19 pandemic is not only an impetus, but also an opportunity to make tangible progress against global development commitments. The scale of the crisis however, demands more than just talk. While incorporating the issue of migrant remittances in global processes is important, we will be no better off after the pandemic if those processes result only in restatements of existing commitments. As the UN Secretary-General has noted of the COVID-19 response, ‘this moment demands coordinated, decisive and innovative policy action.’[9]

[1] OECD, 2006, ‘International Migrant Remittances and their Role in Development’, International Migration Outlook 2006, Paris.

[2] United Nations, 1994, Programme of Action adopted at the International Conference on Population and Development Cairo, 5–13 September 1994.

[3] World Bank, 2020, ‘COVID-19 crisis through a migration lens’, Migration and Development Brief 32, Washington DC.

[4] World Bank, 2020.

[5] Michael Clemens, 2020, ‘Migrant Remittances Will Plummet. Here Is What That Means for Global Development’, Centre for Global Development, https://www.cgdev.org/blog/migrant-remittances-will-plummet-here-what-means-global-development.

[6] International Organization for Migration, 2020, ‘Migration-related socioeconomic impacts of COVID-19 on developing countries’, COVID-19 response issue brief, Geneva.

[7] IOM, 2020.

[8] https://www.un.org/en/coronavirus/financing-development.

[9] United Nations, 2020, ‘Shared responsibility, global solidarity: responding to the socio-economic impacts of COVID-19’, Report of the Secretary-General, New York.

International efforts to end poverty and hunger, protect the planet from environmental degradation and ensure that all human beings can enjoy prosperous and fulfilling lives are at risk of failure. This is the message of successive reports and conferences at the United Nations (UN), which have warned that implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development is seriously off-track, a result of both inaction and the devastating impacts of COVID-19. Migrants are amongst those that might suffer the most, unless governments take urgent action to align their approach to migration with other policy priorities, especially development.

An overarching ambition of the 2030 Agenda is to leave no one behind. This includes migrants and refugees, whom the Agenda recognizes as having a positive contribution on inclusive growth and sustainable development. Although the whole of the Agenda is applicable to migrants, the ‘central’ feature is a target to facilitate orderly, safe, regular and responsible migration, including through the implementation of planned and well-managed migration policies.[1] The addition of such a target in the 2030 Agenda was a historic feat of diplomacy, being the first time that migration had been explicitly addressed in the UN’s overarching development framework.

At the time, it generated significant excitement in the migration community, creating hope that governments might finally ramp up their efforts to address migration in national development plans and policies. It was a recognition that migration is not solely a matter of border management, but of the full range of social, economic and environmental issues of interest to governments and societies.

The 2030 Agenda itself was built on the notion that diverse policy issues should be addressed in an inter-linked way; each of its 17 goals and 169 targets are considered part of an indivisible whole in which advances in one area could unlock progress in others.

In the migration field, this meant integrating migration in other policy domains and vice versa. For example, what might universal health coverage mean for the health outcomes of migrants? What might a lack of portability of migrants’ earned pensions and benefits mean for poverty eradication? What impact might climate change have on displacement of people, and how could mass movements impact the built and natural environment?

These are all questions that a holistic approach to migration might address. Governments that had such an approach would be well on their way to achieving the type of ‘well-managed migration’ foreseen in the 2030 Agenda. It is for these reasons that the International Organization for Migration (IOM) advocates for governments to adopt whole-of-government approaches to migration, whereby “all ministries with responsibilities touching on the movement of people” are involved in policy development.[2]

However, a recent IOM study on migration governance suggest that — despite the need for such holistic approaches being widely recognised in the 2030 Agenda and elsewhere — migration has remained a distinct policy silo.[3] This may limit the extent to which migrants can fulfil their personal ambitions and contribute to the societies they are connected to. For example, of the 49 countries part of IOM’s study, only 39 per cent reported that they aligned their migration strategy with national development strategies.[4] Just over half of the countries defined their national migration strategy in a programmatic document at all.

This is a huge missed opportunity to produce better outcomes across a range of policy domains that impact, and are impacted by, migration. It is also an indication that governments have made insufficient progress against the central migration-related target in the 2030 Agenda. When considered in the context of the slow state of progress (and in some cases, reversals) against the 2030 Agenda as a whole, it only adds to the bleak picture already emerging from recent UN reviews.

The tragedy is that the changes required are well within reach. While the process of mainstreaming migration into other policy domains can take significant time and resources, and requires in-depth and inclusive consultations with stakeholders, the tools for performing these tasks already exist. The expertise and support of organizations like IOM, as well as the broader UN system, are also readily available.

What is lacking is the political will to make necessary changes and to promote more holistic policy approaches. This seems true across the 2030 Agenda as a whole: the UN Secretary-General has lamented that governments are not taking their own commitments seriously, and that the speed of implementation is not where it needs to be.[5] But with the 2030 Agenda’s eponymous deadline fast approaching, time is running short, and the distance to travel remains long, not least because the COVID-19 pandemic is undermining the progress already made.

If the dire warnings of failure are to be avoided, real efforts to mainstream migration across policy areas are needed, and needed now.

[1] United Nations, 2015, ‘Transforming our world: the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development’, A/RES/70/1, New York.

[2] International Organization for Migration, 2015, ‘Migration Governance Framework’, C/106/40, Geneva.

[3] International Organization for Migration, 2019, Migration Governance Indicators: A global perspective, Geneva.

[4] IOM, 2019.

[5] United Nations, 2019, Report of the Secretary-General on SDG Progress, Special Edition, New York.

In May 2020, IOM and the UN Major Group for Children and Youth (UN MGCY) hosted a consultative webinar on the topic of Voices of Youth on the Move: from ECOSOC to the HLPF. It brought together over a hundred young people from all over the world to address three topics:

1. Health-risk and opportunities for young people on the move.

2. Leveraging technology, innovation and entrepreneurship to support young migrants and refugees.

3. COVID19 and Young people on the move: Impact and response.

The goal of these consultations was to share information and discuss priorities to ultimately identify some concrete ideas young people can work on and push for.

The second session on technology, innovation and entrepreneurship highlighted how the internet can play a powerful role in empowering young people on the move, whether in the time of global instability due to COVID-19 or in conflict situations like in Venezuela or Libya today. Science, technology, and innovation (STI) provide opportunities for effective response to these challenges, empowering migrants and refugees to improve the quality of life, uphold human rights and protect well-being for all.

Participants noted how social media and mobile applications are being used for the benefit of young people. These were also identified as key to the 2010 revolution in the Arab world. Egypt became the epicenter of Arab regional social media innovation and these platforms were used by the local youth as a political platform and a tool to mobilize people for change.

However, these opportunities also come with new risks, and it was mentioned that while social media can be an avenue through which communities can share information and advance their narratives, it is also used by human traffickers and for spreading misinformation. The role of social media messaging used for migration purposes, including getting more information on routes and getting in touch with fellow migrants or family members / friends abroad, is poorly understood and an area that requires additional data, analysis and research.

The consultation touched upon possible recoveries from COVID-19, responses to conflict situations and how to build resilient societies for peace and security, and evolved into how to engage youth in decision- making, mainstreaming youth participation and share views and best practices. Participants discussed opportunities to support youth-led initiatives, capacity building and training events and promote the attainment of the SDGs through partnering with local, grassroots civil society organizations.

The primary issues highlighted were the need for universal access to internet and skills training. Achievement gaps between migrants and locals are often exacerbated by access to technology education, and care must be taken to ensure equitable access to education and future decent work opportunities for young people with disabilities and neurodiversity.

The implications of the use of STI in pre-movement, movement and post-movement as a tool for informing migration decisions was highlighted as critical, as well as the importance of mental health support. Cross-regional certification and skills training programs were deemed need to it allow youth to participate in new societies and labor markets.

Additional issues discussed include: the importance of cybersecurity; the need to translate science, technology and innovation training in different languages to overcome language barriers; the development of entrepreneurship at a local level; the creation of employment opportunities to avoid the growth of the informal economy; capacity building exercises on knowledge of human rights; and community-based training of local leaders and teachers.

Several policy recommendations also came out of the discussion:

● Prioritize education from a whole-of-government and regional perspective;

● Adopt and issue cross-regional certifications that allow for youth, refugees and migrants to remain employable and gain access to decent work across geographies;

● Develop technology education to be inclusive of all young people on the move;

● Develop capacity building initiatives to help migrants understand their rights;

● Establish public-private partnerships with equitable oversight between governments, academic institutions and civil society to help promote the shift from informal to formal, regular, orderly and safe migration;

● Increase the amount of funding dedicated to youth entrepreneurship;

● Prioritize mental health access;

● Universal access to internet.

Young people are active in helping fight back and positively impact their communities. This session presented multiple grassroots projects — from a mobile app in India connecting national youth spaces and scale civic engagement to a skills training program in Indonesia which helped youth and migrant youth develop their employment skills — helping young people remain progressive members of society across geographies and even during the current lockdown due to the COVID crisis. The COVID-19 public health threat has also caused countries to impose mobility restrictions, another major challenge to youth and people on the move. Science, technology and innovation don’t have the same mobility restrictions, and can play a connecting role for both those on the move and those stuck inside.

The article was prepared by Amira Nassim, Migration Policy Officer at IOM’s Office to the United Nations, Linda Cottone, Research Officer at IOM’s Libya office, Lina Zdruli, CEO of Dafero, and Peter Loewi UN MGCY Global Focal Point for SDG 8.