Migration Program

13-8-2017 Juba, South Sudan: Intergovernmental Authority on  Development (IGAD) is holding a 3-day consultative worshop in South Sudan as  part of the National Consultations towards the development of the  Protocol on Free Movement of Persons in the IGAD Region.

Acting head of IGAD Liaison Office in South Sudan Ambassador Abdelrahim Ahmed Khalil in his opening Remarks emphasized on the need for the proposed protocol becoming a reality in IGAD region to promote trade and development.

"We have already held  our First consultative meeting in Uganda now we are in South Sudan next time we will go to the other IGAD countries Ethiopia, Sudan, Kenya then all will be finalized hopefully before the end of this year and by that time we have the protocol consulted upon and agreed." Ambassador Abdelrahim added

Hon. Brigadier General  Rieu Gatliek Gai  South Sudan’s Interior Deputy Minister, Brigadier  officiated the opening and in his remark thanked IGAD for bringing the workshop to South Sudan and said that South Sudan is a young nation that still has a lot to learn from the IGAD region.

The main objectives of this meeting are; to gather information on Benefits and Barriers to Free Movement of Persons in IGAD Region; and to generate national recommendations towards the Provisions of the Protocol on Free Movement of Persons in the IGAD Region

The three-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 in the IGAD Region.

The consultation meeting  brought together various South Sudanese stakeholders from civil societies, youth, women, Universities  government’s ministries of Foreign Affairs, Interior, Labour among others.

##

13-09-2017, Addis Ababa (Ethiopia): Representatives from the IGAD Member States drawn from refugee agencies and ministries responsible for planning, local government and foreign affairs met in Addis Ababa to validate the road map and results framework of the Nairobi Action Plan on durable solutions for Somali refugees and reintegration of returnees in Somalia. This concluded the preparatory work that laid out a regional roadmap on how to deliver the commitments made by IGAD Heads of State and Government at the Special Summit on Somali refugees held in Nairobi on 25 March 2017. The preparatory work was coordinated by a core group of partners comprised of IGAD, EU and the UNHCR. Other development actors such as the UNDP and the World Bank have since joined this core group to support implementation of programmes aimed at stabilizing Somalia and enhancing self-reliance and access to services and assistance for refugees and host communities across the East and Horn of Africa.

The Nairobi Declaration and the accompanying Plan of Action agreed upon during the March 2017 Summit set out a comprehensive regional approach and commitments at four levels: accelerating solutions in Somalia by creating an environment conducive for voluntary and sustainable returns; delivering durable solutions, whilst maintaining protection and asylum space, and promoting the self-reliance and inclusion of refugees in countries of asylum; strengthening sub-regional co-operation; and increasing international responsibility sharing. The results framework further details the actions required to achieve set targets in the intervention areas above, identifying key indicators and milestones. This forms the core structure of the IGAD Regional Framework for Durable Solutions which will be continuously aligned to the respective national plans that reflect country commitments made within the New York Declaration on Refugees and Migrants, the Comprehensive Refugee Response Framework (CRRF) and the Addis Ababa Commitment of 2014.

The first progress report that will take stock of the achievements by the countries and progress made at the regional level will be presented in November, 2017, at the Regional Inter-ministerial Committee meeting.

21-08-2017, Entebbe (Uganda): The Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) kick started the first workshop as part of their National Consultations towards the development of the IGAD Protocol on Free Movement of Persons in the IGAD Region.

The Executive Secretary of IGAD; H.E Amb (Eng) Mahboub Maliim in his opening remarks emphasized the need for regional cooperation for the vision of the IGAD forefathers to be realized.

‘IGAD has put in place several mechanisms but all our stakeholders at continental level have a role and responsibility towards the success and validation of this great milestone to be achieved’ Amb. Maalim added.

Hon. Philemon Mateke, Minister of State for Regional Cooperation at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Government of Uganda officiated the opening and in his remarks gave Uganda commitment towards the establishment of free movement in the region in order to bring that can bring benefits to the region.

The main objectives of this meeting are; to gather information on Benefits and Barriers to Free Movement of Persons in IGAD Region; and to generate national recommendations towards the Provisions of the Protocol on Free Movement of Persons in the IGAD Region.

The Protocol on Free Movement of Persons is aimed at promoting the regularization of the high volume of informal movement that currently takes place in the IGAD region, and is to increase the opportunities for legal mobility.

The three-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 in the IGAD Region.

This National Consultative Workshop is bringing together experts on migration and related themes as well as 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.

IGAD 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

###

27-07-2017, Nairobi (Kenya): The Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) this morning kick-started the 9th Regional Consultative Process (RCP) on Migration in Nairobi during an opening session chaired by Mr. Kenenisa Assefa from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ethiopia, with as Guest of Honour the Director of National Disaster Operations Centre of the Ministry of Interior and Coordination of National Government (Kenya)-Col. (Rtd) Charles Owino, and the Ag. Director of Social Development of IGAD-Ms Fathia Alwan, the Regional Director of the Swiss Cooperation Office at the Embassy of Switzerland to Kenya-Ms Leila Sheikh, and the Chief of Mission of the International Organization for Migration (IOM) to Ethiopia, Ms Maureen Achieng, at the high table.

The 9th RCP on Climate Change and Human Mobility is aimed at increasing awareness around issues related to displacements caused by natural disasters as well as at forging a common understanding on the protection gaps and opportunities for IGAD Member States.

The participants to the dialogue are IGAD Member States Heads of Immigration, Labour, Departments dealing with Climate Change as well as Academia, NCM focal points, UN agencies, Civil Societies, Members of National Platforms for Disaster Risk Reduction (specifically those dealing with droughts, floods and environmental changes) and Experts on Disaster Risk Reduction.

Mrs Fathia Alwan, speaking for the Executive Secretary of IGAD, in her opening remarks underlined that climate change was “one of the leading causes of forced displacement in IGAD Region”. “Today, we are experiencing increasing human mobility and displacement caused by natural disasters”, she said. She encouraged the participants to focus on issues related to strengthening national and regional disaster risk reduction mechanisms, coordinating humanitarian and development actions, and implementation of relevant migration policy frameworks.

Ms Sheikh Rüttimann noted the timeliness and relevance of the subject matter of the 9th RCP given the drought situation that is prevailing in the IGAD region. She underlined the support provided by Switzerland to the RCP as a means to “foster concrete action and help establish strengthened coordination mechanisms to improve the governance of migration in this region”.

Ms Achieng stressed the two-way relationship between Migration and Environment. “One of the major effects of climate change is migration; mass influx of migrants can effect environment”, she explained. The IOM representative applauded IGAD as a Regional Economic Community playing an exemplary role in tackling emerging issues. She reiterated IOM commitment to support IGAD and Member States in the nexus climate change-migration and beyond.

Col (Rtd) Owino urged the participants “to deliberate and come up with recommendations that can be practically implemented”. The meeting was declared officially open by the Chair.
The IGAD RCP was established in 2008 to provide a platform for dialogue and cooperation on matters of migration for the IGAD Member States in an informal and non-binding manner. The main objective of the RCP is to exchange information and assess existing policies and practices, at regional and national level, for managing displacement risks and responding to human mobility emanating from natural disasters.

It should be noted that the RCP (9th) was preceded by the Meeting of the IGAD Regional Mechanism Coordination Committee (5th) on August 26th at the same venue.
###