October 23, 2023 (DJIBOUTI, Republic of Djibouti): The Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), has conducted the 4th Annual Steering Committee Meeting of Regional Migration Fund (RMF), today, in Djibouti, Republic of Djibouti.
In a special event under the theme ‘supporting Refugees, Migrants and Host Communities in the IGAD region,’ the main objective of the two – days Steering Committee Meeting is to review, reflect and update Member States on the annual (2022/2023) implementation progresses, financial performances of Regional Migration Fund and to provide recommendations for the future engagements/interventions.
Speaking on behalf of Dr. Workneh Gebeyehu, the Executive Secretary of IGAD, Madam Fathia Alwan, Director for Health and Social Development at IGAD Secretariat, highlighted that over the last one-year period, Regional Migration Fund have achieved substantial progresses in the implementation of the programme in the three locations ( Djibouti, Moyale-Moyale and Tog-wajale) in the region.
In addition, she described that with the concerted efforts of IGAD, its Member States and the regular technical back-stopping of KFW, Regional Migration Fund activities are gradually touching the base in our region during the year through the works of sub-delegates and will soon yield the required benefits and gains to the migrants, refuges and local communities.
Moreover, the Director, emphasized that the last one year was the time when IGAD has concluded the Financing Agreement worth 10 million euros with KFW for the implementation of Regional Migration Fund Phase II implementation. In addition she indicated that, in May 2023, IGAD has made negotiation with the Government of Germany where there was comprehensive review on the progress of the various ongoing initiatives supported through the Technical and Financial Cooperation.
“ In this regard, IGAD applaud the commitment of the Government of Germany for the strong partnership and sustained support to IGAD under both Technical cooperation through GIZ and Financial Cooperation via KFW. “ Madam Fathia stressed.
In her concluding remark, the Director underscored that the Sub-delegates (NGOs) are expected to implement the infrastructure project activities to the standard of Member States and accomplish within the planned and agreed time period. In this regard, IGAD will do all its best to ensure the quality of the work being implemented by the sub-delegates/NGOs.
In his opening remark, Ambassador Gueleh Idriss Omar, Director of Multilateral Relations at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that the IGAD Migration Program is a crucial initiative that aims to lay the foundations for safe, orderly and regular migration in our region.
« I would like to reiterate that migration is an unavoidable reality of our time, and our role as a steering committee is to ensure that it takes place in a secure, orderly and regular manner.” The Ambassador added.
In his remarks, Mr. Markus von Essen, Head of Division East Africa at the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development, on video conference indicated that the Government of Germany has strong partnership with IGAD. He also congratulate IGAD for achieveing most of the key milestones agreed during the KFW-IGAD appraisal mission in May 2023.
The meeting brought together participants from the Director Generals for Immigration,Director Generals for Refugees and Returnees Services, Commissioners and representative from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of IGAD Member States, IGAD implementing partner NGOs, IGAD RMF Liaison Officers from the cross-border locations and representative of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development(BMZ), German Development Bank (KFW) on the meeting virtually.
The first day meeting was concluded with the endorsement of two new sites for RMF intervention and the key focus areas of the next one-year period.
Financial performance of Regional Migration Fund and the annual audit report will be presented and discussed by the Steering Committee Members. The meeting is expected to be concluded by agreeing on next steps and clear recommendations for the future engagements of RMF.
It is known that since the commencement of the RMF initiative in September 2019, three Steering Committee meetings have been organized.
It is to be recalled that IGAD, in partnership with the Government of Germany through its development Bank, KFW, initiated the Regional Migration Fund (RMF) in 2019 as an instrument to address the challenges and promote the potential linked to migration.
