April 3, 2025 (ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia): The Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) has conducted the Ethiopia National Dialogue on the IGAD Moyale Cross-Border, through Strengthening IGAD Migration Policy Implementation (SIMPI) Project, to explore opportunities for cross-border cooperation between communities and local administrations, ensuring that women and girls benefit from various initiatives and achievements.
The overall objective of the National Dialogue on IGAD cross – border Strengthening IGAD Migration Policy Implementation (SIMPI) Migration initiatives work shop is to establish a framework for effective migration management that benefits both migrants and the communities that host them.
In her opening remarks, Dr. Victoria Anib, Head of Social Development Unit, Health and Social Development Division, IGAD, emphasized that the SIMPI marks an important advancement in the implementation of the IGAD Migration Policy, which aims to enhance migration management, protect migrant rights, and promote regional cooperation.
In addition, She described SIMPI’s cross-border collaboration component has made significant strides in promoting peace, economic empowerment, and community development in the Cross-Border community of Moyale.
According to Dr Victoria, the project has established cooperatives to improve livelihoods, prioritizing women and youth, and empowering them through Women-Focused Livelihood and Cross-Border Trade and creating job opportunities for youth. “ Our goal is to foster a shared understanding of the project’s objectives and the necessary steps for its success,” she said.
In his opening remarks, Ato Yirgalem Mengistu, Chief executive of Conflict Management in Ministry of Peace, F.D.R. Ethiopia, as a host country, highlighted that the SIMPI initiative introduces coordinated policies across member states that streamline migration processes, reducing irregular migration and ensuring that people can move legally, safely, and sustainably. “As we move forward with the Cross-Border SIMPI Migration Initiative, let us remember that the ultimate goal is not only to manage migration but to transform it into an opportunity for regional development,” Ato Yirgalem reminded.
Representing GIZ – SIMPI project, Dr. Bedru Muzein, Cross Border Component Lead, Strengthening IGAD Migration Policy Implementation (SIMPI) , on his part, explained that GIZ, in partnership with IGAD, the governments of Kenya and Ethiopia, and most importantly, with the communities of Moyale as well as NGOs, has been dedicated to supporting initiatives that promote stability, economic growth, and social cohesion. “We recognize that sustainable development cannot be achieved in isolation. It requires a concerted effort, a shared vision, and a commitment to addressing the root causes of conflict and instability,” Dr. Bedru added.
In her presentation of the IGAD Cross – border activities, Ms. Yemisrach Benalfew, C oordinator of SIMPI Project, IGAD, reminded that SIMPI Implemented different impactful initiatives in the Cross-Border community of Moyale, with a focus on fostering peace, economic empowerment, and community development as local community structures, and peace committees which enhanced cross-border collaboration and conflict reduction.
Ms. Yemisirach reiterated that the SIMPI project for the Local Migration Network united stakeholders from diverse sectors to discuss and coordinate migration issues, ensuring that migration is managed in a manner that benefits both host and migrant communities.
Furthermore she disclosed that the Moyale- Moyale cross-border steering Committee structure was essential for the successful completion of the Cash for Community Cohesion initiative.
The National Dialogue was attended by representatives from the Federal government, Oromia and Somali regional states zonal and woreda, as well as, community leaders, partners from Dorcas and SND and IGAD secretariat.
The workshop financed by the Federal Republic of Germany’s Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development through GIZ,
Subsequently, the participants agreed on the progress made in implementing cross-border migration initiatives and elaborated lists of potential cross border cooperation areas between communities and local administration to ensure economic and social benefit of the society, in identifying key challenges and developing recommendations to the way – forward for future actions and collaborations to strengthen cross border engagement in the Moyale area of the migration.
IGAD Cross – border SIMPI Migration Initiatives focuses towards promoting self – reliant and resilient cross – border communities.
It is to be recalled that in line with the IGAD Migration Policy Framework and Migration Action Plans of 2015-2020 and 2025-2029, IGAD has been collaborating with GIZ on behalf of the German Government Ministry of Cooperation to strengthen member states’ implementation capacity of migration and displacement policies.
