August 28, 2025 (Addis Ababa, Ethiopia): The Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) is convening a three-day workshop on the implementation of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed by members of the Migration and Displacement Data Management Technical Working Group. The workshop aims to operationalize the MoU by enhancing coordination, improving data sharing, and promoting joint planning among key stakeholders engaged in migration and displacement data management in Ethiopia.
The main objective of the three-day workshop is to develop effective implementation modalities for the MoU, addressing existing gaps and challenges that have hindered its implementation.
Speaking on behalf of the IGAD Secretariat, Mr. Charles Ogolla, Head of the IGAD Statistics Unit, emphasized that effective implementation of the MoU will not only strengthen national systems and enhance regional coordination but also provide a solid foundation for evidence-based programming. He further noted that this will enable more effective responses to displacement crises and ensure that solutions are informed by facts rather than assumptions.
According to Mr. Charles Ogolla, the workshop is focused on moving from agreement to practice by operationalizing the commitments of the MoU. Over the course of three days, participants will review the provisions of the MoU in detail and translate them into a concrete and actionable way forward. He stressed the importance of defining clear roles and responsibilities, identifying capacity needs, and establishing coordination mechanisms to ensure that institutions work collaboratively rather than in isolation. “Without accurate, comparable, and timely data, our ability to respond to crises, to plan durable solutions, and to track progress on commitments such as the Global Compact on Refugees, the Global Compact for Migration, Agenda 2063, and the Sustainable Development Goals remains severely constrained,” he remarked.
In his opening statement, Dr. Baker Shale, Director General of the Ethiopian Statistical Service (ESS), affirmed that the Memorandum of Understanding provides a strong foundation for enhanced coordination. He noted that it reinforces the work of the Migration Data Technical Working Group (TWG), empowers the ESS to effectively lead the TWG, and introduces accountability measures for institutions that fail to share data as required. “We reaffirm our commitment to facilitating coordination and ensuring accountability in this important process,” he added.
Representing the Secretariat of the National Partnership Coalition (NPC), Mr. Yohannis Sisay highlighted that the adoption of the Migration Data Sharing Protocol and the signing of the MoU marked significant milestones. These steps, he explained, represent a collective commitment by Ethiopian institutions to collaborate, harmonize practices, and uphold lawful and ethical standards in migration data management. He further underscored that the recent Directive of the National Council on the NPC Structure and Working Procedures reinforces this commitment. “Allow me to express our sincere appreciation to IGAD, the Ethiopian Statistical Service, and all partners represented here for their leadership and continued support,” he stated.
In his remarks, Mr. Philippe Branchat, Head of the Preparedness and Response Unit (PRU) at IOM Ethiopia, stressed that implementing the MoU and the Data Sharing Protocol is essential to ensure collaboration translates into effective data-sharing mechanisms, strengthened coordination, and evidence-based decision-making. He added that the workshop also provides a unique opportunity to build linkages between migration data and thematic areas of interest to international partners. “IOM remains fully committed to supporting this Technical Working Group and to deepening our collaboration in the months and years ahead,” he concluded.
The workshop brought together representatives from key government institutions that are members of the Migration and Displacement Data Management TWG, as well as UN agencies (IOM, UNHCR, UN Women) and the IGAD Secretariat. The event was supported by the Government of Sweden through the Protection and Solutions for Displaced Persons Project.
During the workshop, TWG members agreed to strengthen stakeholder engagement and build consensus on coordination mechanisms, with a focus on technical assistance, capacity-building priorities, and the development of a strategic document to guide the implementation of the action plan.
It is worth recalling that the Government of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia signed the Memorandum of Understanding and the Data Sharing Protocol in January of this year.
