March 20, 2024 (MOYALE, Kenya): IGAD launched the Moyale local migration network to serve cross-border local authorities’ and. communities of Ethiopia and Kenya.
Housed at the IGAD Cross Border Facilitation office in Moyale, the network was established through the joint IGAD-GIZ support Strengthening IGAD Migration Policy Implementation (SIMPI).
Speaking on behalf IGAD Director for Health and Social Development Division, Mme Fathia Alwan, Ms. Yemisrach Benalfew, Coordinator for SIMPI) project noted the migration network will have aim to understand the dynamics and trends of migration in Moyale, which is one of the three major migratory route in the Horn of Africa.
The network could identify and support the needs of mobile population in cross border area including abused women and children in collaboration with relevant authorities, gather accurate data of migrants, and educate on legal migration pathways.
The members of the network include a wide range representatives of cross border local authorities, peace committee, youth and women groups, as well as local civil society organizations.
This intervention compliments the newly opened IGAD Moyale office, and the socio-economic livelihood project as well as the previous Cash for Community Cohesion (CCC) and milk-value livelihood projects targeting women to improve the living conditions of the mobile and host population in Moyale area.
The initiative Strengthening IGAD Migration Policy Implementation (SIMPI) is implemented by IGAD through the collaboration with Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) on behalf of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ).
The IGAD cross border office has been open since September 2023. The IGAD Secretariat, particularly the Health and Social Development Migration Program and GIZ are rendering their support to the functioning of the office.
