United Nations Economic Commission for Africa - High Level Panel on Migration

International Migrants Day 2018 - Message from Ellen Johnson Sirleaf

Minilik.Demissie — Wed, 19 Dec 2018 07:15:12 +0000

INTERNATIONAL MIGRANTS DAY 2018

MESSAGE FROM ELLEN JOHNSON SIRLEAF

FORMER PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF LIBERIA AND

CHAIRPERSON OF THE HIGH-LEVEL PANEL ON INTERNATIONAL

MIGRATION IN AFRICA (HLPM)

18 December 2018: Last week, in Marrakesh, Morocco, the international community adopted the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration, which marks an important step towards a comprehensive, integrated and long-term response to the challenges faced by migrants around the world.

This year’s International Migrants Day reminds us of the importance of treating all migrants with dignity, a message that has particular resonance for my home continent. As Chair of the High-Level Panel on International Migration in Africa, I am saddened by the continued portrayal of African migrants as desperate hordes escaping poverty and disasters and undermining the status quo in their host nations. This has no bearing on the bulk of African migration, which, similar to trends in other regions, remains a driving force for social, cultural and economic development.

Various estimates[1] indicate that migration is projected to boost Africa’s GDP per capita from $2,008 in 2016 to $3,249 in 2030, which is equivalent to an annual growth rate of 3.5%. On average remittance inflows to Africa, from $38.4 billion in 2005-2007, to $64.9 billion in 2014-2016, which now account for 51% of private capital flows to Africa in 2016, up from 42% in 2010.

Moreover, recent trends suggest a picture of international migration in Africa that is different and more nuanced than what is generally perceived:

African migrant rates are slightly below the global average of just over 3 per cent, making Africa the least migratory world region.
Africa’s migration is overwhelmingly intra-African. Migration within the continent accounts for over 80% of migration flows, bringing across borders skills, knowledge, training, technology and capital.
Similar to migration trends in other regions, African migrants are mostly young, well-educated and economically active, and move mostly for reasons of work, study and family. African emigration must therefore be viewed through the lens of the processes of development and social transformation, which have increased young Africans’ capabilities and aspirations to migrate.
While conflict plays a key role in largely temporary surges of refugee migration, refugees constitute a relatively small and declining share of migration within Africa over the longer term, averaging 15 – 20 % of all migrants in recent decades.
At least 90 per cent of African migrants entering OECD countries cross borders through legal means. Even in the record year 2016, irregular boat crossings of refugees and prospective labour migrants from Africa were estimated at around 100,000, one-seventh of estimated total legal migration to OECD countries
Africa has itself become a major migration destination, particularly for Chinese workers and merchants as well as European skilled workers, retirees and other ‘expats’.
Most Africans living abroad are not from the poorest sections of origin societies – in fact, the poorest and most vulnerable populations tend to be immobilized by impoverishment, violence and environmental adversity.

As we prepare to implement the Global Compact, Africa offers an inspiring example of progressive policies and measures to promote open borders and to regulate cross continental flow. The 300 million residents of the Economic Community for West African States (ECOWAS) enjoy visa-free travel within the region, while a growing number of countries, such as Rwanda, Ghana, Ethiopia and Kenya, now offer visas on arrival for visitors.

At the regional level, the African Union is also making progress to facilitate the free movement of migrants and refugees through the Protocol to the Treaty Establishing the African Economic Community Relating to Free Movement of Persons, Right of Residence and Right of Establishment. These efforts will be further strengthened with the ratification of the African Continental Free Trade Area Agreement, which will boost intra-regional trade and spur accelerated economic development and integration.

On this year’s International Migrants Day, it is the hope of my Panel that these positive messages will continue to drown out the doom and gloom of xenophobic and nationalistic discourse. The bulk of African migration is regular and orderly – let’s continue to redouble our efforts to offer migrants a safe and dignified experience wherever they may find themselves.

[1] Sources include UNCTAD, the World Bank and the Economic Commission for Africa

African migration: no crisis, but regional integration needed

Minilik.Demissie — Mon, 10 Dec 2018 11:49:45 +0000

Language English

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Social Development

Focus Group:

High Level Panel on Migration

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African migration: no crisis, but regional integration needed

Sub Regional Office:

North Africa

African migration: no crisis, but regional integration needed

Minilik.Demissie — Mon, 10 Dec 2018 11:34:30 +0000

Marrakech, 9 December 2018 (ECA) – Is the world witnessing an African migration crisis? Recent facts contradict many widespread perceptions shaped by recent media coverage. Both countries of origin and countries of destination of migrants could benefit from an improved, fact-based management of migration, according to a group of African and international leaders who took part in a meeting on “Synergies between the High-Level Panel on Migration (HLPM) and the Global Compact on Migration” under the leadership of HLPM Chair Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, in Marrakech on 8 December.

In the last few years, international attention has been focused on illegal African migrants attempting to reach Europe. However, actual figures show that the majority of Africans who leave their countries stay within the continent. As for widespread fears of the negative impact of migration on local populations, they are being contradicted by countries’ experiences on the ground and recent studies.

“Our experience shows that the benefits of opening borders outweigh negative security implications and that countries that have actually implemented the free movement of people are neither in crisis nor have face great security threats as a result”, said Gatarayiha François Régis, Director General for Immigration and Emigration of Rwanda, whose country started providing visas on arrival to all Africans as early as 2013, entered an agreement with Kenya and Uganda allowing citizens of all three States to travel freely without visas in 2014, and extended visas upon arrival to all citizens of the world July 2018.

“Most benefits of migration accrue to destination countries, primarily through the increase of the labour force, higher economic output and higher productivity in the host countries”, said Cynthia Samuel-Olonjuwon, Regional Director for Africa at the International Labour Organisation.

According to recent studies by ILO and OECD, migration is estimated to generate a net productivity increase of 3 trillion US dollars worldwide, with migrants having a positive impact on economic growth. “Overall migration is unlikely to depress GDP per capita”, said Samuel-Olonjuwon, “On the contrary, in some countries like Côte d’Ivoire, the estimated contribution of immigrants to GDP represents up to 19%. Immigrants may also generate additional employment opportunities for native born workers and improved wages”, she added, explaining that in South Africa for example, immigration has been correlated with positive impacts on native born employment rates and monthly wages as well as a decrease in unemployment rates. The same research shows that immigrants have had positive net impacts on governments’ fiscal balances in countries like Ghana and South Africa.

HLPM figures contradict another dimension of current perceptions of African migration. Although African population doubled between 1990 and 2017 the global number of migrants increased by 80%, the region’s migration rate went down from 3.2% to 2.9%.

The reality of global demographics is however expected to increase African migration in the near future: The world population is ageing, however Africa’s working-age population (15 - 64 years) has grown more than four times between 1960 and 2010, and is expected to increase further in the next 40 years. “In the coming years, almost two thirds of the world’s youths will be in Africa. Whether we want it or not, the future of world labour supply lies in Africa, and hence workers will be required to move to where opportunities exist, especially since job creation in Africa is not growing at the pace of demand” said ECA Chief of Population and Youth, William Muhwava. Human movement is inevitable, and excessive border restrictions can drive migration underground instead of making it disappear, hence the need for countries to provide options for systematic and sustainable, regular migration, he explained.

“The more regular and legal pathways that are available for migrants, the less they will be enticed to pursue illegal immigration. We must also ensure that prospective immigrants are aware of the legal pathways that are available to them”, explained Canadian Minister of Immigration Refugees and Citizenship Ahmed Hussen.

In order to optimize the benefits of migration, efforts must be made to ensure new comers are fully integrated into destination countries. Upstream however, participants also agreed on the need to ensure that migration remains a choice rather than necessity for Africans. “People should not be forced to migrate because of adverse economic, social or political conditions”, said Norway’s former Foreign Minister Knut Vollebaek in a statement read on his behalf by Stein Erik Horjen, senior advisor at the Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation.

Significant efforts will therefore be needed to promote youth employment across the region. “Development oriented solutions are key to addressing the structural drivers of migration”, said HLPM Chair Ellen Johnson Sirleaf “Africa’s momentum in transformational change for a peaceful, integrated and prosperous continent impacts the path of democratic governance, protection of rights and fundamental freedoms and respect for the rule of law. This has been enhancing popular participation in a political process which helps to reduce instability, a major driver of irregular migration”.

As for migration, in a regional context still marked by the high number of barriers to migration - Africans still need visas to travel to 55% of other African countries - participants agreed on the need to tackle barriers to migration within the region before approaching the rest of the world with similar demands: “I need to flag upfront that nothing is being invented in the Global Compact for Migration (GCM). It is grounded in existing international norms and resonates with existing frameworks on international migration such as those adopted and being implemented by the African Union”, said Sekai Irene Nzenza, Zimbabwe Minister of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare. “82% of African migration takes place within the region. There are therefore compelling reasons for us to implement the GCM in Africa with respect to our labour markets, our communities as well as our borders. It makes sense for such facilitations to start within Africa before calling upon others outside our continent to do the same to our people. Charity begins at home”, she added, while acknowledging the need to strike a balance between security considerations and the need for balanced movement of persons.

It’s only then that Africa can credibly ask other regions to open their borders to Africans. As long as borders remain closed with Africa, integrating Africa in the global context will remain difficult, said Yaya Sangare, Minister for Malians Abroad and African Integration.

The meeting on “Synergies between the High-Level Panel on Migration and the Global Compact on Migration” was jointly held by the High-Level Panel on Migration in Africa (HLPM), the UN Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) and the African Union Commission (AUC), in the run up to the Intergovernmental Conference to adopt the Global Compact for Migration for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration (GCM) in Marrakech, Morocco (10-11 December 2018).

Issued by:

Communications Section
Economic Commission for Africa
PO Box 3001
Addis Ababa
Ethiopia
Tel: +251 11 551 5826
E-mail: eca-info@un.org

Marrakech - ECA to hold event on Operationalizing the Global Compact on Migration in Africa through Data and Research

Minilik.Demissie — Fri, 07 Dec 2018 12:37:22 +0000

Marrakech, 7 December 2018 (ECA) – The dearth of empirical data on African migration has resulted in programmatic and policy responses that are based on negative public perceptions rather than an understanding of the real situation on the ground. The Global Compact on Safe, Regular and Orderly Migration (GCM), recognizes that data and research will be critical in the implementation and follow-up reviews of the Compact. In this regard, the proposed African Observatory for Migration and Development aims to contribute to enhanced capacity of African countries to analyze migration data and integrate it in national censuses and other policy instruments.

Co-organized by the UN Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) and the German Development Institute, this GCM side event will discuss strategies for creating effective partnerships at the sub regional and regional levels, and beyond, to enhance the production of evidence-based narratives on African migration.

For media enquiries, please send an email to: filali-ansary@un.org or call: +212 (0) 673 734 462

What: Operationalizing the Global Compact on Migration in Africa through Data and Research

When: Saturday 8 December 2018 from 10.30 am to 12.30 pm

Where: Atlas Room 1, Palmeraie Golf Palace, Marrakech

Issued by:

Communications Section
Economic Commission for Africa
PO Box 3001
Addis Ababa
Ethiopia
Tel: +251 11 551 5826
E-mail: eca-info@un.org

High-Level Panel on Migration convenes dialogue on African perspectives in the Global Compact

Minilik.Demissie — Thu, 06 Dec 2018 14:47:43 +0000

Marrakech, 6 December 2018 (ECA) – The High-Level Panel on Migration in Africa (HLPM), the UN Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) and the African Union Commission (AUC), will jointly convene a side event under the theme: “Synergies between the High Level Panel on Migration and the Global Compact on Migration” on Saturday 8 December in Marrakech (Kingdom of Morocco), in the run up to the Intergovernmental Conference to adopt the Global Compact for Migration for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration (GCM) in Marrakech, Morocco (10-11 December 2018).

Against the prevailing public perception of waves of Africans trying to cross the Mediterranean into Europe, the event aims to highlight an alternative vision that is informed by the true facts about African migration – both within the region and internationally – and acknowledges migration as an intrinsic part of development processes on the continent. The discussions will focus on key areas of convergence in the objectives of the HLPM and GCM, especially with regard to lifting visa barriers to enhance regular migration, and integrating established migrant populations in destination countries.

Several high level officials will take part in this event, including HLPM Chair Ellen Johnson Sirleaf; Ahmed Husen, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, Canada; Cynthia Samuel-Olunjowon, Regional Director for Africa, International Labour Organization (ILO); Knut Vollebaek, former Minister for Foreign Affairs, Norway and Caroline Wanjiku Kihato, Migration Expert.

The following ministers from four African member states will provide the perspectives and experiences of their countries: Hassan Omar Mohamed, Minister of the Interior (Republic of Djibouti), Yaya Sangare, Minister for Malians Abroad and African Integration (Republic of Mali), Sekai Irene Nzenza, Minister of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare, (Republic of Zimbabwe) and Gatarayiha Francois Régis-Director General on Immigration and Emigration (Republic of Rwanda).

The discussions will be guided by findings and recommendations contained in the recent HLPM report, ‘African Migration Facing Facts, Embracing Opportunities and Mitigating Challenges.’ Once endorsed by relevant African Union decision-making bodies, the report will be submitted to the AU Heads of State and Government Summit in January 2019 for adoption.

Set up in January 2017, one of the core mandates of the 15-member HLPM is to work in consultation with relevant constituencies at national, regional and global levels to come up with recommendations on how to build and sustain broad political consensus on an implementable international migration development agenda.

For media enquiries, please send an email to: filali-ansary@un.org or call: +212 (0) 673 734 462

What: Synergies between the High-Level Panel on Migration and the Global Compact on Migration

When: Saturday 8 December 2018 from 10.30 am to 12.30 pm

Where: Palmeraie Room, Palmeraie Golf Palace, Marrakech

Issued by:

Communications Section
Economic Commission for Africa
PO Box 3001
Addis Ababa
Ethiopia
Tel: +251 11 551 5826
E-mail: eca-info@un.org

UN Regional Commissions’ role in the follow-up and review of the Global Compact on Migration to be showcased in Marrakech

Minilik.Demissie — Thu, 06 Dec 2018 14:38:38 +0000

Marrakech, 6 December 2018 (ECA) – UN Regional Economic Commissions will convene a panel discussion on, ‘Regional priorities, opportunities, and challenges: Prospects for achieving the objectives of the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration and the role of regional cooperation’ in Marrakech (Morocco), on the margins of the Intergovernmental Conference to adopt the Global Compact on Migration (GCM).

The main objective of the side event is to better inform UN Member States of the relevant sub regional, regional and cross-regional processes, platforms and organizations that can provide support for the implementation, follow-up and review of the Global Compact and ensure harmonized cooperation to achieve the Compact’s objectives.

Panelists will include: Vera Songwe, Executive Secretary of the UN Economic Commission for Africa (ECA); Alicia Bárcena, Executive Secretary of UN Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC); Nasser bin Thani Juma Al Hamli, Minister of Human Resources and Emiratisation, UAE; Mounir Tabet, Acting Executive Secretary of the Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA); Monika Linn, Principal Advisor Office of the Executive Secretary, Economic Commission for Europe (ECE); and Sabine Henning, Chief, Sustainable Demographic Transition Section, Social Development Division, Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP).

The event will highlight the role of regional commissions in strengthening the evidence base on international migration, especially through the production of data and evidence-based analysis on regional migration trends and policy and convening a broad range of stakeholders to take appropriate action.

The discussions will, moreover, identify innovative approaches and partnerships to address migration issues at the regional level, building on existing inter-regional forums and other consultative processes that promote informal dialogue and cooperation on migration. Examples include: the South American Conference on Migration (Lima Process); the Arab Regional Consultative Process on Migration; the Ministerial Consultations on Overseas Employment and Contractual Labour for Countries of Origin and Destination in Asia (Abu Dhabi Dialogue); the African Union-Horn of Africa initiative on human trafficking and the smuggling of migrants (Khartoum Process); and the Almaty Process on Refugee Protection and International Migration.

For media enquiries, please send an email to: filali-ansary@un.org or call: +212 (0) 673 734 462

What: ‘Regional priorities, opportunities, and challenges: Prospects for achieving the objectives of the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration and the role of regional cooperation’ (Panel discussion)

When: Sunday, 9 December 2018, from 3.30 – 5.15 p.m

Where: Room Atlas 1, Palmeraie Golf Palace, Marrakech (Morocco)

Issued by:

Communications Section
Economic Commission for Africa
PO Box 3001
Addis Ababa
Ethiopia
Tel: +251 11 551 5826
E-mail: eca-info@un.org

Intergovernmental Conference on the Global Compact for Migration

Minilik.Demissie — Mon, 03 Dec 2018 11:24:19 +0000

10 December 2018 to 11 December 2018

Marrakech, Morocco

The Intergovernmental Conference to Adopt the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration takes place in Marrakech, Morocco on the 10th and 11th of December, 2018.

The Conference is convened under the auspices of the United Nations General Assembly and is held pursuant to resolution 71/1 of 19 September 2016, entitled "New York Declaration for Refugees and Migrants," which decided to launch a process of intergovernmental negotiations leading to the adoption of the Global Compact for Migration.

The modalities for the Conference were further elaborated in resolutions 71/280 of 6 April 2017, 72/244 of 24 December 2017 and 72/L.67 of 31 July 2018.

More: http://www.un.org/en/conf/migration/side-events.shtml

Experts converge to review report on African migration

Minilik.Demissie — Tue, 20 Nov 2018 11:04:53 +0000

Language English

Featured Image:

Focus Group:

High Level Panel on Migration

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Experts converge to review report on African migration

Minilik.Demissie — Mon, 19 Nov 2018 18:08:23 +0000

Addis Ababa, 19 November 2018 (ECA) - Members of the High-Level Panel on Migration in Africa (HLPM) met in Addis Ababa on 19 November to review a report that aims to buttress ongoing migration and human mobility policy agenda in Africa.

The report was commissioned by African heads of state and government and drafted by the HLPM technical team.

It focuses on the status of migration in Africa and its implications for Africa’s development; mitigants and enablers of African migration; human rights of African migrants and the rule of law; and perceptions of African migration versus realities. The report also makes concrete recommendations for consideration by African countries.

At the opening of the two-day meeting, former Liberian president and Chair of the HLPM, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, congratulated her team for making “significant progress” over the past one year of the Panel’s existence, adding “we now have a report that has come a long way in terms of its content and quality. We are here to review and decide if it meets expectations as per our terms of reference.”

The report, which will be presented to the African Union Heads of State and Government Summit in February 2019, approaches migration as an important enabler and beneficiary of regional integration and economic development in Africa with specific reference to the African Continental Free Trade Area Agreement (AfCFTA) and Protocol on Free Movement of Persons.

ECA Executive Secretary, Vera Songwe, urged the team to deliberate on how to get more countries to sign the African Union’s Free Movement Protocol that will enhance intra-Africa movement of persons, stating “My sense is that the free movement of persons is one of those landmark decisions that need to come to fruition in Africa.”

As the Panel finalizes its report as mandated by African Heads of State and Government, the team is also deliberating on strategies for advocacy and engagement with stakeholders around issues of migration.

Against this backdrop, African Union Commission’s representative at the meeting, Sabelo Mbokazi, highlighted the need to "develop and strengthen partnerships and existing frameworks on migration in Africa.” He said there was need to reflect and advocate for “transformative actions” in favour of Africa’s returning migrants.”

The HLPM was established in 2017 and tasked to profile migration issues and push them to the top of policy agenda by engaging major stakeholders and partners at national, regional and global levels.

Issued by:

Communications Section
Economic Commission for Africa
PO Box 3001
Addis Ababa
Ethiopia
Tel: +251 11 551 5826
E-mail: eca-info@un.org

Meeting of the High Level Panel on Migration

eskinder.tsegaye — Sun, 18 Nov 2018 18:26:14 +0000

19 November 2018 to 20 November 2018

Addis Ababa

At the Third Meeting of the High Level Panel on Migration in Geneva, Switzerland on 28-29 May 2018, it was agreed that a full panel meeting should be scheduled to review the main report and advocacy materials that have been developed by the Technical Team. In this respect, the meeting is being convened to review the main report that has been produced based on research conducted, based on the themes that were selected by the panel. According to H.E. Sirleaf, the chairperson of the HLMP, “…the main report of the Panel will not only focus on the two imperatives of economic growth and migrants’ rights, but also on the perception versus the reality of African migration’. The report’s recommendations will focus on specific actions needed at the national level to drive leaders to take action.