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The Future of Migration
Policies in Africa
BACKGROUND PAPER
WMR 2010
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BACKGROUND PAPERWMR 2010
The Future ofMigration Policies
in Africa
ADERANTI ADEPOJUHUMAN RESOURCES DEVELOPMENT CENTRE,LAGOS,NIGERIA
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FOREWORD
Thispaper isoneof19backgroundpaperswhichhavebeenprepared for the IOM,2010
WorldMigrationReportwhich isentitled theFutureofMigration:BuildingCapacities for
Change.The
2010
report
focuses
on
likely
future
trends
in
migration
and
the
capacities
that
will be required by States, regional and international organizations, civil society and the
privatesectortomanagemigrationsuccessfullyoverthecomingdecades.
Overthenextfewdecades,internationalmigrationislikelytotransforminscale,reachand
complexity,due togrowingdemographicdisparities, theeffectsofenvironmentalchange,
newglobalpoliticalandeconomicdynamics,technologicalrevolutionsandsocialnetworks.
The 2010 World Migration Report focuses on capacitybuilding, first because it is good
governancetoplan for the future,especiallyduringaperiodofeconomicdownturnwhen
the tendency is to focus on immediate impacts and the shortterm period of recovery.
Second,capacitybuildingiswidelyacknowledgedtobeanessentialcomponentofeffective
migrationmanagement,
helping
to
ensure
the
orderly
and
humane
management
of
migration.
PartAoftheWorldMigrationReport2010focusesonidentifyingcorecapacitiesinkeyareas
of migration management. The aim is not to recommend one size fits all policies and
practices, but to suggest objectives of migration management policies in each area, to
stimulatethinkingandprovideexamplesofwhatStatesandotheractorscando.
PartBof theWorldMigrationReport2010,providesanoverviewof the latestglobaland
regionaltrendsinmigration.Inrecognitionoftheimportanceofthelargestglobaleconomic
recessionsincethe1930s,thissectionhasaparticularfocusontheeffectsofthiscrisison
migrants,migrationandremittances.
FrankLaczko
HeadoftheResearchandPublicationsDivision
IOMHeadquarters
Geneva,Switzerland
Email:[email protected]
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INTRODUCTION
Thekeyobjectiveofthispaperistoassesscurrentcapacitiestocopewithchangingmigration
patternsandprocesses informulatingcomprehensivemigrationpolicies inAfrica,to identify
existinggapsandtomakerecommendationsconcerningcapacitybuildinginthefuture.Part1
presentsabriefoverviewof the futureofmigrationpolicies inAfricaandhow theywillbe
affectedby
changing
international
migration
patterns
and
processes.
Within
the
context
of
the frameworkof the3Dsdemography,democracyanddevelopment (which includes the
impactofclimatechange)theroleofthecivilsocietyactorsisexamined,asistheemerging
involvementofthebusiness,corporatesectorinmigrationissuesinAfrica.Theeconomiccrisis
is impactingmigration inmanyways, including lossofjobs and programmes for voluntary
returnofmigrants,andthesedynamicswillshapetheorientationoffuturemigrationpolicies.
Part2assessestheexistingcapacitiestorespondtotheimpactofchangingmigrationpatterns
andprocessesonmigrationpoliciesinAfrica.Thespecificgapsthatneedtobefilledinorder
to enhance the efficiencyof suchpolicies are also identified.Part3 focuses specifically on
capacitybuilding and theareaswhere further capacity is required,basedon the key areas
identified.Theconcludingsectionhighlightsrecommendationstargetedatlocal,nationaland
regionallevels,
as
well
as
the
organizations
and
agencies
responsible
for
implementing
the
recommendations.
PRESENTATION OF THE TOPIC
Over the past few years, a series of important international, regional and nationallevel
meetingsandevents focusingonmigrationanddevelopmenthavehadacatalyticeffecton
migrationdiscourseandpolicy inAfrica.At the international level, the reportof theGlobal
CommissionforInternationalMigration(2005),theUNHighLevelDialogueonMigrationand
Development (2006)and theGlobalForumonMigrationandDevelopment (Brussels,2007;
Manila,2008;andAthens,2009)havehelpedplaceinternationalmigrationattheforefrontof
policy debate. At the regional African level, significant events include the African Unions
StrategicFramework
for
aPolicy
on
Migration
(2001)
and
the
ECOWAS
1
common
approach
on
migration (2006). The EuropeanUnion (EU) and African Union (AU) have held a series of
meetings to address issues relating to regular and irregular migration between the two
regions:theEuroAfricanconferenceonmigrationanddevelopment(2006);theJointAfrica
EUDeclarationonMigrationandDevelopment (2006); theFollowupMeetingof theRabat
Process(2007)inMadrid;andtheEUAfricansummitinLisbon(2008).In Africa, intraregional migration is dominant, and economic organizations at subregional
levelsarepotentialvehiclesformigrationpolicydevelopment.Wheretheseorganizationsare
dominated by the economies of one or two countries,movements of people have been
directed to itscorecountries,as inBotswanaandSouthAfrica insouthernAfrica,Gabon in
centralAfrica,Kenya ineasternAfrica,CtedIvoireandNigeria inWestAfrica,andLibyan
ArabJamahiriya
in
North
Africa.
Many
of
these
dynamics
are
set
to
change,
especially
in
the
faceofongoingglobal financialandeconomic turmoil,and theprofound impactofclimate
change.
ECOWASwasapacesetterinarticulatingaprotocolonfreemovementofpersonsin1979;it
alsoadoptedacommonpositiononmigration in2006,asdid theAfricanUnionearlieron.
Nigeria,theregionsdemographicgiant,formulatedanationalmigrationpolicyin2007.South
1EconomicCommunityofWestAfricanStates
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Africa,theregionseconomichub,adoptedsuchpolicyin1999,asapostapartheidmeasure
tomanagemigration.Recently,Rwandahasdonethesameandmanyothercountries,suchas
Ghana,Senegal,UgandaandZimbabwe,amongothers,aresettofollow.
Expected future migration trends and policies
Inthe
next
two
decades,
migration
trends
in
Africa
will
be
largely
shaped
by
economic,
demographicandclimatechangedynamics.Thespeedanddepthofongoingeconomiccrises
makeAfricancountriesveryvulnerable.SouthAfrica, for itspart, isexperiencing theworst
economicdepressionsince1992,and its impact isbeingfeltbythe laboursendingcountries
whose economies are very largely dependent on that of South Africa and on migrants
remittances. Botswanas economy the bestmanaged in Africa has also been hard hit,
forcingthecountrytoborrowUSD1.5billionfromtheAfricanDevelopmentBanktobuttress
a fiscaldeficitasdiamondexportearningsarehitby the recession (Adepoju,2009).Unlike
highincomecountries,Africancountriesareunable to launch robust stimulusplans,due to
financial and institutional constraints, thereby exposing their already poor, aiddependent
populationstofurtherhardship,andreshapingthearchitectureofthedominantintraregional
migration flows.Many industrieswheremigrants predominate (such as tourism in Ireland,
constructionin
Spain
and
North
America,
and
financial
services
in
Britain)
have
been
among
thefirsttoshedjobs(Ghosh,2009).Morerecentarrivals inEuropehavebeendistressedby
therestrictedgloballabourmarketandtheincreasingchallengeoffindingevenmenialwork.
Withunemploymentinmostreceivingcountriesatitshighestlevelsfor15years12percent
inSpainandover7percent intheUnitedStatesprospects for immigration,especiallyof
unskilledworkers,aredim.
Thepredictableimpactofaneconomicslumpinrichcountriesisthatsomepotentialmigrants
fromAfricamaybediscouragedfrommakingthemove,somemayhavetoreturnvoluntarily
orbeforcedtotakethatdecision,whileyetothersmayoptto insteadmigratetoemerging
economiessuchasChina,Braziland India.AnySouthSouthmigrationalreadyset inmotion
would intensify.Setagainst the International LabourOrganizations (ILOs)projectedglobal
loss
of
about
20
million
jobs
in
2009,
migration
is
bound
to
slow
down
perhaps
for
longer
than currently projected (The Economist, 2009a). For now, Spain and Switzerland are
implementingreturnprogrammes,providingcash incentivesformigrantstoreturnhome. In
effect, African migrantsending countries have to implement reception, reinsertion and
resettlement programmes for returning migrants, while concurrently revamping viable
economicactivitiestoretainpotentialemigrants.Theseandotherdevelopmentswillneedto
befactoredintofuturemigrationpolicyformulationandimplementation.
Migrants remittances to African countries have exceeded funds obtained via official
developmentassistanceandforeigndirect investmentsand,formanyremittancedependent
countries,havebecomemajorsourcesof foreignexchangeearnings.Remittancesprovidea
lifeline and have lifted many families and individuals out of poverty, while boosting
educational
enrolment
and
enhancing
the
health
status
of
migrants
household
members
left
behind.Butwillthistrendcontinue, inviewofthemassivejob losses inhostcountriesthat
employmigrants?Migrantsending and aiddependent countrieswill suffermost from the
financial and economic crisis, given the uncertainties surrounding continued migrant
remittance flows,whiledevelopmentassistance isset todwindle.Withpovertyandhuman
deprivationintensifying,outmigrationtorelativelyresourcerichlocalitieswithinandoutside
theregionwouldaccelerate.Itisinthiscontextthatmigrationpolicywillneedtoincorporate
educationprogrammesinfinancial literacytopromoteamoreproductiveuseofremittances
byrecipienthouseholds.
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Africasunemploymentrate(estimatedat10percentin2006)iscompoundedbythegrowing
numberofworkingpoor(ILO,2007).Theprojectedyouthpopulationof500millionby2050
raises the spectre of a deepening employment crisis. Currently, the lack of decent work
promptsyouthstoemigrateinsearchofamoresecurefuture.Duetodifficultiesinobtaining
entrypermits,theseyoungmigrantsoftenengage indangerousjourneystoenterEuropeas
irregular and undocumentedmigrants. That trendmay accelerate in the coming decades,
therebynecessitating
migration
policies
and
programmes
aimed
at
regulating
these
flows
of
youngmigrants.
Africasuffersthemostfromtheconsequencesofglobalclimatechanges,althoughitaccounts
foronlyasmallproportionofgreenhousegasemissions.Majorenvironmentalchallengesand
thedegradationofnaturalresources(deforestation,desertification,drought(intheSahelian
region), soil erosion and floods (in coastal regions)) would result in the displacement of
millionsofpeople, intensify internal(especiallyruralurban)migrationandcouldalsocreate
internationalmigrationwithinandoutsidetheregionthatmaybecomeselfperpetuating.To
thesemustbeaddedwater,airandgroundpollution,especiallyinalreadyovercrowdedcities.
However, current knowledge on the relationshipbetween climate change andmigration is
incomplete and we need to explore more systematically why most people impacted by
environmental
degradation
in
Africa
do
not,
in
fact,
migrate
(Hietanen,
2009).
Africacontainshalfor12millionoftheworlds internallydisplacedpersons(IDPs).While
thenumberdisplaced by conflicts appears tobe falling, thenumberof thosedisplacedby
climatechangeisclimbing fast,withAfricasettohostthebulkoftheworlds200million
migrantspredicted to result from theeffectsof climatechange.Already,by2008,700,000
Africansweredisplacedbyclimatechange(TheEconomist,2009b).
CURRENT CAPACITIES
Inthecurrentmigrationdevelopmentnexus,withemigrationpressureintensifyinginAfrican
countries,whilereceivingcountriesarereinforcingtheirentryrequirementsandshuttingtheir
gatesagainst
irregular
migrants,
new
approaches
are
required
to
formulate
coherent
and
concertedmigratorypoliciescongruentwiththoseofother fieldsrelatedtomigration.Such
policiesneedtofocusparticularlyontrade,development,environmentandhumanrights,and
theymustbe comprehensiveenough to include theneedsand interestsof sending, transit
andreceivingcountries.
Thusfar,there isaseverely limitedcapacitytodealwiththethreekeyaspectsofmigration
that have engaged the attention of policymakers in Africa: huge inflows of migrant
remittances, brain drain of skilled professionals and its impact on the Millennium
DevelopmentGoals(MDGs),andthepotentialfordiasporastocontributetothedevelopment
of their home countries. (The latters potential is considered to be very significant, as
demonstratedby the fact that theAU recognized theAfricandiasporaas its6th region.) In
addition,the
irregular
migration
of
youths
and
the
impact
of
climate
change
and
environmentaldeteriorationonbothinternalandinternationalmigrationarecrucialelements
thatwillhavetobefactoredintoresponsivemigrationpoliciesinthecomingdecades.
Atthemoment,mostAfricancountries lackboththe institutionalandthehumanresources
capacitytoformulatesynchronizedmigrationpolicies,andseveralagenciesareofteninvolved
in dealingwith issues relating tomigration, resulting in its uncoordinated implementation.
Nigerias case vividly illustrates this: the Ministry of Foreign Affairs unit of Nigerians in
DiasporaOrganisation (NIDO) serves as the headquarters ofNIDOworldwide in Europe,
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NorthAmerica,AfricaandAsia.TheNigerianNationalVolunteerService (NNVS)coordinates
the involvementoftheNigeriandiaspora indomesticdevelopmentandtheannualDiaspora
Conference.ASpecialAssistantonDiasporawasappointedbytheformerPresidentObasanjo.
The Lower House has also established a House Committee on Diaspora to, among other
things,promoteanexchangeof ideaswith theNigeriandiasporaand isworkingona legal
framework aimed at creating a Nigerian Diaspora Commission. In spite of the migration
policysfocus
on
the
diaspora,
related
activities
remain
disparate,
uncoordinated
and
inefficient,duetoinsufficienthumancapacity.
There isageneraldearthofreliablemigrationdata.Inordertoensureacoherentmigration
policy,currentdatacollectionmethodsmustbereviewed,updatedandexpanded.Migration
managementinvolvesthedevelopmentofacomprehensivepolicyframeworkthattakesinto
account: the direct and indirect impacts of sectoral policies on trade, investment,
employment, health etc.; comprehensive and coherent migration management policy
formulationandimplementation;researchinpartnershipwithpolicymakers;andintraagency
collaboration andsynergybetweensectoralpolicies(IOM,2004).Currently,thereisnoforum
for policy dialogue to engage all stakeholders policymakers, politicians, civil society, the
media and migrant associations who have conflicting interests in matters of migration
management.
African countries are facing daunting challenges on, and lack the capacity to deal with,
changing migratory configurations; the AU strategic framework for a policy on migration
(2004), designed to ensure integration of migration and related issues into national and
regionalagendasforsecurity,developmentandcooperation, remainslargelyunimplemented.
Itscommonapproachonmigrationanddevelopment(2006)encouragedMemberStatesto,
among other things: establish a central body to manage migration; introduce legal
frameworkstotackleirregularmigration;establishappropriatemechanismsfornationalfocal
points to regularly exchange information; and coordinate research to provide reliable
information onmigration.More importantly, African Stateswere encouraged to: adopt apolicy on migration; facilitate and encourage the return of skilled migrants; and foster
intersectoral
or
inter
ministerial
coordination
and
dialogue
on
migration.
However,
the
institutionalcapacityattheAUSecretariatisveryweak,anditisevenweakeratthecountry
level, with only one or two officials responsible for managing the migration unit and its
activities.
The ECOWAS common approach onmigration (2006) advanced the Protocol on the Free
MovementsofPersons,RightsofResidenceandEstablishment.TheSecretariatestablisheda
special Task Force on Migration and, following its transformation into a Commission, a
Department on the FreeMovement of Personswas created. The clusters of the common
approachfocuson:
betterimplementationoftheProtocolontheFreeMovementofPersons,theRightofResidenceandEstablishment;
combatinghumantraffickingandprovidinghumanitarianassistance. harmonizingpoliciesandbilateralagreementswithadditionalcountries; promoting theadoptionofmigrationpoliciesbyECOWASMemberStates, together
withharmonizedmigrationmanagementandsectordevelopmentpolicies;
protectionoftherightsofmigrants,asylumseekersandrefugees; ensuringtheimplementationofprotocolsrelevanttointernationalconventions; recognitionofthegenderdimensionofmigration.
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AsinthecaseoftheAU,themajorchallengeliesinreinforcingthefragilecapacityofrelevant
institutionsandofficialsoftheECOWASCommission.Inresponse,Spainprovidedsubstantial
fundingsupporttostrengthentheCommissionshumancapacity;twopositionsformigration
expertsweresubsequentlyadvertisedandweretobefilledbyearly2009.
Atthenationallevel,Nigeriacraftedadraftnationalmigrationpolicyin2007;beforethat,in
1999,South
Africa
developed
elements
of
amigration
policy
and,
recently,
Rwanda
did
the
same. InSenegal,theMinistryofForeignAffairsandSenegaleseAbroadwasrestructured in
1993toenhancethewelfareofnationalsabroadandtoencourageemigrantstobeactively
involved in the socioeconomicdevelopmentof theirhomecommunities; italsoarticulated
programmesfortherepatriationandrehabilitationofitsoverseasnationals.Inadetermined
effort to resolve the perennial constraints of human and financial resources inhibiting the
implementation of programmes, Senegal asked Spain to establish a school to provide
professionaltrainingforworkersinthehospitalityindustrytofurtherpromotetourisminthe
country.
Malialsocreatedaministeriallevelposttoconductpublicrelationsvisitstohelpdestination
countriesunderstandthecircumstancesthatpromptMalianstoemigrate.Consularpositions
were
expanded
in
the
major
receiving
countries
to
deal
with
the
Malian
migrants
problems,
includingtheirreturn,andmigrantsareencouragedtosendmoneyhomeregularly.In2007,a
jobtrainingandinformationcentrewasestablishedbytheEU,withILOstechnicalsupport,to
matchskillswith labourmarketneeds inEUcountries.Mali,aswellasSenegal, ispromoting
agriculturalskillstomeetdomesticneedsandtoenableworkerstoacquirequalifications that
aremarketableinternationally(Adepojuetal.,2010).
Morethan10Africancountrieshavenowsetupdiasporarelatedinstitutionsandministriesin
ordertocoordinatediasporaleddevelopmentrelatedissuesinEthiopia,Ghana,Mali,Nigeria,
Rwanda,SenegalandSierraLeone(Oucho,2009).Inaddition,theAUCommissionhascreated
the African Citizens Directorate to engage overseas diasporas and homeland government.
These structures arenewandweak, and theiractivities areoftenuncoordinated. IOM and
other
agencies
are
providing
technical
assistance
to
reinforce
the
institutional
capacity
of
theseagenciesandtrainlocalstafftomanagethem.
With respect to climate change dynamics, African countries lack the capacity to develop
efficientearlywarningsystems,tomonitortheeffectsofclimatechangeonmigration,andto
factortheseeffectsintomigrationpolicies.Mostclimatechangerelatedforcedmigrationsare
likely to be internal and regional. Environmental and ecological degradation and natural
disasters require the interventionof specificpolicy sectorsoractors: agenciesdealingwith
environmental issues could focus on combating desertification; humanitarian agencies are
responsible foremergency reliefoperations forvictimsofnaturaldisasters;and theasylum
sector takes care of refugees (Some and Sedgo, 2001). However, the boundaries of these
sectorsandactorsoverlapandcoordination betweenthemisoftendifficulttoensure.
Intermediateactors,
especially
international
non
governmental
organizations
(NGOs)
and
UN
agencies, are helping to: empower people to plan and manage their local adaptive
mechanisms; educate and train people on sustainable and natural resource management
practices, and promote environmental education, including healthrelated issues, at school
andvillage levels.However,fewviable localNGOsaddressdeforestation issuesatthevillage
level, implementefficientciviceducationattheschoolandcommunity levels,developgood
earlywarning systems for conflict prevention, or promote social harmony, democratic
principlesandpopularparticipation.
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CAPACITY-BUILDING
In the next two decades,many African countries will be formulating national or sectoral
migrationpolicies.Suchpolicies, togetherwith theongoing formulationof labourmigration
policies inGhana,NigeriaandSenegal,andofnationalmigrationpolicies inRwanda,Uganda
andZimbabwe,wouldrequirecapacitytodealwith:
legalandnormativeframeworks institutionalarrangements trainingofimmigrationofficials stakeholders(civilsociety)involvementandparticipation strengtheningadministrativestructuresatnationalandsubnationallevels establishingmigrationinformationandmanagementcentres enhancingmigrationdatacollection,retrieval,analysisanddissemination promoting MigrationProfiles to supportpoliciesandprogrammesand topromote
thePriorityActionsdefined intheEUAfricaStrategicPartnershipandActionPlanon
Migration,MobilityandEmployment(Lisbon,2007).
In
many
African
countries,
there
is
little
institutional
capacity
for
managing
migratory
flows
andforeffectivepolicyformulationandimplementation.Thiscapacitymustbestrengthened,
particularlywithregardtotheabilityofofficialsincustoms,immigration,policeandsecurity
todealwith themanagedmovementofpersons aswell as the rights andobligationsof
migrants.Officialscurrentlyfunctioningasbordercontrolandsecurityofficialscouldtherefore
see their role expanded to include that of migration manager. At the national level,
collaboration between andwithin government agencies dealing withmigrationmatters is
rare, although essential, resulting in a lack of synergy and coherence, and duplication of
effortsandactivities.
Ingeneral,demographicandeconomicprocessesdrivemigrationdynamicsyettheyseemto
be ignoredbythepoliticalprocessesthatdrivemigrationpolicies.Moreover,therearewide
gaps
between
what
governments
agree
to
and
what,
in
fact,
they
have
the
capacity
human
and institutional to implement. Inaddition togovernments (themajor stakeholders),civil
societyorganizations,thebusinesscommunityandmigrantcommunitieshaveyettobefully
engaged inmigrationmatterspartlydue toa lackofcapacity todealwith thesecomplex
issues.Thekeyconsideration,therefore,ishowtobringtogetherallstakeholdersoractors
governments, thebusiness community, and civil societyatnational levels to engage ina
commonefforttopromoteandimplementcomprehensivemigrationpolicies.
Newlyformed Diaspora Ministries lack capacity, experience and resources, as well as
institutional competence.Officialsmust, therefore, receive training toensure that theyare
abletodevelopdiasporaorientedstrategypolicypapersandproposalsthatcanbetranslated
intofeasiblestrategicinterventions.
GiventhatbilateralandmultilateralmigrationagreementsbetweenmigrantsendingAfrican
countriesandcountriesof theNorthwill featuremoreprominently in thecomingdecades,
articulating comprehensive and relevant bilateral agreements require capacitybuilding,
especiallyforofficialswithinMinistriesofJustice,ForeignAffairsandLabour,responsiblefor
draftingsuchagreementsand/orendorsingandimplementingthem.EUcountrieshavebeen
theprimearchitects,draftingandinitiatingbilateralagreements,aswellasthemodalitiesfor
theirimplementation(Adepojuetal.,2009).Africangovernmentsdonotseemtobeproviding
sufficientlycritical input inthenegotiations leadingtotheagreements, largelybecausethey
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lack the capacity to effectively negotiate and ensure that their specific interests are fully
recognizedandadequatelyenshrinedinsuchagreements.
By2015,over50percentofAfricaspopulation isprojectedto live inurbanareas. Inmany
countries,majorcapitalcitiesarealreadyhometothemajorityoftheurbanpopulation.Big
citiesare increasinglythebigactors increatingjobs,orwheremigrantshopetosecurejobs;
theyalso
have
ahuge
responsibility
to
manage
the
environment,
without
the
mandate
to
set
nationalmigrationpoliciesoragendas.Theirofficialsshouldshareincapacitybuildingefforts
to mainstream migration into development activities. The dialogue process between city
mayors and thebusiness sector, initiatedby TheHagueProcessonRefugee andMigration
Policy,isamodelthatcanbeadapted.
On 23 October 2009, the AU Convention for the protection and assistance of internally
displaced persons was signed in Kampala, urging African governments to look after their
displacedcitizens.Civilsocietyorganizationshavebeenmountingintenseadvocacycampaigns
toensure thatenoughgovernmentssigned theconvention, translated it intonational laws,
andprovidedsufficientfundsforcapacitybuildingandrehabilitationofIDPs.
Each
country
will
vary
in
terms
of
the
intensity
and
coverage
of
the
training
of
officials;
the
technical assistance needed to carry out surveys; the dissemination of results; and the
formulationofmigrationpolicy.Thedraftingofconcreteactionsplanswillalso,necessarily,be
countryspecific.
Withrespecttoclimatechange,thefollowingcriticalareasneedtobeaddressed:
lowadaptivecapacity; lackofskills,technologyandinformation; weakinstitutionsandinadequatephysicalinfrastructure; pooraccesstoresources; inadequatemanagementcapabilities.
Thereis
also
aneed
for
regional
capacity
building,
training,
research
and
development
relating
toclimatechange,socioeconomicsystemsandmigrationdynamicssothatreliabledataand
analysescanbeusedtodeveloppoliciesatlocal,national,regionalandinternationallevels.
Inviewofthesocioeconomic impactofremittancesbymigrants,andgiventheexistenceof
migrantassociationsatfamily,communityandnationallevels,policiesshouldpromoteamore
creative, effective use of remittances. There is therefore a need to build the capacity for
generatingfinancialliteracyamongrecipienthouseholdssothatmigrantsremittancescanbe
used for productive domestic investment, including investment in small andmediumsized
enterprises.
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CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS
ThefutureofmigrationpoliciesinAfricawillbesignificantlyshapedbythefollowing:
diasporalinkageswithhomecountrydevelopment; remittancesandtheirmoreproductiveuseforinvestment; measurestoencouragemigrantreturnandtheretentionofskills; themediumtolongterm impact of the current global economic crisisonjobs and
opportunitiesforregularmigration.
Othercompelling factorswillhave tobe factored into theequationnotably,ayoungand
rapidly growing population, rapid urbanization fuelled by ruralurban migration, and the
impactofclimatechangeandenvironmentaldegradation.
Resources
Africancountriesmustcapitalizeonongoingeffortstoenhancecooperationandcoordination
amongcountriesandbetween/within subregions in theharmonizationofmigrationpolicies
and
adoption
of
common
regional
approaches
to
migration
issues.
To
ensure
a
comprehensive
approach and tomaximize the gains frommigration, there is a need for harmonized data
collection,analysisandexchangeon labourneeds insendingandreceivingcountries,which
willassistsuchcountriesinmatchinglabourskillswithlabourdemands.
To ensure a coherentmigrationpolicy, currentdatacollectionmethodsmustbe reviewed,
updated and expanded, and the key agencies responsible for migration matters need to
coordinate their activitiesmore effectively.Migrationdatamanagement anddissemination
are crucial to the formulation of relevant and comprehensive migration policies and
programmes.Ofspecialsignificanceistheroleofobservatoriesinprovidinggovernmentsand
otherstakeholderswith reliableandharmonizedmigrationrelated information.Establishing
such observatories was one of the key recommendations of the West African Regional
Ministerial Meeting in Dakar in 2001. While no Observatory has yet been established
specificallyforWestAfrica,IOMsupportedthelaunchoftheACPObservatoryonMigrationin
October 2010 which aims at the creation of a network of research centers and private
researcherstoprovidepolicymakers,thecivilsocietyandthepublicatlargewithreliableand
harmonized data in the African, Caribbean and Pacific countries. An Observatory on
Remittances to LDC countrieswill also soonbe establishedby the governmentofBenin in
collaboration with IOM.Whenoperational,theseobservatoriescouldultimatelybe linkedto
theEuroMediterraneanConsortiumforAppliedResearchonInternationalMigration(CARIM),
launchedin2004,whichcoversmigrationoriginatingfrom,transitingthrough,ordestinedfor
the countries of the Middle East and North Africa that border the Mediterranean. Both
observatories(theforthcomingIOMObservatoryandCARIM)couldbelinkedtotheEuropean
Migration Network (EMN), to provide a comprehensive picture of the origintransit
destination migration system. IOM has a critical role to play in helping to set up these
observatories.
Countries need to institutionalize the collection of data on internalmigration (particularly
ruralurbanmigration),intraregionalmigrationandinternationalmigration,andtoendeavour
tokeeptrackofthenumberandprofileoftheirnationalsmigratingabroad.Theyalsohaveto
synchronize theirmigration policies (where such exist) or, at least, to formulate coherent
policies.Theproblemsposedbymigration,circulation,permanentresidenceandsettlement
andthepolicyresponsestothemarequitedifferentforeachmigratoryconfigurationwithin
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the various subregions, and even within individual countries, and are seemingly
insurmountable.
Two regional consultative processes were launched in Africa with IOM assistance the
MigrationDialogue forSouthernAfrica (MIDSA,2000),andtheMigrationDialogue forWest
Africa(MIDWA,2001)toprovideaforumfortheexchangeof information,experienceand
perspectives,and
to
facilitate
cooperation
among
governments
on
migration
policy
and
practice (IOM, 2003). This process laid the foundation for dialogue and cooperation on
migration and development between countries, aimed at harmonizing, coordinating and
integrating regional migration policies in Africa. It is desirable that the African Economic
Community(AEC),whenfullyestablished,headinthedirectionofArticle43(OAU,1991)that
addressesfreemovementofpersons,rightsofresidenceandestablishment.Thedilemma,
however,ishowtheAECcansucceedwheresubregionalorganizationshaveflounderedwith
respecttothefreemovementofpersons.
There isnoformalforum intheregionspecificallyforthediscussionofmigrationmattersby
all stakeholders particularly the media and the public, which are filled with anxiety,
misconceptions, myths and prejudices, and often subject to xenophobia. Dialogue and
consultations
among
the
various
stakeholders,
to
discuss
common
approaches
to
their
migrationconcernsandinterests,shareideasandenhanceunderstandingandcooperationin
migrationmanagement,could lead to thedevelopmentofacoherentpolicy framework for
themanagementofmigration.Thedialoguewillnothappenon itsown; itwillneed tobe
facilitatedandnurturedbyrelevantorganizationssuchasIOM.
Legal and institutional frameworks
ManyAfricancountriesremainambivalentabouttheprincipleoffreemovementofpersons
andarereluctanttomodifydomesticlawsandadministrativepractices.Intensiveadvocacyis
therefore needed to harmonize national laws that conflict with regional and subregional
treaties to facilitate intraregional labourmobility, establishment and settlementwithin the
region.Growing
xenophobia,
fanned
by
the
media
and
politicians
hastily,
and
erroneously
blamingirregularmigrantsforparticularproblems(ashashappenedinSouthAfricaandCte
dIvoire), highlight the need forpublic education programmes to halt the hostility towards
migrants.Suchprogrammes should showcase thepositiveaspectsofmigrantsasagentsof
developmentinbothsourceanddestinationcountries.
African leadersareexploringwaysto retain,attractbackandeffectivelyutilize thevaluable
skills of nationals for national development. Leaders must now implement integrated
migration policies in concertwith the corporate business sector to ensure that businesses
operate at optimum capacity, provide an enabling environment for the private sector to
thrive, and promote democratic governance and popular participation so that returning
nationalscanbemoreeffectivelyintegratedintodomesticeconomies.
Although States retain the power to decide who enters the country and under what
conditions, awide range of civil societyorganizations, internationalorganizations, financial
institutionsand theprivate sectormustbemoreengaged inmigrationmatters.Businesses
benefitfrommultinationalskilled labourandarepartofthecauseofbraindrain.Theymust
therefore participate in the development of pragmatic approaches to addressing issues
relating to highly skilled migrants from Africa. The challenges are to achieve effective
collaboration among nonState actors themselves and between nonState actors and
governmentalinstitutions.
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African countries need to ensure that their specific interests and concerns are adequately
reflectedinanybilateralormultilateralmigrationnegotiations.Theneedtoreviewtheunfair
traderegimesthatimpoverishmillionsoftheirnationalswhoareengagedinfarmingathome
shouldassumecentrestageinfuturemigrationdiscussionsandagreements.Effortsshouldbe
made to revisitexistingagreements inorder toreviewandamendunfavourableconditions.
Thekey
role
of
trade
relations
especially
the
short
and
long
term
effects
of
trade
agreements is not yet evident to, or appreciated by,manymigration stakeholders. This
importantroleneedstobeexplicitlyrecognizedthroughcapacitybuildingofofficialsinvolved
intradeagreements.
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17 route des Morillons CH-1211 Geneva 19, Switzerland
Tel: +41 22 717 9111 Fax: +41 22 798 6150
E-mail: [email protected] Internet: hp://www.iom.int
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