Signature of the Cooperation Agreement between ERF and the International Organization for Migration (IOM)

FromJun 13, 2022 To Jun 13, 2022

Online Webinar

The unfolding socio-economic challenges facing migration and mobility following the Covid-19 pandemic are unprecedented.

To contribute towards the much-needed knowledge, research and evidence-based policy insights, ERF and International Organization for Migration (IOM) is building a strategic partnership between the two organizations to work on: rural/urban migration, assessing the socio-economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic in the MENA region, the impacts of climate change on migration and mobility, and many other migration related topics.

On the occasion of the signing ceremony, ERF and IOM would like to invite you to a webinar to share insights of three papers addressing:

Mobility and Crisis in the MENA region: Impact of COVID-19 on Small- and Medium-Sized Enterprises in Iraq and in post-conflict and crisis settings, Raffaele Bertini
The consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic for migrants and displaced populations in the MENA region: An assessment of the socioeconomic impact of COVID-19 on migrants in Eastern Sudan, Elizabeth Griesmer
Insight on Migration Issues from the Middle East and North Africa Region, Jackline Wahba

The webinar will conclude with the signing of the Partnership Agreement.

Moreover, IOM RO MENA established two additional initiatives. The Mixed Migration Hub (MHub) acts as Secretariat of the North Africa Mixed Migration Task Force (NAMMTF) comprising International Organization for Migration (IOM), Danish Refugee Council (DRC), Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), Mixed Migration Centre (MMC), United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), and Save the Children. It promotes a human rights-based approach to ensuring the protection of people moving in mixed and complex flows to, though, and from North Africa. The task force regularly gathers to exchange information, experiences and lessons learnt and to identify activities in areas identified for common action including thematic, programmatic, and advocacy. Additionally, MHub works with Academia to contribute to enhancing the production and dissemination of knowledge around mixed migration for the goal of boosting the capacity of MENA’ governments to manage migration. In this regard MHub is supporting a network of Scholars on mixed Migration in North Africa.

Knowing the need for closer cooperation between ERF and IOM in matters of common interest, and desirous of further enhancing and strengthening such cooperation and further opportunities in data collection and research, policy and programming. Moreover, the 27th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP 27) to the UNFCCC will take place in November 2022 in Egypt and COP 28 will happen in the United Arab Emirates in November 2023, this represents a great opportunity for the entire Middle East and North Africa region as well as for the International Organization for migration and the Arab Water Council to emphasize the impact of climate and extreme weather events on internal and international mobility.

This agreement is implemented under the umbrella of Sustainable Development Goal 17, which reads “Strengthen the means of implementation and revitalize the Global Partnership for Sustainable Development”, recognizes multi-stakeholder partnerships as important vehicles for mobilizing and sharing knowledge, expertise, technologies, and financial resources to support the achievement of the sustainable development goals in all countries, particularly developing countries. Goal 17 further seeks to encourage and promote effective public, public-private and civil society partnerships, building on the experience and resourcing strategies of partnerships. Moreover, this agreement fits into the various migration-related indicators (including those related to target 10.7 on facilitating orderly, safe, regular, and responsible migration and mobility of people, including through the implementation of planned and well-managed migration policies).

Aware of the need for closer cooperation between ERF and IOM in matters of common interest, and desirous of further enhancing and strengthening such cooperation and further opportunities in data collection and research, policy, and programming, this agreement represents a cornerstone on the achievement of the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda as well as of the Paris Agreement on Climate Change.

Objectives

The main objective of the signature of this agreement and cooperation are:

Research studies on matters of mutual interest, i.e. socio-economic issues relevant to mobile populations;
Organize learning, research dissemination and capacity development events in support to government counterparts, and other relevant partners.
The overarching aim of this cooperation is to strengthen evidence building and dissemination to address the knowledge gap, and the sharing and promotion of good practices and policy recommendation through national and regional dialogue.

Register here!