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May312023NOCOMMENTS

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SADC Diaspora Skills Unleashed: IOM Facilities Discussions

The International Organisation for Migration (IOM), with support from the European Union-funded project “Southern Africa Migration Management (SAMM)”, is holding a regional workshop on diaspora engagement and mapping toolkit in Windhoek, Namibia from May 30 to June 1, 2023. The workshop will enhance national technical and institutional mechanisms from the 15 SADC member States for effective diaspora engagement and mapping.

IOM’s Diaspora Mapping Toolkit offers practical guidance and tools for stakeholders involved in diaspora mapping and engagement for development. It promotes a bottom-up approach to building an effective and sustainable system, and provides specific methodological approaches and tools for Southern Africa.

“This workshop marks another milestone in our collective efforts to enhance diaspora engagement,” said Mr Ashraf El Nour, IOM Regional Director for Southern Africa, at the opening ceremony. “By sharing best practices, experiences, and expertise, we aim to build the capacity of SADC member states to effectively harness the potential of their diaspora communities”.

Despite the progress that has been made by the SADC Member States in the diaspora engagement, some gaps still exist in mapping their diaspora, leading to limited understanding of the spread, skills and profiles of the diaspora which focused on empowering the diaspora for regional development communities. This effort will use IOM’s diaspora mapping toolkit to help build institutional and technical capacity for effective mapping. The workshop complements the recommendations of the regional diaspora and investment forum held in Mauritius in 17–19 October 2022.

“Migration has been proved to be a fast path to reducing poverty not only for the diaspora but also for families left behind through remittances” said Ambassador Penda Naanda, Executive Director, Ministry of International Relations and Cooperation. “Therefore, the Governments of the SADC Member States need to facilitate the flow of remittances by reducing the cost of remitting money, he concludes”.

IOM, the United Nation Development Funds (UNDP), and the African Union Commission (AUC), have set up a diaspora framework program to use diaspora-related resources for national, regional, and continental development. Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) Member States are increasingly interested in engaging with their diaspora communities to develop the region and make productive use of remittance income.

 

 

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May252023NOCOMMENTS

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3rd Political Steering Committee Meeting

The 3rd Project Steering Committee (PSC) Meeting for the project took place in Lusaka, Zambia on the 25th of May 2023. The PSC convenes annually to discuss the progress made in the implementation of project activities, highlights the challenges encountered by the UN implementing agencies and come up with mitigating strategies to ensure smooth collaboration between the RECs and other stakeholders.

 

COMESA served as the chair and host of the 3rd PSC. As one of the key partners (RECs) in the project, COMESA led the discussions of the PSC which serves as the governing body of the project to, one, provide strategic leadership, two, hold general policy discussions, and overall

 

guidance on how to move forward in ensuring the mandate of the SAMM project is achieved .

 

In the deliberations of the PSC, achievements and progress made in delivering the objectives of the project were highlighted by several part- ners and implementing agencies.

 

“As workers, we bear witness to the work the South African Migration Management Project has advanced.”

—M. KANDUKUTU

Southern African Trade Union Coordination Council (SATUCC)

▲ Political Steering Committee Members

The European union also applauded the UN agencies together with its partner RECs for the stellar work done in 2022, emphasising the need to accelerate efforts in delivering as one to improve migration management in the region.

“Migration partnerships is an important pillar of the EU external action. The SAMM Project contributes to this objective by facilitating legal labour migration and by protecting the rights of migrant workers, refugees and victims of trafficking. As the EU, we are pleased to see it moving forward.”

—CLÉMENT BOUTILLIER,

Head of Cooperation, European Union Delegation to Botswana and SADC

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