Lusaka - Given the migration challenges and opportunities resulting from different migration dynamics, the Government of Zambia has highlighted the pressing need for comprehensive data on migration that can be used for planning and policy making. However, at present, migration data in Zambia is analysed and addressed in a fragmented manner and administrative records are not collected for the purposes of measuring migration in its entirety. 

Generally, administrative records from the Department of Immigration are a major source of migration flow data which is relevant for monitoring migration trends and patterns. The IOM and the Government of the Republic of Zambia have identified the need to strengthen data collection, capturing and processing, analysis and dissemination for the Department of Immigration by taking advantage of Information Communication Technology (ICT). 

The IOM, with funding from the IOM Development Fund is providing support to the Government of the Republic of Zambia in the development of a national Migration Profile, with the Department of Immigration being one of the anchor institutions for this process. The donation of eight sets of computers, printers, software licences and anti-virus software, which took place on Monday, 8th April 2019 will enhance the department’s capacity to collect and transmit quality data in real time to the national level, making such data readily available to update the migration profile regularly. 
In her speech, Marianne Lane, IOM Zambia Chief of Mission stated that 

Honourable Stephen Kampyongo MP, Minister of Home Affairs delivers his remarks during the senior and regional immigration officers annual conference.

"SDG indicator 17.18 specifically calls for improved migration data as a vehicle for decision making. Administrative records from the Department of Immigration are a major source of flow data on migration in Zambia.  A good and up to date understanding of these flows and trends is essential for determining policy and programming direction."

Receiving the donation, Director General of the Department of Immigration Mr. Denny Lungu noted that there is a growing interconnection between globalization on one hand and migration on the other.

"The speed, scale, complexity, and volume of world migration within the global era remains unprecedented."

For more information please contact Emmanuel Sinkala at IOM Zambia, Tel: +260 211 254055, Email; esinkala@iom.int