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SADC MINISTERS ENDORSE RECOMMENDATIONS ON MIGRATION GOVERNANCE FOR THE SOUTHERN AFRICAN REGION

SADC MINISTERS ENDORSE RECOMMENDATIONS ON MIGRATION  GOVERNANCE FOR THE SOUTHERN AFRICAN REGION

Windhoek, Namibia – “In today’s world, migration trends are rapidly evolving, thereby necessitating a shift in approach by governments policy makers and development actors” These were the words of H.E. Dr. Hage Geingob, President of the Republic of Namibia, when he officiated the opening of the Migration Dialogue for Southern Africa (MIDSA) Ministerial meeting on 28 June 2019 in Windhoek, Namibia under the theme “Regional Migration Governance and Sustainable Development: Priorities for the Southern Africa Region”.

The Ministerial MIDSA was preceded by a Senior officials meeting from 25-27 June 2019, attended by Senior Officials from Member States of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) responsible for migration, labour, and international relations, UN Agencies, Civil Society Organizations, private sector, Worker Organizations, Academia and other relevant partners. During these preliminary discussions, the participants identified key migration governance priorities in the SADC region based on the 2030 Development Agenda, the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration (GCM) as well as other existing regional frameworks.

The Prime Minister of the Republic of Namibia, Rt. Hon. Dr. Saara Kuugongelwe-Amadhila, recognized that this year’s discussions “suggest a shift from the notion where migration practitioners acted in a restrictive manner, to a more flexible approach where migration features in the development agenda of Member States.”

The meetings key recommendations reviewed matters of linkages between migration and development, streamlining the implementation of the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration (GCM) in the SADC region, and encouraging SADC Governments to  buy-in into the existing Migration Governance Indicators (MGI) tools.

The deliberations also focused on areas of priorities for the Southern African region, notably ‘Health’ in migration governance, strengthening migration  collection, analysis and dissemination,  exploring sustainable solutions as part of Return Migration Policies, and ways forward toward integrating  outcomes of MIDSA meetings into SADC structures.

The Director for International Cooperation and Partnerships of the International Organziation for Migration (IOM), Ms. Jill Helke, commended SADC Member States for their continuous commitment and engagement on migration through MIDSA.  She emphasized, “Regional Consultative Processes (RCPs) such as MIDSA have been playing an instrumental role in shaping the global discourse on migration governance and promoting innovative approaches.”

In his vote of thanks remarks on behalf of SADC Member States, the Minister of Home Affairs of the Republic of Tanzania, Mej. Gen. Jacob Gideon Kingu, said “I am confident that the commitment showcased by the Ministers will be a catalyst for the SADC to give migration its deserved weight.”

For 19 years, MIDSA has given SADC Member States an annual platform to develop different frameworks to improve inter-state dialogue and regional cooperation on migration management. Nine years ago, the first Ministerial MIDSA took place in Windhoek, Namibia, and provided SADC Ministers with an opportunity to discuss migration issues of common interests at the ministerial level.

Additionally, the Deputy Minister for Home Affairs and Immigration Hon. Maureen Hinda-Mbuende, and the IOM Regional Director for Southern Africa, Mr Charles Kwenin, Launched the IOM “Regional Strategy for Southern Africa 2019 – 2023” publication, which will serve as a blueprint for IOM’s programming in the region for the next five years. The Deputy Minister and the UN Resident Coordinator in Namibia; Ms. Rachel Odede also launched the Migration and the 2030 Agenda – A guide for Practitioners. The Regional Strategy publication is available for download here.

The United Republic of Tanzania, as incoming Chair of SADC, will be hosting the next MIDSA Senior Officials Meeting in 2020.

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For more information, please contact Abibo Ngandu, IOM Regional Media and Communication Officer for Southern Africa – angandu@iom.int

You can also watch the MIDSA wrap-up video here, and interview of Regional Director Mr Charles Kwenin here.