Africa Holds Second Review Conference of the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration in Ethiopia

Addis Ababa, 4 October 2024 – The second Regional Review of the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration (GCM) will take place in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, from 8-10 October 2024. The event will gather government representatives and stakeholders from across Africa to assess the progress made in implementing the Compact since its adoption in 2018. They will formulate recommendations for the next global review of the GCM at the International Migration Review Forum, scheduled for 2026. 

On 9-10 October, an intergovernmental conference, organized by the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) and the International Organization for Migration (IOM) — which serves as the Coordinator of the United Nations Network on Migration, a structure comprising 39 UN entities, will take place in collaboration with the African Union Commission. 

This conference will be preceded by a Multi-stakeholder Hearing on 8 October. Both events will bring together African Member States, intergovernmental organizations, United Nations agencies, civil society, the private sector and other key stakeholders to discuss migration governance through four thematic round tables covering all GCM objectives: 

• Round table 1: Ensuring that migration is voluntary, orderly and regular 

• Round table 2: Protecting migrants through rights-based border governance  

• Round table 3: Supporting the integration of migrants and their contribution to development 

• Round table 4: Data, evidence-based policies and international cooperation 

The Review provides a crucial platform for Member States and partners to assess achievements since the first Africa Review in 2021, while also identifying regional priorities, gaps and challenges. 

As migration remains a key issue across the region, the Review aims to strengthen cooperation and align Africa's priorities with global frameworks, including the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and Agenda 2063, Africa’s blueprint for achieving inclusive and sustainable socio-economic development. 

More information is available here: Africa | United Nations Network on Migration 

Watch the event live here: 

Note to Journalists based in Addis Ababa: 

IOM and UNECA invite members of the media to attend and cover this important conference. Please confirm your participation by registering online, here: https://indico.un.org/event/1013158/registrations/17732/ 

Notes to Editors: 

Five Regional Reviews are held every four years. As part of the 2024 series, a Regional Review was carried out in Europe in March 2024. Asia and the Pacific and Latin and Central America Regions will hold their Reviews in February and March 2025 respectively. The Regional Reviews are called for by the GCM, which recognizes that most international migration occurs within regions. They present an opportunity for a State-led discussion on its implementation, to foster greater regional collaboration and pave the way for the global review every four years at the International Migration Review Forum. 

For more information, please contact:  

• IOM: ethiopiapsucommunications@iom.int  

• UNECA: Denekews.uneca@un.org 

• UN Network on Migration: fkim@iom.int