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Developing partnerships in the IGAD region

GCM Objectives

GCM Guiding Principles*

*All practices are to uphold the ten guiding principles of the GCM. This practice particularly exemplifies these listed principles.

Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Dates

2021 - Present

Type of practice

Partnership/Multistakeholder initiative

Geographic Scope

Regions:

Summary

As recognised in the Global Compact for Migration (GCM), no country can address the challenges and opportunities of human mobility on its own, nor can it be addressed by any single policy sector alone. This is particularly true in view of the diversity and complexity underpinning the movement of people in disaster and climate change contexts. Risks and protection needs faced by these groups can be addressed through a number of measures and tools, including regular pathways for migration, integrated approaches to disaster risk reduction (DRR), climate change adaptation and resilience-building, measures to support decent work and livelihoods, and migration as an adaptation strategy.

To this end, a number of UN agencies and partners established a Joint Programme in February 2021 (funded under the Migration Multi-Partner Trust Fund) to improve regional and national migration governance in the context of the adverse impacts of climate change and environmental degradation. This partnership aims to contribute to implementing relevant international instruments and presents a unique opportunity to bring together the shared expertise and experience of different State and non-State actors in the IGAD region.

Particularly the partners will support the regional and national actors to:

1) Generate data to better map, understand, predict and address migration movements and the risk of displacement;

2) Include disasters, the adverse effects of climate change and environmental degradation in national and regional migration and mobility policies, as part of climate change and disaster preparedness strategies;

3) Strengthen preparedness and response capacity and coordination, through regional, sub-regional and bilateral cooperation; and

4) Support implementation of regional and national human mobility frameworks to enhance availability and flexibility of pathways for regular migration, and for those displaced in the context of disasters, the adverse effects of climate change and environmental degradation – particularly for female migrants.

Collaborators

Main Implementer

International Organization for Migration (IOM)
International Labour Organization (ILO)
United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS)
Platform on Disaster Displacement
Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)
The Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) Secretariat
IGAD Climate Prediction and Applications Centre (ICPAC)

Other Organizations

International Organization for Migration (IOM), International Labor Organization (ILO), United Nations Office for project services (UNOPS) (Platform on Disaster Displacement - PDD) and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)

Partners

CIMA Research Foundation
IGAD Member states

Benefit and Impact

o The Programme implements interventions within existing IGAD structures at the regional, national and local levels. Partners work closely with national and local governments, and engage civil society, private sector and local communities affected or at risk of being affected by disasters, environmental degradation and climate change. The aim is to pursue whole-of-government, whole-of-society, people-centred approaches. The Programme also complements other initiatives related to human mobility in disaster and climate change contexts in the region.

o Partners have worked together to develop disaster displacement risk profiles on agreed risk metrics, which cover floods and cyclones in Somalia, South Sudan and Sudan. The results are integrated on an ongoing basis into existing ICPAC products, including ICPAC's East Africa Hazards Watch and the ICPAC Geoportal, which supports the validation of the reliability and effectiveness of the risk profiles. Results are already discussed with wide range of stakeholders in the Greater Horn of Africa Climate Outlook Forums (GHACOF).

o To enhance capacities of IGAD and ICPAC and the sustainability of the programme results, ICPAC recruited a Mobility Analyst on disaster displacement. The Mobility Analyst further finalized an Action plan which defines how ICPAC will incorporate human mobility within their programs and expand its coordination to the existing IGAD platforms, to enhance sharing the results of the joint intervention with different stakeholders, including IGAD Member States.

o To enhance the evidence base of facilitating pathways for regular migration and minimizing displacement risk in the context of climate change, environmental degradation and disasters, the programme partners have already commenced several studies: i) on the needs and opportunities for a stronger integration of human mobility in regional and national green economy and related policies and plans, ii) on what protection frameworks and coordination mechanisms for implementation exist to respond to human mobility related to climate change and disasters in the IGAD region and iii) on a stronger integration of human mobility in local and national climate change and disaster risk reduction policies and plans, in Kenya and Somalia.

o The programme is currently in the process of engaging local NGOs to support the implementation of the recommendations from aforementioned studies with local communities. In Kenya for example, mobility considerations will be incorporated in the local Climate Change Action plan in consultation with local communities. The community projects also support the engagement of local communities in green economy developments and sustainable livelihoods, enhancing their adaptive capacities to climate change.

Key Lessons

By bringing together the shared expertise and capacity of different partners under one governance structure, the Joint Programme can alleviate common coordination challenges and improve the quality of interventions. Although the engagement of different partners is highly beneficial, it has been acknowledged that planning and preparatory efforts take additional time. However, this can be mitigated with careful planning and by developing efficient processes throughout the implementation. The team has set up a monitoring, evaluation and learning system, and closely follows up on the process to ensure that activities are relevant, timely and lead to the intended results and success.

Recommendations(if the practice is to be replicated)

Many of the Programme components could be easily replicated or scaled up in other locations facing similar challenges, bearing in mind that all interventions must be tailored to the local context and realities.

Innovation

The Programme has four interrelated areas of focus which are linked to four specific regional needs. One aspect of the Programme’s work supports the inclusion of human mobility considerations across different policy areas, building on the findings and recommendations of a mapping exercise on how human mobility is currently addressed in regional and national policies on DRR, climate change and development. Furthermore, the local solutions provided by the Programme promote labour mobility and the development of local labour markets in climate change and disaster-prone areas. They also increase knowledge on cross-border movements, international protection and migrants’ rights and help enable sustainable development, a green economy and regular migration pathways.

To support policy-making processes, evidence is key. The Joint Programme is developing innovative solutions to addressing data gaps, and risk modelling is one of them.

Many of the Programme components could be easily replicated or scaled up in other locations facing similar challenges, bearing in mind that all interventions must be tailored to the local context and realities.

Date submitted:

25 May 2022

Disclaimer: The content of this practice reflects the views of the implementers and does not necessarily reflect the views of the United Nations, the United Nations Network on Migration, and its members.

 

 

Developing partnerships in the IGAD region

GCM Objectives

Dates:

2021 - Present

Type of practice:

Partnership/Multistakeholder initiative

Geographic Scope

Regions:

Summary

As recognised in the Global Compact for Migration (GCM), no country can address the challenges and opportunities of human mobility on its own, nor can it be addressed by any single policy sector alone. This is particularly true in view of the diversity and complexity underpinning the movement of people in disaster and climate change contexts. Risks and protection needs faced by these groups can be addressed through a number of measures and tools, including regular pathways for migration, integrated approaches to disaster risk reduction (DRR), climate change adaptation and resilience-building, measures to support decent work and livelihoods, and migration as an adaptation strategy.

To this end, a number of UN agencies and partners established a Joint Programme in February 2021 (funded under the Migration Multi-Partner Trust Fund) to improve regional and national migration governance in the context of the adverse impacts of climate change and environmental degradation. This partnership aims to contribute to implementing relevant international instruments and presents a unique opportunity to bring together the shared expertise and experience of different State and non-State actors in the IGAD region.

Particularly the partners will support the regional and national actors to:

1) Generate data to better map, understand, predict and address migration movements and the risk of displacement;

2) Include disasters, the adverse effects of climate change and environmental degradation in national and regional migration and mobility policies, as part of climate change and disaster preparedness strategies;

3) Strengthen preparedness and response capacity and coordination, through regional, sub-regional and bilateral cooperation; and

4) Support implementation of regional and national human mobility frameworks to enhance availability and flexibility of pathways for regular migration, and for those displaced in the context of disasters, the adverse effects of climate change and environmental degradation – particularly for female migrants.

Collaborators

Main Implementer:

International Organization for Migration (IOM)
International Labour Organization (ILO)
United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS)
Platform on Disaster Displacement
Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)
The Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) Secretariat
IGAD Climate Prediction and Applications Centre (ICPAC)

Other Organizations:

International Organization for Migration (IOM), International Labor Organization (ILO), United Nations Office for project services (UNOPS) (Platform on Disaster Displacement - PDD) and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)

Partners:

CIMA Research Foundation
IGAD Member states

Benefit and Impact

o The Programme implements interventions within existing IGAD structures at the regional, national and local levels. Partners work closely with national and local governments, and engage civil society, private sector and local communities affected or at risk of being affected by disasters, environmental degradation and climate change. The aim is to pursue whole-of-government, whole-of-society, people-centred approaches. The Programme also complements other initiatives related to human mobility in disaster and climate change contexts in the region.

o Partners have worked together to develop disaster displacement risk profiles on agreed risk metrics, which cover floods and cyclones in Somalia, South Sudan and Sudan. The results are integrated on an ongoing basis into existing ICPAC products, including ICPAC's East Africa Hazards Watch and the ICPAC Geoportal, which supports the validation of the reliability and effectiveness of the risk profiles. Results are already discussed with wide range of stakeholders in the Greater Horn of Africa Climate Outlook Forums (GHACOF).

o To enhance capacities of IGAD and ICPAC and the sustainability of the programme results, ICPAC recruited a Mobility Analyst on disaster displacement. The Mobility Analyst further finalized an Action plan which defines how ICPAC will incorporate human mobility within their programs and expand its coordination to the existing IGAD platforms, to enhance sharing the results of the joint intervention with different stakeholders, including IGAD Member States.

o To enhance the evidence base of facilitating pathways for regular migration and minimizing displacement risk in the context of climate change, environmental degradation and disasters, the programme partners have already commenced several studies: i) on the needs and opportunities for a stronger integration of human mobility in regional and national green economy and related policies and plans, ii) on what protection frameworks and coordination mechanisms for implementation exist to respond to human mobility related to climate change and disasters in the IGAD region and iii) on a stronger integration of human mobility in local and national climate change and disaster risk reduction policies and plans, in Kenya and Somalia.

o The programme is currently in the process of engaging local NGOs to support the implementation of the recommendations from aforementioned studies with local communities. In Kenya for example, mobility considerations will be incorporated in the local Climate Change Action plan in consultation with local communities. The community projects also support the engagement of local communities in green economy developments and sustainable livelihoods, enhancing their adaptive capacities to climate change.

Key Lessons

By bringing together the shared expertise and capacity of different partners under one governance structure, the Joint Programme can alleviate common coordination challenges and improve the quality of interventions. Although the engagement of different partners is highly beneficial, it has been acknowledged that planning and preparatory efforts take additional time. However, this can be mitigated with careful planning and by developing efficient processes throughout the implementation. The team has set up a monitoring, evaluation and learning system, and closely follows up on the process to ensure that activities are relevant, timely and lead to the intended results and success.

Recommendations(if the practice is to be replicated)

Many of the Programme components could be easily replicated or scaled up in other locations facing similar challenges, bearing in mind that all interventions must be tailored to the local context and realities.

GCM Guiding Principles*

*All practices are to uphold the ten guiding principles of the GCM. This practice particularly exemplifies these listed principles.

Innovation

The Programme has four interrelated areas of focus which are linked to four specific regional needs. One aspect of the Programme’s work supports the inclusion of human mobility considerations across different policy areas, building on the findings and recommendations of a mapping exercise on how human mobility is currently addressed in regional and national policies on DRR, climate change and development. Furthermore, the local solutions provided by the Programme promote labour mobility and the development of local labour markets in climate change and disaster-prone areas. They also increase knowledge on cross-border movements, international protection and migrants’ rights and help enable sustainable development, a green economy and regular migration pathways.

To support policy-making processes, evidence is key. The Joint Programme is developing innovative solutions to addressing data gaps, and risk modelling is one of them.

Many of the Programme components could be easily replicated or scaled up in other locations facing similar challenges, bearing in mind that all interventions must be tailored to the local context and realities.

Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Date submitted:

25 May 2022

Disclaimer: The content of this practice reflects the views of the implementers and does not necessarily reflect the views of the United Nations, the United Nations Network on Migration, and its members.

 

 

*References to Kosovo shall be understood to be in the context of United Nations Security Council resolution 1244 (1999).