The two organizations signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on the topic of migration during the Africa Resilience Forum, which was held in Abidjan, Ivory Coast, at the beginning of October,
The MoU is intended to strengthen strategic cooperation on migration governance, diaspora engagement, and development responses to internal displacement across Africa.
The agreement builds on a long history of evolving cooperation between the two institutions and places human mobility at the centre of Africa's development agenda.
The strategic framework recognizes that well-managed migration and the inclusion of forcibly displaced persons, returnees, and their host communities, along with diaspora engagement beyond remittances, are not only a humanitarian priority but also a catalyst for long-term development.
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Migration 'at heart' of African development plan
"This partnership reflects our shared commitment to place migration at the heart of Africa's development," said Mohamed Abdiker, IOM Chief of Staff.
"By aligning our efforts with Agenda 2063 and African Development Bank's Ten-Year Strategy, we are investing in policies and programmes that uphold rights, expand opportunities, and strengthen resilience for migrants and communities alike," he said, stressing that migration, if governed responsibly, can be "a powerful driver of inclusion, stability, and prosperity."
Nnenna Nwabufo, Vice President of Regional Development, Integration and Business Delivery at the African Development Bank added that the "partnership between the Bank and IOM will be a critical enabler to harness migration as a driver of inclusive and sustainable development."
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Three core strategic areas
The three core strategic partnership areas of the MoU between the African Development Bank and IOM are the following:
- Migration governance, which focuses on managing migration for inclusive development, prosperity, and peace.
- African diaspora engagement for development, leveraging human, economic, and social capital for resilient and peaceful societies
- Development responses to internal displacement across the continent
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The partnership is set to serve as a blueprint for evidence-based, people-centred migration policies that strengthen resilience and accelerate sustainable development across Africa.
Since 2018, more than $105 million has been invested in joint initiatives under the existing partnership. The new MoU will further reinforce this collaboration and will seek to maximize the positive impact of migration -- particularly for women, youth, and marginalized groups.