The African Union Commission (AUC) and the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) launched the Joint AUC/UNECA Migration Project: International Migration in Africa - Shaping a Positive Narrative and Removing Barriers to Mobility on Monday, 29^th day of May 2023.

The joint project was launched by Her Excellency Amb. Minata Samate Cessouma, the Commissioner for Health, Humanitarian Affairs and Social Development, Dr. Hanan Morsy, the Deputy Executive Secretary for UNECA and His Excellency Amb. Alberto Bertoni, the Permanent Representative of the Italian Delegation to the AUC and UNECA.

In her keynote address, Her Excellency Amb. Samate Cessouma noted ‘’the need to tap on migration potential to drive the continental agenda with respect to its development, transformation and integration.’’ She also highlighted that in developing the project, ‘’the AUC and UNECA had the leeway to propound their priorities in accordance with the African migration agenda’’.

Addressing the meeting, Dr. Hanan Morsy noted ‘’that majority of Africans migrate within the continent, and hence the need to focus migration initiatives like those in the joint migration project.’’

In his speech His Excellency Amb. Bertoni highlighted ‘’the high-impact nature of the joint project, and the fact that the AUC and UNECA will leverage on each institution’s strengths.’’

The joint migration project is a 2-year project that was developed jointly by the AUC and the UNECA, and focuses on building the capacity of AU member states to manage migration and mobility, to address pertinent migration issues on the continent. The project is funded by the Italian Government in the amount of Two Million, and Five Hundred Thousand United States Dollars Only ($2.5 million). The joint project comprises of the following components:

1. Promoting Economic Empowerment of Migrant Women: Identifying and supporting migrant women’s engagement in economic activities;
2. Improving Access to Legal Identity for Migrants in the East and Horn of Africa;
3. Enhancing free movement of persons and pathways for labour mobility and skills portability in Africa Levies, etc; which is to be implemented by ECA;
4. Technical Assistance to member states/Regional Economic Communities (RECs) on Migration Governance (Capacity Building Technical Experts);
5. Combating Irregular Migration in the Horn of Africa (HoA) and in Countries that Lie Along the 3 Irregular Migration Corridors from the Horn of Africa (HoA) programme (Southern, Northern and Eastern Migratory Routes);
6. Strengthening cross-border infectious disease surveillance; to be implemented by the AUC.

The launch event was attended by staff from the African Union Commission, the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa and the Italian Embassy in Addis Ababa. The launch set the tone for the implementation of the joint vision for Migration for Development in Africa. The joint implementation team is scheduled to have their first Inception Meeting on Wednesday the 7 June 2023.

For further information, please contact:

1. Sabelo Mbokazi I Head of Labour, Employment and Migration Division | Health, Humanitarian Affairs and Social Development | African Union Commission Tel: +251 115 517 700 | E-mail: MbokaziS@africa-union.org
2. Peter Mudugwe | Senior Technical Adviser - Migration Governance & Liaison I Health, Humanitarian Affairs and Social Development | African Union Commission Tel: +251 966 924 078 | E-mail: MudugweP@africa-union.org
3. Mr. Gamal Eldin Ahmed A. Karrar | Senior Communication Officer | Information and Communications Directorate, African Union Commission | E-mail: GamalK@africa-union.org
4. King David Cartey I Strategic Communication Expert | Health, Humanitarian Affairs and Social Development | African Union Commission Tel: +251 901090899 | E-mail: CarteyD@africa-union.org

Information and Communication Directorate | African Union Commission I E-mail: DIC@africa-union.org I Website: www.au.int I Addis Ababa | Ethiopia I Follow Us: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram| YouTube |