Transforming Migration Governance in Africa
The “Migration- Myths and Realities” manual is a strategic training resource developed by the African Union Commission to strengthen the role of media practitioners and communication specialists in promoting accurate, evidence-based, and human rights–centred narratives on migration across the continent. It aims to address misinformation, challenge prevailing myths, and foster informed advocacy by media and civil society organizations (CSOs/NGOs). The manual was produced within the framework of the African Union–European Union Continent-to-Continent Migration and Mobility Dialogue (C2CMMD), implemented by the International Centre for Migration Policy Development (ICMPD) and supported by the International Organization for Migration (IOM).
Grounded in the African Union’s Migration Policy Framework for Africa (MPFA) and Agenda 2063, the manual provides practical tools and ethical guidelines to help communicators engage migration issues from a perspective of African realities. It covers six core modules that explore migration facts and figures, international migration law, the African migration governance ecosystem, the developmental role of migration, and responsible reporting practices across traditional and digital media-including social media and artificial intelligence applications. The manual emphasizes the critical role of media and CSOs in shaping public perceptions, countering xenophobia, and promoting narratives that recognize the positive contribution of migration to Africa’s development. By equipping communicators with skills to apply non-discriminatory language, verify facts, and use credible data, the manual seeks to empower them as key advocates for inclusive and informed migration governance. Ultimately, it supports the vision of “One Africa, One Voice, One Message” in making migration work for Africa’s integration and sustainable development.
Summary
The “Making Migration Work for Africa” manual is a comprehensive training guide developed by the African Union Commission to build the capacity of policymakers and regional stakeholders to effectively manage migration governance in Africa. Produced under the AU–EU Continent-to-Continent Migration and Mobility Dialogue (C2CMMD) and implemented by ICMPD with technical support from IOM, the manual responds to the capacity gaps identified among AU Member States and Regional Economic Communities (RECs) in addressing migration challenges and opportunities.
The manual provides policymakers with a structured framework to strengthen migration governance systems through seven detailed modules covering international migration law, migration’s role in continental integration, the migration-development nexus, institutional coordination mechanisms, the Common African Position on Migration and Development (CAPMD), Africa’s policy and legal responses to migration, and the link between migration and international relations. It emphasizes evidence-based policymaking, the mainstreaming of migration in national development plans, and the establishment of institutional coordination mechanisms at national and regional levels.
Aligned with Agenda 2063 and the Migration Policy Framework for Africa (MPFA 2018-2030), the manual advocates for migration policies that uphold human rights, promote safe, orderly, and regular migration, and harness migration’s benefits for economic and social development. It further encourages Member States to enhance coherence between migration and other policy areas, such as trade, labour, and regional integration. By equipping policymakers with practical knowledge and tools, Making Migration Work for Africa aims to transform migration governance from a reactive to a proactive and strategic process -one that safeguards human dignity, promotes continental solidarity, and contributes to Africa’s long-term prosperity and unity
