Theme: ‘’Strengthening Labor Migration Governance in Africa in the context of a pandemic for accelerated socioeconomic development and continental Integration”

From 11th to 12th September

The African Union Commission is organising the 6th Pan-African Forum on Migration (PAFOM6). The meeting will be preceded by senior officials from 25 AU member states and relevant partners and other stakeholders. It is anticipated that there will be a number of side events in the meeting that will be related to the theme of the event.

Register in advance for this webinar:

https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_RWTp6ZxcRyO-rhtrtjTnSg

About PAFOM:

The Pan-African Forum on migration (PAFOM) [formerly Intra-Regional Forum on Migration in Africa] is a continental consultative process on migration and human mobility issues in Africa. It brings together all African Union (AU) Member States (MSs), AU Regional Economic Communities (RECs), RCPs in Africa, UN agencies and intergovernmental organizations to deliberate on topical issues affecting migration governance in Africa and to shape and inform policy development and share experiences. PAFOM may bring on board other key stakeholders such as African diaspora networks across the globe, African civil society organizations, academia, trade unions, employers federations, media, local authorities and other relevant partners from the continent and beyond. 

PAFOM is a forum for African Union Member States and RECs and other important actors to network and share information, experiences and good practices on migration and mobility governance issues in the continent. PAFOM contributes to the facilitation of intra-regional migration and human mobility, free movement of persons and integrated border management through sharing of knowledge, information, good practices, experiences and lessons learned. It provides an opportunity for the regional consultative processes on migration (RCPs) in Africa through their respective RECs to share their progress reports in the implementation of the Migration Policy Framework for Africa (MPFA) and other relevant migration agenda of the continent, including the Plan of Action for the Implementation of the Global Compact on Migration in Africa.

PAFOM assesses the status of implementation of policy and legal frameworks on migration including the AU Protocol on free movement of Persons , and evaluates the visa issuance regimes of African countries in order to facilitate the implementation of continent-wide visa free regimes. PAFOM deliberates on the African regional processes towards the implementation of the AU decisions, including the Common African Position on migration and development.

The 5th Pan Africa Forum on Migration was held in 2019 in Cairo Egypt, where issues of Migration Statistics were deliberated. It is in this context that the 6th Pan African Forum on Migration is being held to provide an opportunity for AU Member States, RECs and other relevant stakeholders to deliberate on 6 ways of improving labor migration governance in the continent, particularly during and after the COVID-19 pandemic. This forum, to be hosted by the Republic of Senegal will explore various measures that Member States and other stakeholders within the labor migration governance domain need to develop to achieve the above objective. This will include how to strengthen collaboration and cooperation among Member States and other stakeholders on labor migration governance in the continent, ways of improving labor migration statistics, among other interesting topical areas.

Opportunities for PAFOM6: .

The Pan African Forum on Migration (PAFOM) is an African Union continental interstates dialogue Framework on Migration that brings together African Union Member States and relevant stakeholders within the migration governance areas to discuss and deliberate on various topical issue of migration governance in Africa. It is aimed at providing opportunity for AU Member States and RECs, together with other relevant stakeholders to share information, best practices and also learn from each other on ways of improving migration governance in the continent. As an annual forum hosted by AU Member States as Chair of the Forum, PAFOM provides a rare opportunity to contribute to discuss various migration issues that is of interest to the African continent and also contributes to the implementation of the continental Migration Policy Framework for Africa and the Global Compact on Migration, among other relevant policy frameworks. The outcome Report of the meeting feeds to the AU Decision making process to enhance political ownership and follow up of the Forum’s deliberations. The 5th Pan Africa Forum on Migration was held in 2019 in Cairo Egypt, where issues of Migration Statistics were deliberated. It is in this context that the 6th Pan African Forum on Migration is being held to provide an opportunity for AU Member States, RECs and other relevant stakeholders to deliberate on ways of improving labor migration governance in the continent, particularly during and after the COVID-19 pandemic. This forum, to be hosted by the Republic of Senegal will explore various measures that Member States and other stakeholders within the labor migration governance domain need to develop to achieve the above objective. This will include how to strengthen collaboration and cooperation among Member States and other stakeholders on labor migration governance in the continent, ways of improving labor migration statistics, among other interesting topical areas. It is anticipated that this forum will stimulate a vibrant dialogue and discussion among participants that will provide necessary policy and operational guidance on how to improve labor migration governance at national, regional and continental levels for socioeconomic development and faster integration of the continent as per the aspirations of the AU Agenda 2063.

Objectives and Expected Outcomes of the forum:

Main objectives are to:

a. Sensitize participants on the AUC labor migration initiatives and programs in the continent including the Joint Labor Migration Program (JLMP), and experiences in selected RECs.

b. Serves as a platform for participants to share experiences and best practices on labor migration governance in Africa and other regions, especially on protection of migrant workers during the context of health pandemics such as COVID-19 pandemic and formulate relevant recommendations.

c. Deliberate on various labor migration governance issues, including ways of strengthening labor migration data and statistics; protection of labor migrants in Africa; enhancing labor migration collaboration and partnership; among other issues; with the view of providing recommendations of improving labor migration governance policy in the continent.

d. Reflect, deliberate and explore how labor migration governance can contribute to AU Agenda 2063, including the continental Free Trade Agreement (AFCTA).

Expected Outcomes are as follows:

a. Increased awareness and visibility of AUC Labor migration initiatives and programs, including the JLMP; as well as promotion of political support and encouragement of potential partnership with Member States and other relevant stakeholders.

b. A common approach and or understanding among Member States, RECs and other stakeholders on how to strengthen labor migration governance in the continent during and after the Covid-19 pandemic, including a sustainable protection of migrant workers and members of their families.

c. An outcome report and implementation Framework highlighting key practical prescriptions at both policy, legal and operational solutions on ways of improving labor migration governance in the continent.

d. Identify specific areas for implementation on how labor migration governance can contribute and support the Continental Free Trade Agenda.

Resource and Reference Materials.

The following will be key documents for the meeting:

a) Migration Policy Framework for Africa

b) Strategic Framework of the AUC-ILO-IOM-ECA joint Programme on Labor Migration Governance for Development and Integration and MEL Framework (2020-2030)

c) The Ouaga+10 on Employment, Poverty Eradication and Inclusive development

d) The Global Compact on Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration

e) 2 nd Report of the Labor Migration Statistics for Africa

f) Africa Migration Report (1st edition)

For further information:

1. Gamal Ahmed A. Karrar | Senior Communication Officer | Information and Communications Directorate, African Union Commission | E-mail: OchiengJ@africa-union.org

2. Sarah Abdel-Mohsen Elsayed | Communication Officer | Department of Health, Humanitarian affairs and Social Development | African Union Commission | Email: Elsayeds@africa-union.org

3. Babacar Ba | Technical Adviser | Government of Senegal | Ministry of Foreign Affairs | Email: babacarsane.ba@diplomatie.gouv.sn