The Director, ILO

Director of the Special Liaison Office, IOM

Representatives of RECs, Member States,

Representatives of development partners, UN organizations,

Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen,

It gives me pleasure to welcome you to the Learning event of the Joint Labour Migration Programme (JLMP). As we all know, JLMP is an ambitious and long term undertaking, signed by the African Union Heads of States in 2015, responding to some challenges Africa confronts, which includes a growing and youthful population, in addition to jobless growth and dearth of decent work opportunities. JLMP is a key instrument for the implementation of the AU Agenda 2063, the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as well as the Migration Policy Framework for Africa, including its Action Plan (2018-2030) and the UN Agenda 2030. Through a joint cooperation and partnership among AUC, IOM and ILO, we have recorded many achievements since the inception of the project.

We would like to express our sincere thanks to the Swedish International Development Agency (Sida) for its commitment and funding for the Priority JLMP project. Through this project, the implementing agencies have demonstrated the viability of the project and the capacity to achieve more. We have implemented series of projects ranging from capacity building, development of guidance and policy documents on labour migration, preparation of research initiatives among others. We have adapted our implementation approach including during the COVID-19 pandemic we thank Sida for its flexibility. We also use this opportunity to express our thanks to the governments of Switzerland and Germany for additional funding which is enabling us to expand and sustain this agenda.

Labour migration is a current and historical reality in Africa and we need to establish regular, transparent, comprehensive and gender-responsive labour migration policies, legislation and structures in order to reap the significant gains as sending and receiving countries. Ladies and gentlemen, given the wide scope of the project, the JLMP Priority addressed the governance and operational aspects of labour migration governance. We have also we have put in measures to promote their decent work and social protection, while addressing issues of fair and ethical recruitment on the understanding that migrant workers are the final beneficiaries of the project.

At the regional level, JLMP Priority has strengthened partnerships among stakeholders in the world of work, within and outside the continent. We have advocated for the rights of migrant workers, promoted cooperation among the RECs and supported the East African Community in developing its Labour Migration Policy. We are also supporting the finalization of its social security and skills portability instruments.

At the continental level, JLMP has supported the finalization of relevant Guidelines for example the Guidelines on the development of Bilateral Labour Agreements, AU Declaration on the Protection and Promotion of the rights of migrant workers and the Guidelines on developing migrant welfare programmes. We have finalized the JLMP Strategic and M&E Frameworks which serve as a tool for coherence and resource mobilization. The project was able to record these achievements through multi-stakeholder consultations, technical expertise from the implementing partners, forging synergies with relevant programmes and obtaining political buy-in.

According to the final evaluation of the JLMP Priority, stakeholders highlighted that the JLMP Priority project achieved its results to a large extent. The evaluation recommended inclusion of learning aspects in order to reduce duplication of activities and more attention to coordination of the project. In respect to this, we have prepared this innovative event to enable us jointly reflect on the achievements, lessons learnt and challenges during the implementation of the JLMP Priority. Feedback received from this event will help us to further refine our approach and strategize for better impact.

In terms of next steps, we have proceeded with the recommendation of including pilot Member States in the project. This is because, many of the recommendations from the project can only be implemented at the national level. The SDC-funded Catalytic JLMP enabled us to include 5 Member States.

In closing, I would like to express our sincere thanks to Sida for additional funding of 79 million Swedish Krona towards the next project, JLMP Lead. This additional funding will enable us consolidate and expand the work which has been started. We have noticed increased requests for Member States to benefit from the project and we are open for partnerships which will bring this to fruition.

On behalf of the African Union, I welcome you to this meeting and encourage you to actively participate in the sessions and discussions today and tomorrow. I wish you all fruitful deliberations.