The AU Member States and RECs meeting to validate the Draft Implementation Plan of the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration (GCM) in Africa

What: The AU Member States and RECs meeting to validate the Draft Implementation Plan of the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration (GCM) in Africa

When: 18-19 June 2019.

Where: Best Western Plus Hotel, Lusaka, Republic of Zambia

Who: The event is organized by the African Union Commission Department of Social Affairs

Objectives:

The main objective of this meeting is be to consider the draft Plan of Action on the implementation of the GCM in Africa. The specific objectives are to:

a) Provide an opportunity for AU Member States, RECs and other participants to be updated on the latest development on the implementation of the GCM at the international level.

b) Present the draft Plan of Action for consideration by Member States and RECs for their validation in order to guide the implementation of the GCM in Africa for next 3 years.

c) Provide an opportunity for participants to identify capacity building priorities, based on the continental priorities for technical support and joint resource mobilisation.

d) Discuss and agree on the continental, regional and national coordination, reporting and follow up mechanism on the GCM.

Expected outcomes:

The following are key meeting outcome expectations:

a) A validated Draft Work Plan on the Implementation of GCM in Africa.

b) A common understanding on specific priorities for capacity building to Member States and RECs for the purpose of technical support and resource mobilisation

c) A harmonized continental, regional and national coordination, reporting and follow up mechanism in the continent and the role of each relevant actors. Shared experiences on good practices for girls' and women’s education in communities.

Participants:

This meeting will bring on board Senior Officials that are in charge of Migration, labour and National Statistics in Government departments and agencies of the AU Member States. Relevant senior migration heads of the RECs secretariats will also be invited. The meeting will also invite other relevant stakeholders that include relevant continental workers unions, civil societies, and academia, among others.

Background:

the African Union Commission together with other UN agencies under the Regional Coordination Mechanism (RCM) and relevant partners have developed a draft implementation plan to guide and support Member States in the implementation of the GCM in Africa. The Draft Plan of Action takes into account African migration priorities, policies, Agenda 2063 and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). It provides Member States and RECs with comprehensive guideline to assist them in the formulation and implementation of GCM objectives in accordance with their priorities and resources as committed during the negotiations.

For ease of coordination at the Continental level, the African Union and the UN, under the RCM framework, have agreed to support Member States and RECs in providing technical support and capacity building and facilitate resource mobilization for the effective implementation of this Plan. Through this framework, AUC and the UN will support Member States and RECs in identifying common challenges and opportunities and further create platforms for enhanced collective commitment and partnership with the stakeholders in the continent and with the international community. Relevant AU departments and specialized agencies together with those from the UN system, based on the AU/UN Regional Coordination Mechanism, have been identified as technical cluster leads of the seven priorities of the Plan of Action and have been critical in the development of this document. The joint AU/UN technical leads will be crucial in supporting Member States and RECs in implementing the Plan once it is validated and endorsed by them.

Media representatives are invited to cover the meeting.

For information related to the meeting please contact:

Mr. Geoffrey Wafula Kundu | Program Coordinator (Migration), Social Affairs Department, African Union Commission | E- mail: GeoffreyK@africa-union.org

For media inquiries, please contact:

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