Mid Term Assessment of the 2018 Migration Policy Framework for Africa

Tracking Progress in Migration Governance Across the Continent:
Mid-Term Assessment of the 2018 Migration Policy Framework for Africa

Migration and mobility are central to Africa’s development, integration, and socio-economic transformation. As countries respond to both voluntary and forced migration dynamics, including labour mobility, displacement linked to conflict, and climate-related movements, the need for effective and coordinated migration governance has become increasingly important. With Africa’s rapidly growing youth population and evolving labour markets, safe, orderly and regular mobility remains essential for unlocking opportunities and supporting sustainable development across the continent.

The revised Migration Policy Framework for Africa (MPFA) and its Plan of Action (2018–2030), adopted by the African Union in 2018, serves as the continent’s strategic policy framework on migration. It provides Member States and Regional Economic Communities (RECs) with comprehensive guidance aligned with Agenda 2063, the Sustainable Development Goals, and international migration governance standards. The framework supports Member States and RECs in developing and implementing national and regional migration policies that promote development-oriented and well-managed migration. In addition to migration governance, the MPFA provides targeted policy guidance to Member States and RECs on eight key pillars such as labour migration and education, diaspora engagement, and migration and trade, and across eleven cross cutting issues including migration data and research, migration and gender, youth and adolescents, and human rights of migrants.

In line with Executive Council decisions, the African Union Commission (AUC), through the AU Coordination Committee on Migration (AU CCM), developed a Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) Framework to track progress in MPFA implementation. Following the 2021 baseline monitoring exercise, the AUC conducted the Mid-Term Assessment to evaluate progress, identify good practices, assess challenges, and provide forward-looking recommendations to strengthen migration governance across Africa.

The Mid-Term Assessment was conducted through a rigorous and inclusive process involving indicator-based analysis, quantitative and qualitative data collection tools, consultations with Member States and RECs, and regional and continental validation meetings. Data was collected from 34 Member States and complemented by previous monitoring and status reporting exercises.

As a result of the Mid-Term Assessment process, five regional reports were developed alongside a continental synthesis report. These reports present key findings on progress, challenges, migration trends, and priority actions to strengthen implementation of the MPFA through to 2030. They provide an important evidence base to support policy development, regional cooperation, peer learning and improved migration governance across the continent.