Global Forum on Migration and Development

Global Forum on Migration and Development
Name	Global Forum on Migration and Development
Formation	2007
Type	International forum
Headquarters	Geneva
Region served	Global

Global Forum on Migration and Development is an intergovernmental, multi-stakeholder platform convened to discuss migration and development issues, drawing participants from states, United Nations, International Organization for Migration, World Bank, European Union, African Union and civil society. It was created amid discussions at the High-level Dialogue on International Migration and Development and has engaged actors including United Nations General Assembly, UN Secretariat, United Nations Development Programme, Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, International Labour Organization, World Health Organization and regional bodies such as the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.

Background and Establishment

The forum emerged after deliberations at the 2006 UN Summit and the High-level Dialogue on International Migration and Development (2006), following contributions from states like Philippines, Mexico, Switzerland, Morocco and Sweden. Influential documents and meetings such as the Brussels Programme of Action, Kofi Annan addresses and policy processes in New York City informed the forum's creation, while nongovernmental actors including International Catholic Migration Commission, Médecins Sans Frontières, Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch advocated for a multistakeholder platform. Early secretariats and hosts involved entities in Geneva, Brussels, Madrid and Bangkok, and the forum built on precedents set by conferences like the Global Forum on Migration and Development (2007 meeting) and regional processes such as the Migration Dialogue for Southern Africa.

Mandate and Objectives

The forum's mandate centers on dialogue, knowledge exchange and policy coherence among states such as United States, United Kingdom, India, China and Brazil and organizations such as UNICEF, UN Women, European Commission and African Development Bank. Objectives include identifying best practices drawn from initiatives in Canada, Australia, Germany and Japan, promoting partnerships akin to those fostered by Global Compact on Migration discussions, and supporting capacity-building projects financed by institutions like the International Monetary Fund and Asian Development Bank. The platform seeks to link migration experiences from contexts including Syria, Venezuela, Somalia and Myanmar with development strategies endorsed by bodies like United Nations Development Programme and World Bank Group.

Structure and Participation

The forum operates through plenary sessions and thematic roundtables involving representatives of Member States such as South Africa, Egypt, Argentina, Indonesia and subnational actors from cities like London, Toronto, Dubai and São Paulo, alongside intergovernmental organizations including Council of Europe, Economic Community of West African States, Organisation internationale de la Francophonie and Gulf Cooperation Council. Participants include researchers from institutions such as University of Oxford, Harvard University, Sciences Po, Australian National University and University of Cape Town, as well as private sector entities like Microsoft, Deutsche Bank and Mastercard Foundation and trade unions such as International Trade Union Confederation. The rotating hosting model has involved national ministries from capitals such as Geneva, Marrakech, Manila, Dhaka and Barcelona.

Annual Themes and Outcomes

Annual themes have ranged from labor migration and remittances, drawing evidence from Philippine Overseas Employment Administration and Mexican remittance studies, to displacement linked to crises in Afghanistan, Iraq and Ukraine, and integration practices from municipalities like Rotterdam and Melbourne. Outcomes typically include policy recommendations, capacity-building workshops, knowledge products influenced by research from International Organization for Migration, Migration Policy Institute, Center for Migration Studies and Brookings Institution, and partnerships with initiatives such as the Global Migration Group and the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration consultations. The forum has catalyzed pilot programs on skills recognition inspired by models from Germany and Switzerland and data initiatives aligned with standards from United Nations Statistical Commission.

Policy Impact and Criticism

Advocates cite contributions to coherence between migration and development agendas, referencing alignment with Sustainable Development Goals negotiated at the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development and policy uptake by countries including Portugal, Ethiopia, Colombia and Nepal. Critics from organizations such as Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International and academic commentators at London School of Economics and SOAS University of London argue the forum's nonbinding nature limits enforcement, highlighting tensions noted in debates involving European Commission migration policy, United States border approaches, Australia offshore processing and Morocco readmission agreements. Observers from International Rescue Committee, Refugee International and think tanks like Carnegie Endowment for International Peace and Chatham House have called for greater inclusion of affected communities from contexts such as Honduras, Haiti and Bangladesh.

Notable Meetings and Declarations

Notable meetings include inaugural gatherings influenced by delegations from Switzerland and Philippines, sessions hosted during presidencies of countries like Spain and Mauritius, and thematic forums linked to crises in Libya, Syria and Venezuela. Declarations and statements emerging from the forum have intersected with instruments such as the Global Compact for Migration negotiations, the New York Declaration for Refugees and Migrants, and policy frameworks promoted by International Labour Organization and World Health Organization. High-level participants have included officials from United Nations General Assembly, former officials like Ban Ki-moon and representatives from bilateral initiatives such as the US–Mexico High-Level Economic Dialogue.

Category:International conferences Category:Migration policy Category:Multilateral relations