By Alhaji Haruna Sani
Stakeholders pose for photos after delivering their statements
The Government of Sierra Leone, in partnership with the UN Network on Migration, the European Union, and other key stakeholders, has launched a National Coordination Mechanism to bolster the implementation of the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly, and Regular Migration (GCM).
The event, hosted at the New Brookfields Hotel in Freetown, marked a significant step towards enhancing migration governance in the country.
The launch, supported by technical and financial assistance from the European Union, brought together representatives from government ministries, UN agencies, civil society organizations, the media, and other migration-related stakeholders.
The event introduced technical assistance program to participants, outline outcomes, and emphasize its role in integrating migration into Sierra Leone’s national development agenda.
The initiative responds to a request from Sierra Leone’s UN Network on Migration to assist in developing a National Implementation Plan for the GCM and to establish mechanisms for its follow-up and review.
The assistance aligns with global guidance from the UN Network on Migration, aiming to advance the GCM’s objectives comprehensively.
In his opening remarks, IOM Head of Office Christos Christodoulides highlighted the urgency of addressing migration challenges, citing the over 68,000 migrant deaths recorded since 2014.
He stressed that migration issues span humanitarian and development sectors and emphasized the importance of protecting the rights of all migrants, regardless of their legal status.
“Migration governance is essential for achieving the goal of leaving no one behind,” Christodoulides noted, commending Sierra Leone for its commitment to advancing migration governance as outlined in its Medium-Term National Development Plan (2024–2030).
UN Resident Coordinator Seraphine Wakana underscored the opportunities and challenges presented by migration, referencing the 281 million international migrants recorded globally in 2020, per the IOM’s 2024 World Migration Report.
She reaffirmed the UN’s dedication to supporting Sierra Leone’s efforts, citing the launch of the National UN Network on Migration in 2021 as a key milestone.
UN Resident Coordinator, Seraphine Wakana making her statement during the launch
She reaffirmed the UN’s dedication to supporting Sierra Leone’s efforts, citing the launch of the National UN Network on Migration in 2021 as a key milestone.
“The restructuring of specialist groups, including the merger with the youth group, reflects our commitment to inclusivity. The newly formed ‘Youth and Migration’ group is a step towards ensuring migration governance benefits all segments of society,” Wakana stated.
Representatives from the Sierra Leonean government, including Alan C. Logan, Director-General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Mohamed Rahman Swaray, Minister of Employment, Labour, and Social Security, highlighted the country’s strides in migration governance. Achievements include two national GCM reviews, the issuance of licenses to employment agencies to facilitate safe labor migration, and the recruitment of over 3,000 workers for overseas employment.
Deputy Minister of Planning Rev. Dr. Jonathan Titus and EU Head of Cooperation Gerald Hatler praised the government’s commitment to addressing migration’s structural challenges and ensuring its alignment with national development goals.
The event concluded with presentations on the technical assistance framework and breakout sessions where stakeholders mapped out key actors and strategies for successful implementation.
The 2022 National Migration Policy reflects Sierra Leone’s recognition of the need for a comprehensive approach to human mobility, as emphasized in the GCM.
This initiative underscores Sierra Leone’s growing prioritization of migration governance, contributing to its development agenda and enhancing its role in regional and global migration discourse.
