HARARE - IOM Zimbabwe has organized a two-day consultative stakeholder workshop on migration governance technical needs and capacity assessment in Harare. The objective of the meeting, which followed an IOM-supported assessment exercise carried out 11-16 July, was to identify governance gaps in sector ministries which deal with migration.

Attendees included 32 participants from eight migration sector ministries, representatives of diaspora returnees, the European Union, UNDP and IOM.

The workshop was part of a EUR 3 million, 44-month IOM project funded by the European Union under the 11th European Development Fund: “Promoting Migration Governance in Zimbabwe.” The project seeks to contribute to the establishment of a coherent and coordinated migration governance framework in Zimbabwe.

Workshop participants agreed on the need for consensus among ministries on migration governance issues, particularly relating to structures and their function. They also recognized the need for institutional capacity building.

IOM shared global best practices to inform discussion of Zimbabwe’s implementation strategy for its recently adopted National Diaspora Policy.

Two Zimbabwean returnees also shared the challenges faced by Zimbabweans in the diaspora. They noted the need for trust building and consultation between the government and the diaspora to realize meaningful diaspora participation in national development.

Director in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Ambassador David Hamadziripi said: “The workshop will provide strategic direction on what has already been started in order to try and improve migration governance in Zimbabwe. Continued collaboration with IOM will assist us to have a vibrant, more formal and institutionalized migration policy.”

IOM Zimbabwe Chief of Mission Lily Sanya noted: “The workshop deliberations will contribute to identifying the most suitable model to be used to govern migration in Zimbabwe.”

EU Delegation to Zimbabwe Head of Governance and Social Sector Nicholas Tylor said that the EU is committed to supporting the governance of migration in Zimbabwe.

Participants will further engage and consult with heads of ministries on the key migration governance issues identified during the workshop. A validation workshop will then be organized to authenticate the findings of the assessment and agree on a governance framework.

For further information please contact Gideon Madera at IOM Zimbabwe, Tel: +263 04 702485, +263772863172 Email: gmadera@iom.int