Copenhagen – In October 2019, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) hosted a seminar at UN City Copenhagen on “Migration and the 2030 Agenda”. The seminar brought together experts from UN Agencies in Denmark to discuss the relationship between migration and sustainable development, and how to integrate migration into development cooperation sectors. The seminar was lead by Ms. Cécile Riallant, Head of the Migration and Sustainable Development from IOM Geneva, and Ms. Katy Barwise, Programme Manager on Mainstreaming Migration into International Cooperation and Development (MMICD), from the IOM Regional Office in Brussels.

“The connection between migration and sustainable development is a two-way street. Migration impacts development and development impacts migration”, says Cécile. “Migration has been clearly acknowledged as a very important component of development and we will not be able to deliver on the 2030 Agenda[1] without consideration of migration. Migration is a cross-cutting issue of relevance to the fulfillment of all the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)”, she continues.

There are an estimated 272 million regular migrants globally, representing about 3,5% of the world’s population. One in seven of the world’s population is affected directly or indirectly by human mobility issues. The impact that migration has on development can be both positive and negative, depending on factors such as the conditions in countries of origin, transit and destination, but also on the willingness of countries and policies to acknowledge and harvest the benefits of migration.

Simo Kohonen, IOM Chief of Mission from Helsinki, describes how the UN system must maximize the potential of migration: “Central to this effort is a dedicated strategy on migration and sustainable development which defines our organizations’ visions and main priority lines,“ he summarizes about IOMs work around the SDGs.

The seminar included presentations by the organizers as well as a group exercise trying to identify how migration affects the SDGs and how the SDGs affect migration. The purpose of the exercise was to demonstrate and understand the importance that migration plays across all the SDGs and how they are related. “The SDGs help engage with countries of destination about the development side of migration, and how migration can contribute to improve their own development,” explains Cécile and emphasizes the importance of a balanced cooperation between countries.

The seminar also covered how the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration (GCM) is rooted in the SDGs and framed around SDG target 10.7 on well-managed migration policies and the importance of international cooperation to address migration governance and challenges. Migration is often transboundary and therefore – like the 2030 Agenda - requires global cooperation and focus on partnerships. It is only possible to transform the world in cooperation, be it through the work on the SDGs, the GCM, between countries or as One UN.

More information about how migration is reflected in the 2030 Agenda

M4D Net is a global hub on migration and development where professionals working within the migration sector can exchange information, ideas, develop skills and consolidate partnerships for harnessing the development potential of migration and contribute to the achievement of the SDGs.  

IOM has published Migration in the 2030 Agenda: A Guide for Practitioners which can be downloaded for free. The guide can help professionals who work with the SDGs to integrate migration into their work by explaining the clear connection between migration and development in the context of the SDGs.

Text: Diana SARBAST

[1] On 1 January 2016, The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development was adopted by the 193 UN Member States. It includes 17 universal Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) that aims to end all forms of poverty, fight inequalities and tackle climate change, while ensuring that no one is left behind.