Niamey – the Government of Niger held a pre-forum meeting in Niamey on 21 April to prepare for its participation in the International Migration Review Forum (IMRF) 2022. Chaired by the Minister of Interior, different migration actors discussed and shared progress on implementing the Global Compact for Migration (GCM) in Niger.

Niger has been a champion country for the GCM since 2021. The Government has demonstrated its leadership in promoting safe and regular migration by addressing the needs of vulnerable migrants and host communities.

"Due to the particularity of Niger's migration dynamics, a country of departure, transit, and destination, there is a lot to be done in the coming years to improve the protection and assistance of vulnerable migrants and communities. The UN Network on Migration and the international community have demonstrated and confirmed today their full commitment to support the Government in achieving the full implementation of the Global Compact's objectives," says Diana Louise Ofwana, UNDP Resident Representative in Niger, on behalf of Louise Aubin, UN Resident Coordinator and lead of the UN Network on Migration in Niger.  

In line with the guiding principles, the Government of Niger, through the Migration Policy Framework (Cadre de Concertation sur la Migration), conducted a voluntary national review to assess Niger's commitment to implementing the Global Compact. The results of this report reveal that progress has been made since 2018. 

This progress includes the finalisation and adoption of the National Migration Policy 2020-2035, the adoption of law n°2019-29 on the civil status regime in Niger, the adoption of the national border management policy in October 2019, the integration of the migration dimension in the planning of local authorities in June 2021, and the integration of the migration dimension in the Economic and Social Development Plan 2022-2026. 

Niger has also developed its migration governance profile. These profiles provide an overview of policy levers that countries can use to improve migration governance.

The first International Migration Review Forum will take place in New York from 17-20 May. During the Forum, Member States will review the local, national, regional, and global progress in implementing the GCM.

The Pre-forum was organised by the Government of Niger with support from the UN Migration Agency (IOM) with funding from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark.

For more information, please contact Aïssatou Sy, Public Information Officer at IOM Niger, Tel: +22780066531, Email: aisy@iom.int.