Seraphine Wakana, the UN Resident Coordinator's statement at the EU – Technical Assistance for building migration partnerships launch event

In most discussions on migration, the starting point is usually numbers. Understanding changes in scale, emerging trends, and shifting demographics related to global social and economic transformations, such as migration, helps us make sense of the changing world we live in and plan for the future. According to IOM’s World Migration Report 2024, the current global estimate is that there were around 281 million international migrants in the world in 2020, which equates to 3.6 percent of the global population. The vast majority of people continue to live in the countries where they were born —only one in 30 are migrants

Migration has always brought challenges as well as immense opportunities. It is in this spirit that international instruments like the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration (GCM), was agreed in 2018. The Global Compact is the first inter-governmentally negotiated agreement, prepared under the auspices of the United Nations, covering all dimensions of international migration holistically and comprehensively. It is a non-binding document that respects a state's sovereign right to determine who enters and stays in its territory. It also demonstrates a commitment to international cooperation on migration. It presents a significant opportunity to improve migration governance, address the challenges associated with today's migration, and strengthen the contribution of migrants and migration to sustainable development.

It's important to note that the Global Compact's scope extends beyond national governments. A key, yet often overlooked, feature of the Global Compact is its recognition of the crucial role of a diverse range of stakeholders in its implementation. This includes migrants themselves, the private sector, civil society, academia, local authorities, the media, and more. The ongoing efforts of these implementation partners are a testament to the Global Compact's 23 objectives.

The United Nations system in Sierra Leone is unwavering in its commitment to supporting the implementation, follow-up, and review of the Global Compact for Migration. This commitment was further solidified with the launch of the National UN Network on Migration in June 2021, aimed at facilitating effective, timely, and coordinated UN system-wide support to Sierra Leone on migration governance. The recent restructuring of the specialist groups is a testament to our dedication to ensuring effective support and efficiency. The merger of the UNNM with the youth group is a step towards a more inclusive approach, now with a dedicated group on 'Youth and Migration.' 

The UNCT was supportive during the Voluntary National Review of the SDGs, which included migration-specific sessions. It ensured that migration was integrated into Sierra Leone's VNR Report to the High-Level Political Forum in July this year.

The integration of migration into the Common Country Analysis (CCA) and  Cooperation Framework (CF) signed with the Government of Sierra Leone in July this year presented a meaningful opportunity for the UN Country Team to systematically integrate migration into all relevant areas and stages of our work, in alignment with and as part of the implementation of these two frameworks.

We were also pleased that Sierra Leone was invited to co-chair the Second Regional Review of the GCM, held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, in October this year.  An event like this is a testament to the country's commitment to strengthening GCM implementation.

We were delighted to receive the news of funding from the EU Demand-driven Technical Assistance for Building Migration Partnerships, which aims to develop a GCM Implementation Plan for Sierra Leone and the establishment of a National GCM Coordination Mechanism, as requested by the Government of Sierra Leone. It is a significant milestone that we gather here today to launch this important project in Sierra Leone. On behalf of the UNCT, I thank the European Union and look forward to strengthening the already cordial relationship with the UN system in Sierra Leone.

Let me use this opportunity to thank the International Organisation for Migration for your technical support to the Government of Sierra Leone, which has brought us here, and also to thank the Government of Sierra Leone for your unwavering support of the GCM process to strengthen GCM governance in Sierra Leone.

In this respect, I will remind all of us that it is essential to recall that the GCM is more than just its objectives. It is a resource that brings together a mix of intersecting mandates, supports existing work on safe migration, and debates the future of migration governance in Sierra Leone.

As we move forward, let us remain united in our efforts to enhance the safety, dignity, and rights of migrants in Sierra Leone.

By embracing this collaborative spirit and leveraging the resources and expertise available, we can build a robust framework for migration governance that not only meets the needs of migrants but also serves the broader interests of our communities and country.

Together, we can turn our aspirations into actions, ensuring that every migrant has the opportunity to thrive, contribute, and be recognized as an integral part of our society.

 THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONTINUED PARTNERSHIP AND COLLABORATION