The GFMD Secretariat
A permanent Secretariat for the Global Forum on Migration and Development (GFMD) was established in January 2023 with the aim to provide logistical and administrative support to the Forum. Hosted by the International Organization for Migration (IOM) in Geneva, the Secretariat assists the GFMD Chair-in-Office, Troika and Steering Group with the organization of meetings and high-level Summits and ensures liaison and information flow among the GFMD stakeholders and Friends of the Forum. The Secretariat also assists the Chair in financial management and fundraising and is responsible for GFMD communications and data management.
The GFMD was serviced by a dedicated Support Unit from 2008 to 2021.
Resources:
- IOM press release https://www.iom.int/news/iom-reiterates-support-french-chairmanship-global-forum-migration-and-development-gfmd
- IOM Director General's video https://twitter.com/FranceONUGeneve/status/1617891406806396928
Friends of the Forum
The Friends of the Forum (FOF) is open to all Member States and GFMD Observers, which include some UN observers, specialized UN agencies, international organizations, regional consultative processes and select non-government stakeholders (see a list of GFMD Observers).
The FOF ensures all members and observers are informed of Forum-related developments, advises on the programme and discusses issues of substance.
Participation in the FOF is guided by the defining principles of the Global Forum on Migration and Development – voluntary participation, informality and state-led nature of the process. FoF members designate contacts that form a part of the GFMD Focal Points Network.
For more information see:
The GFMD and the private sector
After an initial phase of exploration in 2012, the foundation for private sector engagement in the GFMD was laid during the Swedish (2013-2014) and Turkish (2014-2015) terms and in 2015, Member States officially welcomed the establishment of the GFMD Business Mechanism (or Business Advisory Group on Migration).
Since 2016, the GFMD Business Mechanism brings the voice of private sector to the Forum advocating for migration policies that consider economic perspectives. The International Organisation of Employers (IOE) hosts the secretariat to the GFMD Business Mechanism.
For more information, please visit the GFMD Business Mechanism’s website.
To find out more about the outcomes of the past Business meetings, please view the outcomes documents from each year below:
The 2018 Business Mechanism meeting, held on 6 December as part of the Marrakesh GFMD Summit, presented stories, reactions and recommendations from both business and governments around the theme “Implementation of the GCM: how business will judge success in the 21st century world of work”. Discussion included a focus on, inter alia, the role of business in implementing the GCM, how migration is and will be needed to face the complex skills-gaps experienced by businesses, and whether and how business should advocate more publicly for the benefits of migration.
11th GFMD Summit, Business Mechanism Meeting Agenda
6 December 2018
In 2017, the Business Mechanism hosted a round of global and regional business consultations in line with its four thematic priorities: (1) skills mobility, (2) responsible recruitment, (3) skills matching and (4) entrepreneurship. The Business Meeting also took an active role in the Global Compact for Migration preparatory process by contributing written content and engaging business speakers in the consultations in Geneva and New York, as well as at the Stocktaking Meeting in Puerto Vallarta.
- 10th GFMD Summit, Business Mechanism Meeting Summary Report
29 June, 2017 - Toward a Global Compact on Migration: Perspectives on Labour Migration from the GFMD Business Mechanism
Official Business mechanism report, 2017
In April 2016 a Business Mechanism Awareness Meeting was held on Enhancing the Public-Private Dialogue on Migration and Development, and in July 2016 the GFMD Business Mechanism Thematic Meeting took place. As a culmination of activities, the first GFMD Business Meeting took place at the Ninth GFMD Summit Meeting in Dhaka, focusing on the role of business in the Global compact for orderly and responsible migration.
Held in Istanbul on 15-16 May, the 2015 Business Meeting established the Business Mechanism as a formal and continuing part of GFMD activities. If was focused on the central theme: ‘Are businesses fit to compete in the global competition for skills? Strengthening public-private dialogue to rethink labor migration policies and international skills mobility in the framework of the GFMD’.
- 8th GFMD Summit, Business Mechanism Meeting Report
11 December 2016 - Proposal on a Future Public-Private Sector Interaction Mechanism in the Framework of the GFMD
15-16 May 2015 - Background Paper: Are businesses fit to compete in the global competition for skills?
IOM, 2015
The History of GFMD
The idea of creating a global consultative forum on migration and development was proposed by Mr. Kofi Annan, former UN-Secretary-General, during the High-Level Dialogue on International Migration and Development (HLD) at the 2006 UN General Assembly. Over 140 Member States discussed the relevance of migration for development and recognized the need for a dedicated platform at global level, as no single forum existed at the time to bring together policy makers to discuss the contribution of migration to development.
Reflecting an acknowledgement at the international level of the limits of a strictly national approach to migration, widespread support emerged to establish an informal, non-binding, state-led dialogue to promote the exchange of practices and foster cooperation among governments. With time, the Forum has become increasingly open as a dialogue space engaging a multiplicity of stakeholders including civil society, business, mayors, youth and academia.
The Contribution of Migration to Sustainable Development
Having hosted its first Summit under the leadership of Belgium in 2007, the GFMD currently stands as the largest State-led dialogue on migration at global level, bringing together expertise from all regions of the world to help articulate the key role of migration for sustainable development as a shared agenda at global level.
A Dynamic Multi-Stakeholder Dialogue
Since its inception, the GFMD has operated on the basis of a unique and inclusive model of engagement, involving different governments agencies ranging from ministries of foreign affairs, interior, labour, social affairs, and others.
Over time, the GFMD has gradually engaged a multiplicity of UN agencies, international organizations, State and non-State actors. The latter operate through self-organized stakeholder constituencies: the GFMD Civil Society Mechanism, GFMD Business Mechanism, GFMD Mayors Mechanism and Migration Youth and Children Platform.
Fostering International Cooperation
The GFMD serves not only as a space to discuss topics at the heart of contemporary debates on migration, but also as an incubator of innovative partnerships.
The Forum Objectives
- Provide a platform for dialogue on the contribution of migration to development
- Facilitate the sharing of knowledge and practices among countries and stakeholders
- Promote international cooperation and partnerships
Key achievements
- Over the years, the GFMD has contributed to lift migration onto the international agenda, including the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and forge global consensus on a set of migration-related policy objectives and targets, many of which have been adopted by the Global Compact for Safe, Regular and Orderly Migration (GCM).
- The Forum continues to be a space to exchange knowledge and perspectives in cutting-edge areas at the center of attention of Member States, based on a program that is flexibly developed by governments in consultation with a variety of stakeholders.
- The Forum helps build shared perspectives, circulate new practices and forge innovative partnerships among Member States, civil society, private sector, cities, youth and International Organizations
- The GFMD has been an ‘incubator’ ante litteram for migration initiatives, including some historical programs (e.g., IOM Migrants in Countries in Crisis initiative - MICIC).
- The informality of the process offers opportunities for innovating the modalities of the international dialogue on migration. The GFMD strives to offer new and engaging formats to promote the circulation of quality research, data, programs, inspirational ideas for solutions and partnerships.
The GFMD and Civil Society
Civil society engagement in the GFMD has grown significantly over time. Although the GFMD is state-led, civil society plays a key role in the dialogue by providing the perspective of a broad range of civil society organizations from across the world.
GFMD Civil Society Engagement
Until the Quito Summit in 2020, civil society participated in the GFMD through Civil Society Days (CSD) preceding the Summit. In 2020, the UAE Chair opened the entire Summit to all stakeholders, transforming CSD into a Civil Society Preparatory Meeting (CSPM) to discuss the topics on the programme, agree on key messages and prepare civil society delegates attending the Summit.
GFMD Civil Society Mechanism and Coordinating Office
Since the Swiss Chairmanship in 2011, civil society's engagement in the GFMD has been self-organized. The Civil Society Coordinating Office, hosted by the International Catholic Migration Commission (ICMC), coordinates civil society activities and participation in the Forum. A Civil Society International Steering Committee (ISC), consisting of over 30 organizations and networks active in migration and development, guides these efforts. For more information, please visit the GFMD Civil Society website
To find out more about the outcomes of the past Civil Society Days meetings, please view the outcomes documents from each year below:
The GFMD Mayors Mechanism
In response to the growing recognition of the importance of cities in addressing migration governance challenges, the GFMD welcomed the establishment of the Mayors Mechanism in 2018 to engage local and regional governments (LRGs). Officially launched in Marrakesh at the Fifth Mayoral Forum Meeting following the Marrakesh GFMD Summit, the Mayors Mechanism provides a platform for LRGs to participate in GFMD discussions. The Mayors Mechanism also co-chairs the GFMD Ad-Hoc Working Group on Public Narratives on Migration with the governments of Canada and Ecuador.
Co-Steering Organizations
The Mayors Mechanism is co-steered by the United Cities and Local Governments (UCLG), the Mayors Migration Council (MMC) and the International Organization for Migration (IOM).
Pledges and Commitments
Call to Local Action for Migrants and Refugees
In 2018, with the adoption of the Marrakech Mayors Declaration, LRGs pledged to implement the GCM and GCR in unison, as concrete pathways to achieve Agenda2030. To elevate this continued political commitment, Mayors Mechanism Steering Committee Members — in partnership with the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR), launched a Call to Local Action for Migrants and Refugees in 2022. Acknowledged by the UN Secretary-General in his 2021 GCM Report, the Call to Local Action offers a concrete avenue for LRGs to localise the both Compacts and for LRGs to be recognized for meeting global goals.
Piloted in 2019 and launched in May 2022 at the International Migration Review Forum (IMRF), the Call to Local Action mobilised 70 actions and pledges, providing LRGs with a concrete avenue to localize the Compacts and gain global recognition. The effort was scaled and elevated ahead of the 2023 Global Refugee Forum and the 14th GFMD Summit.
For further information, please consult the Mayors Mechanism' website: www.mayorsmechanism.org
The GFMD and the private sector
After an initial phase of exploration in 2012, the foundation for private sector engagement in the GFMD was laid during the Swedish (2013-2014) and Turkish (2014-2015) terms and in 2015, Member States officially welcomed the establishment of the GFMD Business Mechanism (or Business Advisory Group on Migration).
Since 2016, the GFMD Business Mechanism brings the voice of private sector to the Forum advocating for migration policies that consider economic perspectives. The International Organisation of Employers (IOE) hosts the secretariat to the GFMD Business Mechanism.
For more information, please visit the GFMD Business Mechanism’s website.
GFMD Focal Points
Participating UN Member States and Observers have designated GFMD Focal Points who enable the GFMD to liaise with governments and to facilitate dialogue and greater coordination between different government offices, as well as between government and other stakeholders, at national level. They can also play a role as catalysts of greater coherence in the development and migration field at international level.
Non-governmental Friends of the Forum members, including international organizations and regional consultative processes (RCPs), also appoint their GFMD focal points who coordinate their organization’s respective participation and contribution to the GFMD process.
Altogether, this network of government and non-government focal points act as a sounding board, keep abreast of Forum-related developments, and advise on the agenda, structure and format of each Forum meeting.
Official GFMD communications are sent through the GFMD focal points. The GFMD Secretariat maintains a GFMD focal points directory, which is continually updated in view of the constantly changing nature of the assignments of GFMD focal points. At present, the network mostly includes Focal Points from States’ capitals and from Geneva. Members that are not represented in Geneva, however, are represented by Focal Points from their Missions in New York, Brussels or other places where they maintain offices.
GFMD Focal Points Update:
Focal Points are encouraged to inform the Secretariat of any changes regarding their focal points by email at GFMD@iom.int. Please include the name, position, email address, and phone number of the new or updated focal points in your communication.
What model of stakeholder engagement does the GFMD promote?
The GFMD is a State-led and multi-stakeholder process, whose inclusiveness is often praised as a distinguishing feature of its success. The Forum has gradually expanded to include a variety of stakeholders through dedicated self-organized mechanisms: the GFMD Civil Society Mechanism, the GFMD Business Mechanism, and the GFMD Mayors Mechanism , as well as the Youth Stakeholder Network, which brings the voice of Youth to the forum across all constituencies.
