Agadir, February 15 - The International Organization for Migration (IOM) in Morocco and the Municipal Council of Agadir launched on Thursday a project aiming to bolster the integration of migrants, upholding their joint commitment to adopting an inclusive and proactive approach for enhancing the socio-economic integration of migrants.

The project “Support for the Integration of Migrants by the Municipal Council of the City of Agadir” is a pilot project carried out in partnership with the Municipal Council of the City of Agadir and funded by the IOM Development Fund as part of the National Immigration and Asylum Strategy (NIAS) and  the joint effort to strengthen the integration of migrants in the Souss-Massa region. The innovative initiatives planned in this project will extend over a period of 24 months, until November 2025.

“The main objective of this project is to support local efforts aimed at responding to the specific challenges related to the integration of migrants in the city of Agadir and neighboring municipalities,” said Ms. Laura Palatini, IOM Chief of Mission in Morocco.

“By adopting an approach based on concrete facts, this project will mobilize all local stakeholders, in particular local authorities, decentralized services and civil society to analyze the particular needs of migrants, through implementing adaptive pilot initiatives,” she added.

This project stems from close collaboration and commitment between IOM and local authorities to strengthen the integration of migrants and facilitate their access to essential services.
A partnership agreement was also signed today, Thursday, between the Municipal Council of Agadir and IOM.

“Our involvement in this project reflects our ambition in the Agadir Municipal Council to make our city a space for coexistence which advocates human values that guarantee the dignity of migrants and refugees and their right to education, health and social assistance” said Ms. Amzil Fatima, Vice-President of the Municipal Council of the city of Agadir.

The launch workshop of this project provided a platform to share a clear vision of the defined objectives and the essential components of the project. It also served as a platform to present the stakeholders involved, the strategies, and the expected results, thus ensuring a shared understanding and effective collaboration.

The launch workshop was attended by representatives of the Agadir city council, the Wilaya of the Agadir city council, the Wilaya of the Souss Massa region, the Souss-Massa Regional Council, the consultative bodies of the Agadir commune, the Migration Affairs Department, the Belfae Rural Township, the Rural Township of Ait Aimera, the Regional Department of Health and Social Protection, the Regional Department of Economic Inclusion, of Small Business, Employment and Skills, the Regional Education and Training Academy, the Social Development Agency, National Mutual Aid, National Agency for the Promotion of Employment and Competencies (ANAPEC), the Office of Vocational Training and Employment Promotion (OFPPT), the General Confederation of Enterprises of Morocco (CGEM), in addition to other key institutional players in the region, from the private sector, civil society and academia.   

For further information, please contact: 

IOM Morocco: Communications and Media Officer/ Meryem Massaia mmassaia@iom.int 

Municipal Council of Agadir: Laila Echafaqi: Media Relations Officer
+212 0666133835 - agadirrp@gmail.com