Cairo – The International Organization for Migration (IOM)’s Regional Data Hub for the Middle East and North Africa (MENA)  held a three days regional workshop on strengthening the collection and use of migration data in the context of the 2030 Agenda and the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly, and Regular Migration (GCM).

The regional workshop, held in Cairo between 31 July and 2 August, aimed at improving the use of data in policymaking process to make migration work for sustainable development.

The workshop brought government officials from various entities responsible for statistics and data collection in Egypt, Tunisia and Morocco to provide a platform for sharing experiences and good practices and provide technical support to government counterparts involved in the management of data.

 "Through IOM’s Regional Data Hub, we are looking forward to developing cooperation on collecting and benefiting from migration-related data”. Said IOM MENA Regional Director, Othman Belbeisi during his opening remarks. “We also hope to advance dialogue between different countries and exchange experiences when it comes to migration data."

A major challenge in the process of policy making that is crucial to manage migration effectively, is data collection and analysis gaps due to outdated, incompatible or inadequate sources and systems for accessible, timely, reliable data collection. Challenges also remain on how to effectively harmonize migration data, as well as the unavailability of systematic analysis of existing data within the MENA region.

Strengthening evidence-based policymaking for informed public discourse and enhancing international cooperation to reduce vulnerabilities and promote safe, orderly, and regular migration are among the central aims of the Global Compact for Migration. “The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development” also calls for the need to provide support to enhance the availability of reliable data.

The migration data management workshop demonstrated the importance of reliable information and statistics for policymakers throughout the migration process, and the range of uses of this data by all levels of government, as well as by organizations, academics, media outlets and others.

It aimed at providing support to participating countries to create practical models for the collection, application and sharing of migration data, identify migration trends through the elaboration and application of statistical indicators and informational tools, create linkages between data, policy, legal and administrative frameworks and increase the capacity of participating countries to produce national migration data that meets international standards.

Central Agency for Public Mobilization and Statistics in Egypt, the National Statistical Institute, the National Observatory for Migration and The National Statistical Council from Tunisia, and The High Commission for Planning from Morocco; were amongst the participants.

“The Regional Data Hub aims to produce and facilitate access to evidence on migration to contribute to evidence-based policies and programmes and to achieving positive outcomes for migrants and societies in the MENA Region.” said Othman Belbeisi. 
IOM aims to promote better regional and subregional data governance and provide support to Member States on initiatives to enhance the national and regional evidence base and use this evidence for national policymaking and intraregional frameworks.

For more information, please contact Mr. Mohammedali Abunagela at mmabunajela@iom.int