The UN Networks in the Arab Region

IOM serves as the Coordinator and co-secretariat of the Regional UN Network on Migration which was established to ensure effective and coherent system-wide support for implementation, including the capacity-building mechanism, as well as follow-up and review of the Global Compact, in response to the needs of Member States.

So far, 15 UN National Networks have been established at the country level in the Arab Region; these include the following countries: Jordan, Iraq, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, UAE, Tunisia

At the regional level the network:

• Allows for collaboration among its members at the global, regional and national levels to actively seek out synergies and ensure better-coordinated delivery on implementation, follow up and review of the GCM in the Arab region;
• Coordinates the quadrennial regional review and reporting processes from 2020 in the Arab region in close coordination with the IBC/M co-conveners.
• Strengthens the regional partnership and involvement of all the relevant stakeholders by engaging with other external partners to promote joint work with and involvement of partners from outside of the UN, including in policy dialogues and exchanges.
• Ensures that the regional review of the GCM is in line with the guiding principles of the GCM, provides a 360-degree reflection on progress towards implementation of the GCM, and engages with all relevant stakeholders.
• Supports the joint work planning and resource mobilization of the National UN Networks on Migration, inclusive of supporting of development of applications to the Multi Partner Trust Fund, and other potential project and programme funding.
• Provides support to UN Country Teams in their migration-related inputs to support the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, in close consultation with National Networks to avoid duplication.
• Provides technical assistance to the UN Country Teams’ strategic and analytical work on migration, including the incorporation and mainstreaming of migration into National Development Plans, development of Common Country Analyses and United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Frameworks.
• Ensures coordinated public advocacy on issues related to migration in line with and support of the global UN Network on Migration.
• Ensures joint messaging, strengthening and promoting advocacy on issues related to migration, which would be delivered and amplified using a joined-up voice.
• Develops and promotes common UN approaches to raise awareness of the rights of migrants and to counter xenophobia
• Provides updates to the global Network and regional input to Secretary General’s biennial report to the General Assembly.
• Informs national UN Networks with regards to its activities and of other regional and global processes in the area of international migration and related subjects at the national and regional levels to ensure optimal coordination, enhance information sharing, and create a community of practitioners.
• Ensures close coordination with the global UN Network on Migration, including its Coordinator, Executive Committee, Secretariat and Working Groups to ensure synergies and avoid duplication.

Policy Advocacy

• Joint Advocacy Statement on WDATIP 
• Joint Advocacy Statement on IMD

Sub-coordination structure

• Executive Committee
• Stakeholder Engagement Task Force
• Communications Working Group
• Joint Press Briefing Notes on Regional Reviews  
• Regional GCM Icons in Arabic and Animation Video
• Communications Strategy

Events held ahead of the Regional Review Conference and the IMRF:

• Two multi-stakeholder dialogues were organized on the 27 October and 3 November 2020
• Two dialogues with Inter-state consultative mechanisms and Parliamentarians were held on 28 January and 4 February 2021.
• One Regional Stakeholder Consultation on Women Migrant Workers, Migrant Children and Youth on 15th February 2021 and one Multi-Stakeholder Consultation on 23 February 2021.
• Two capacity building workshops were organized in June and August 2020 for Government Migration Focal Points
• Briefing with Member States on 30 November 2021
• Regional Dialogue with Stakeholders on 10 February 2022
• One Member States Consultation was held in October 2020 to discuss GCM regional review modalities
• One GCM Stakeholders Regional Review in the Arab Region Report
• The GCM Regional Review for Arab States was held on 24-25 February 2021