News

ICMPD has opened the second Migrant Resource Centre (MRC) in Baghdad, in collaboration with the Iraqi Ministry of Migration and Displaced (MoMD). The new MRC expands the efforts to promote safe and regular migration processes for prospective migrants, combat trafficking and people-smuggling through information, pre-departure counselling and post-arrival briefings for migrant workers, and re-integration support for returnees and internally displaced populations.

The year 2024 was another of key milestones for ICMPD. Amidst elections dominated by migration in key regions, developments in the migration discourse including returns, conflicts, and the continuing challenges for both Europe and the migratory routes, ICMPD’s efforts remained on-course as relevant and as necessary.

After Russia’s invasion in February 2022, millions of Ukrainians made the painful decision to leave everything behind. With their entire towns destroyed, and uncertain of what was ahead of them, crossing borders also did not bring immediate relief. How would one navigate a foreign country where the language, laws and systems are unfamiliar? Many of those forced to leave faced new struggles not only for survival, but also to regain a sense of stability.

A new initiative is equipping secondary schools across Ogun, Benue, Enugu, Delta, and Edo states to take an active role in preventing human trafficking. Through the School Anti-Trafficking Education and Advocacy Project (STEAP), in collaboration with the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), young leaders are being trained to raise awareness, educate peers and strengthen resilience within their schools and communities.

An impact-driven initiative in Ogun State, Nigeria, is placing local school communities at the forefront of efforts to combat human trafficking—a pressing threat to children across the country. The School Anti-Trafficking Education and Advocacy Project (STEAP), funded by the Government of the Netherlands and implemented by the International Centre for Migration Policy Development (ICMPD), is positioning School-Based Management Committees (SBMCs) as key agents of change in the fight against trafficking.

From 29 June to 5 July 2025 the 12th International Summer School on Migration will take place in Armenia. The ICMPD Summer School is a collaborative effort among the EU-funded “Strengthening Development Impact of Migration in Georgia” (STREAMinG 2) project, and the Prague Process, with all two initiatives led by ICMPD.

The 4th Antalya Diplomacy Forum hosted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Türkiye under the leadership of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, took place on 11-13 April in Antalya. With the theme “Reclaiming Diplomacy in a Fragmented World,” this year’s Forum gathered more than 6,000 participants including 21 Heads of State and Government, and 67 Ministers from 155 countries.

On 9 April 2025, ICMPD’s CORE-UA project team hosted an online event to present its latest report, Diaspora Engagement – Case Studies and Best Practices for Ukraine, published within the framework of the CORE-UA project. The event brought together a diverse group of international experts, policymakers, international organisations, NGOs and members of the global Ukrainian community to explore effective strategies for engaging the diaspora in Ukraine’s development and post-war recovery efforts.

The Bridging small and medium-sized enterprises with international talent (BRIDGE) research project launched in April 2025. Running until March 2026, the project will provide targeted support to SMEs by identifying and strengthening the role of bridging actors.

Ministers and representatives from 40 countries¹ along with the African Union, the European Union and international organisations², jointly agreed on implementing the Cairo Action Plan. The plan includes addressing irregular migration, promoting skills mobility and pathways for regular migration, protecting refugees and displaced persons, fight against migrant smuggling and human trafficking, and safe, timely, dignified and effective return.

Emerging human trafficking trends and countering terrorism in the Southeast Europe region need a proactive and more effective response. Against this backdrop, the Brdo Process endorsed its Strategy 2025-2029 of the Network of Anti-Trafficking Coordinators in South-Eastern Europe (NATC-SEE), reflecting the changing nature of human trafficking in the region and the complexities introduced by new technologies, migration patterns, and socio-economic factors.

On 3 April 2025, Radim Zak, Head of EECA region, and Violeta Wagner, EECA Regional Portfolio Manager concluded their three-day visit to Kyiv during which they met with Deputy Prime Minister of Ukraine – Minister of National Unity, Mr. Oleksiy Chernyshov.

ICMPD Director General Michael Spindelegger met with a high-level delegation from the Republic of Uzbekistan led by Mr Bekhzod Musaev, Director of the Migration Agency under the Cabinet of Ministers and Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Mr Olimjon Abdullaev.

BOMCA 10 has launched a Call for applications for Central Asian CSOs to participate in the Boot Camp on the Project Management Cycle, set to take place in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, in May 2025. Applications are accepted until 4 April 2025. 

In commemoration of International Women’s Day, ICMPD hosted a webinar titled Women on the Move: Advancing Gender Mainstreaming in Immigration Services Across West Africa. The session focused on the importance of gender equity in immigration services, particularly in Ghana and Nigeria, and brought together key stakeholders to share insights, challenges, and best practices in fostering a more gender-balanced workforce.