UNITAR Elected New Partner of the UN-EC Joint Migration and Development Initiative (JMDI)
12 January 2015, Geneva, Switzerland – In light of its work in the field of migration and local governance, UNITAR was recently elected official partner of the six-member Joint Migration and Development Initiative (JMDI). A global inter-agency programme funded by the European Commission and the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation, the JMDI comprises IOM, ILO, UNHCR, UNFPA, UN Women and now also UNITAR.
It seeks to maximize the potential of migration for local development through the delivery of targeted support to local authorities and non-state actors. UNITAR will support the JMDI by bringing its expertise in working on training tools that are dedicated to strengthening the capacities of local and regional authorities in the field of migration, particularly through its “Learning Platform on Human Mobility (LPHM)”, and through its annual Mayoral Forum on Mobility, Migration and Development. The 2015 Mayoral Forum will take place in Quito on 17-18 September 2015.
The leading role of local government in migration and development policy and practice is taking on greater emphasis. As stated by UNITAR's Executive Director, Sally Fegan-Wyles, at the first Mayoral Forum on Mobility, Migration and Development in Barcelona last June: “Cities have the opportunity to take risk, they can be more creative and they can move from thought to action faster. Up to now the conversation on migration has really been on the global international level. Mayors and cities must, can and will take leadership on the issue of migration, and the international community has to find space to listen to the voices of cities on the issue of migration.”
Bringing together the long-standing experience of these agencies across topics related to migration and development, the JMDI is an active example of the UN system working as one for greater coherence and coordination among specialized agencies and other principal entities like the IOM. This new partnership will allow both JMDI and UNITAR to cross-fertilize their work on capacity development, training and resource mobilization.
Related links
UNITAR’s Human Mobility Programme