Moroni – IOM, the UN Migration Agency, this week (29/05), opened a country office in Moroni, the capital of the Union of Comoros to support the implementation of the Government of the Comoros’ National Development Framework (SCA2D) and the United Nations Development Assistance Framework (UNDAF). IOM will assist in the implementation of various migration management initiatives in support of the 2030 Agenda /Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Migration is an essential feature of the history and social fabric of Comoros, and migration remains a topic of high relevance and priority in the national development strategy. With a population of about 807,000 and an estimated 200,000 to 250,000 of its nationals living abroad, the engagement of the Comorian diaspora for national development is – among other topics – an area that IOM will contribute technical expertise to enhance the institutional capacity building of the Comorian Government, United Nations partners, and national stakeholders.

Headquartered in Geneva, IOM’s structure is highly decentralized, enabling the Organization to acquire the capacity closer to where the needs are to effectively deliver an ever-increasing number of diverse projects at the request of its Member States and partners.

“The opening of a Local Office in Comoros underlines IOM’s business model as the proximity agency; to be present on the ground where it matters for active engagement and timely service delivery where it can make a positive contribution,” said Charles Kwenin, IOM Regional Director for Southern Africa and the Indian Ocean after the official inauguration ceremony. He added, “We are very much looking forward to work with the UN Agencies and Partners to support the governments’ efforts to achieve its national development agenda.”

Also in attendance were Mirghan Abdallah, Chief of Staff at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Matthias Naab, the UN Resident Coordinator and officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and UN.

During his high level official visit to Moroni, Kwenin, accompanied by the Chief of Mission to Madagascar Daniel Silva y Poveda, held various meetings with senior government officials including the Vice-President, the Minister for Foreign Affairs, the Minister of Interior; the UN Resident Coordinator and the UN Country Team, and other IOM partners in Comoros, to discuss migration challenges and opportunities in the country.

Despite a previous lack of a formal presence in the country, IOM has implemented activities in Comoros since the country joined the Organization as Member Sate in 2011 in the areas of migration data and policy, migration and health, and assisted voluntary return and reintegration (AVRR).

IOM currently implements a diaspora engagement project which seeks to mobilize the human and other resources of the Diaspora to build capacities of national stakeholders and officials to foster dialogue and develop multi-sectoral strategies for leveraging its contribution to national development. IOM also continues to expand reintegration activities in Comoros for beneficiaries of the AVRR programmes.

For more information please contact Daniel Silva y Poveda, IOM Madagascar, Tel: +261.32 56 54 954, Email: dsilva@iom.int