Geneva – IOM, the UN Migration Agency, and the World Bank Friday (11/05) prepared to sign two new framework agreements that will facilitate easy access of IOM’s expertise to Governments implementing projects with World Bank funding.

The World Bank and IOM play key complementary roles in addressing globally relevant development and humanitarian challenges, including understanding and addressing forced displacement, promoting early and sustainable recovery during and after crises, identifying innovative solutions to protracted crises, exploring the link between migration and development, addressing the impact of climate change on mobility, strengthening the response to pandemic and ensuring social protection.

IOM welcomed to Geneva Manuela Ferro, Vice President of Operational Policy and Country Services at the World Bank who signed the memorandum of understanding covering two standard framework agreements during an afternoon session.

“Given the interest of the World Bank in addressing protracted displacement crisis, population mobility and its development impacts, the issue is particularly relevant and important for IOM,” said Luca Dall’Oglio, IOM Chief of Mission in Washington DC. “The conclusion of these agreements will establish the required financial modalities for the World Bank and IOM to effectively support the concerned national authorities at the country level in the implementation of important projects,” he added.

These frameworks will streamline procedures for cooperation and see an immediate impact, as they will expedite IOM’s engagement with the Government of Iraq under the World Bank-financed Emergency Social Stabilization and Resilience Project. That effort aims to increase the livelihoods of over one million Iraqis through the provision of cash, short-term employment and other services.

IOM and the World Bank have already a long-standing partnership on data collection and analysis, knowledge management and joint programmes. The new agreements will strengthen and simplify the cooperation between the two institutions for the benefit of the client countries.

For more information, please contact Liz Lizama at IOM Washington, Tel: + 1202-862-1826 extension 243.  Email: elizama@iom.int