Cairo, 23 March 2022 - The International Organization for Migration (IOM) in Egypt, through its “Towards a Holistic Approach to Labour Migration Governance and Labour Mobility in North Africa” (THAMM) programme, in coordination with the Regional Data Hub (RDH) for the Middle East and North Africa region and the Global Migration Data Analysis Centre (GMDAC), has organized a two-day workshop with relevant stakeholders aiming to take stock of the key challenges, achievements and good practices related to collecting, managing and disseminating migration data in Egypt on 22 and 23 March 2022.

The event brought together a wide range of stakeholders, the Central Agency for Public Mobilization and Statistics (CAPMAS), the Ministry of Manpower, the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research, the Ministry of Trade and Industry, the Ministry of Social Solidarity, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA), the National Coordinating Committee for Combating and Preventing Illegal Migration and Trafficking in Persons, General Office of Giza Governorate, the Information and Decision Support Center, Baseera Research Center, Al Azhar Al Sharif, Cairo University and its Migration Research Unit, Helwan University, the Egyptian Red Crescent, the International Labour Organization (ILO), as well as the European Union.

The main objective of the workshop was to provide a platform to data-producing bodies in Egypt and relevant stakeholders to discuss good practices related to migration data collection and reporting, identifying key challenges and capacity building needs to advance towards the fulfilment of the first objective of the Global Compact on Migration (GCM) and SDGs targets related to migration. As a result of the workshop, a draft document summarising the key challenges, opportunities and good practices related to migration data in Egypt will be produced. The document will serve as a useful basis for the International Migration Review Forum (IMRF) where Egypt will participate at the United Nations General Assembly in New York, between 10 and 13 May 2022.

Opening remarks were delivered on behalf of H.E. Ambassador Neveen El Husseiny, Deputy Assistant Minister for Migration, Refugees and Combatting Human Trafficking Affairs at MoFA. She was followed by Mr Ibrahim Laafia, Head of Cooperation at the European Union Delegation to Egypt, Mr Taher Hassan, Head of Sector for Population Statistics and Census at CAPMAS, Mr Laurent De Boeck, IOM Chief of Mission to the Arab Republic of Egypt, and finally Mr Raffaele Bertini, Data and Statistics Officer representing the Regional Data Hub within IOM Regional Office for the Middle East and North Africa.

During the opening of the event, Mr de Boeck, emphasized the engagement of the Government of Egypt, as Champion country of the Global Compact for Migration. For many years now, IOM is working hand in hand with CAPMAS to develop and share its good practices on migration data. It is only when we have a grasp on the amplitude of the contribution of migrants to the society that we can develop and promote migration policies and programmes. Data is key, reiterated Mr de Boeck.

The workshop contributes to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), specifically Goal 8 “Decent work and Economic Growth” Goal 10 “Reduced Inequalities,” Goal 16 “Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions” and Goal 17 “Partnerships for the Goals.” The workshop also aligns to the Global Compact for Migration (GCM), Objective 10 “Prevent, combat and eradicate trafficking in persons in the context of international migration” and Objective 7 “Address and reduce vulnerabilities in migration.”

For further information, please contact Omar Awwad at IOM Egypt, Tel: +20 101 2428 527 Email: osawwad@iom.int