Cairo, 14 December – The International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the Migration Policy Centre (MPC), hosted at the European University Institute in Florence, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) today for establishing an Observatory on Human Mobility (OHM), under the umbrella of the MPC.

The OHM will conduct in-depth research and provide evidence-based recommendations for dialogue on education, training, and labour mobility between Egypt and European Union member states. It will promote and foster dialogue on human mobility among the private sector, government agencies, practitioners, civil society, researchers, and other relevant stakeholders in Egypt and destination countries, prioritising select EU and Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries.

The OHM will also facilitate the mobility of Egyptian workers, as well as other categories of migrants, through actively engaging the private sector in EU destination countries, thereby capitalizing on their ability to voice actual market needs.

Mr. Amr Taha, Head of Office at IOM Egypt, said: “Egypt’s population is expected to reach 120 million by 2030. This contrasts with Europe’s declining fertility, compounded by a fast ageing population. In this light, our cooperation with MPC to establish the Observatory could not be more timely! The Observatory will contribute to an economic model which fosters development for all by concretely responding to Europe’s private sector needs and migrants’ wish for mobility, while alleviating unemployment in Egypt and simultaneously increasing the likelihood of growing remittances.”

Professor Andrew Geddes, Director of the Migration Policy Centre at the European University Institute, stated: “We are delighted to be cooperating with IOM Egypt on this important initiative that will contribute to an evidence-based approach to labour migration and mobility. It is a timely collaboration because it comes at a moment when it is imperative to move beyond a crisis mode of thinking about migration and, instead, consider longer term economic, social and demographic trends. It is also consistent with a key objective of the MPC, to help build stronger links between academic researchers, key stakeholders and policy-makers.”

This initiative builds on the conclusions of the Valletta Political Declaration and Action Plan, which highlighted the need for addressing the root causes of irregular migration and forced displacement, by fostering well-managed mobility between and within the continents. This will also be done by encouraging policies that promote regular channels for migration, such as labour migration and the mobility of entrepreneurs, students and researchers, including at the regional level.

This initiative also supports the achievement of UN Sustainable Development Goals 8 Decent Work and Economic Growth and 10 Reduced Inequalities. It is further in line with the realization of Egypt’s Sustainable Development Strategy: Vision 2030, particularly its economic development and education and training pillars.

For further information, please contact Teuta Grazhdani at IOM Egypt. Tel: +202-27365140, Email: iomegypt@iom.int­­.