High-Level Panel on Migration and Structural Transformation in Africa

– As delivered –

Statement by H.E. Mrs. María Fernanda Espinosa Garcés, President of the 73^rd Session of the UN General Assembly

25 September 2018

High-Level Panel on Migration and Structural Transformation in Africa

Thank you very much, Dr. Kituyi,

Your Excellencies Minister Mushikiwabo,

Minister Bourita,

Chairman Mahamat,

and High Representative Mogherini,

Excellencies,

Distinguished colleagues,

It is an honor to be here today and a privilege to have been invited to speak on current policy issues around international migration and structural transformation, particularly as it relates to Africa.

I would like to thank the Kingdom of Morocco, the Government of Rwanda and UNCTAD for their kind invitation and support.

I would also like to express my gratitude to Minister Bourita and the Kingdom of Morocco for hosting the upcoming Intergovernmental Conference to adopt the Global Compact on Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration in Marrakesh.

Finally, before I begin my remarks, I would like to start by expressing my condolences for the thousands of migrants – as well as the thousands of refugees – who have died while crossing deserts and seas, while looking for better lives for themselves and their families.

As we engage in this interaction here, let the journeys of those who put their lives at risk encourage us to be compassionate, to be empathetic and to be cooperative.

First, I want to commend UNCTAD for its report on Migration and Structural Transformation in Africa.

It is necessary to highlight the benefits of migration as a way to frame the discussions around the concerns on migration.  For example, migrant workers worldwide remitted around $500 billion in 2016 to their home countries, which dwarfs ODA to developing countries. In Africa alone, remittance inflows, grew 11% in 2017 to US$38 billion. The importance of adequate inflows of capital to the countries of origin for providing opportunities and hope to their people at home should be recognized as part of the narrative for a positive approach to migration.

In order to enhance the potential benefits of migration for structural transformation, not only in Africa but across the globe, the international community needs to focus equally on the social and economic drivers of migration.

This requires that we do the following:

First, we need to address the lack of data and information on migration, including on the number of migrants moving through regular channels, which hinders the proper assessment and effective policy-making of migration.  This has the potential to support policy development; target services for migrants; cut off smuggling routes; and to improve safety along dangerous migration corridors, potentially protecting thousands of people.

Second, capacity building to strengthen national migration bodies/agencies for the sharing of data, information and best practice in migration management is going to be key to the development of regionally coherent and complimentary policies on trade and investment to harness the potential economic benefits of migration.

Third, while remittance inflows to Africa have increased remarkably, the comparatively high cost of money transfers in Africa limits the beneficial impact of remittances and calls for actions to reduce these costs. Thus, greater global efforts need to be made to better harness the power of diasporas for economic development. In this connection, there is a need to build on the experience of the Joint Migration & Development Initiative in designing the funding for the implementation of the GCM.

Fourth, the development of milestones or indicators for implementation and impact against which progress could be measured, will be necessary for the successful implementation of the GCM.

Fortunately, some promising steps are being taken, including in Africa. Countries such as Mali and South Africa have undertaken initiatives to improve information collection and sharing, and the African Union deserves recognition for investing in this critical area. Its African Observatory for Migration and Development in Morocco is a successful example for coordinating and harmonizing migration policies and practices in Africa.

Friends, this is commendable and we need more of them.  And support from multilateral and other partners will be crucial to this.

I am really looking forward to have a powerful summit in Morocco this coming December and I strongly encourage Ministers and Heads of State to attend the conference, commit and send a bold message to the international community that migration is about development, economic growth, rights.

Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen, with global cooperation and commitment, I believe that migration can fully become a choice and an opportunity, with benefits for all stakeholders.

Thank you.