Integration of migrants is crucial for their successful contribution to economic development

Abstract

Effective integration of migrants into the community is an important contributor to the economic development of a country, said experts at a thematic round table discussion on Supporting the integration of migrants and their contribution to development organized during the 2021 African regional review of implementation of the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration (GCM). According to the experts, countries can only make this possible if migrants are allowed to have equal access to public services, social networks and jobs, and to contribute with their skills to local development. The GCM is a cooperative framework aiming to address international migration in all its dimensions including identifying new priorities and additional resources required to fully implement the Global Compact for Migration in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. In Africa, the focus of GCM is to help countries address the complex issues of migration cycle like protecting the lives and dignity of African migrants, preventing, and combatting discrimination, abuse, and exploitation.