IGAD pushes for stronger migration data to tackle regional challenges

The 7th Migration Data Technical Working Group Workshop brought together experts from IGAD’s eight member states alongside international partners to harmonize data collection methods and improve the quality of migration statistics.

“Our region continues to experience complex migration dynamics. To respond adequately, we must invest in stronger data systems that inform policies and ensure no one is left behind,” said Mohamed Abdi Ware, IGAD’s Deputy Executive Secretary, during the closing session.

The Horn of Africa remains one of the most climate-vulnerable regions globally, where recurring droughts, floods, and desertification force communities and livestock to move—often across borders—complicating government responses.

Representatives from Djibouti, Kenya, and other member states underscored the urgency of collective action. 

“Reliable, harmonised statistics will help us design policies that protect migrants and communities while fostering regional stability and integration,” said Oumalkaire Ahmed Hassan of Djibouti’s government.

Kenya’s Rosemary Bowen, Acting Director of Population Statistics at the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics, noted the country’s unique position as a point of origin, transit, and destination.

 “Stronger migration statistics will enable us to protect vulnerable groups, manage mobility more effectively, and support host communities,” she said.

Delegates included representatives from National Statistical Offices, immigration departments, central banks, and foreign ministries, with participation from the African Union, UN agencies, GIZ, and Statistics Sweden. Discussions reviewed progress on migration statistics, strategies for data harmonization, and draft guidelines aligning national practices with international standards.

The workshop also laid the foundation for the third edition of the IGAD Migration Statistics Report, a key resource for regional planning. Organizers said the forum would produce recommendations and an action plan to help member states integrate migration into development agendas and global commitments such as the Global Compact for Migration, the Global Compact on Refugees, and the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

With climate shocks, conflict, and economic pressures driving unprecedented movement, IGAD emphasized that stronger data systems will be critical in shaping policies that build resilience, safeguard dignity, and strengthen cooperation across the region.