FOREWORD
With the implementation of the first year of the International Organization for Migration (IOM) 2015–2018 strategy, for the IOM programing cycle, we are delighted to share with you the highlights of our development work in Zimbabwe.
The assistance provided in the past year was mixed but was driven by national priorities and led by the Government of Zimbabwe, carefully ensuring that national priorities as enunciated in the Zimbabwe United Nations Development Assistance Framework (ZUNDAF) 2012–2015 were reflected.
Interventions included responses to internal migration, cross-border migration, assistance to returned migrants, technical assistance to the Government of Zimbabwe, and strengthening the knowledge and evidence bases on migration.
Over the year, assistance included refugee resettlement programmes as well as repatriation of stranded migrants. As part of technical assistance to the Government of Zimbabwe, IOM supported the establishment and handing over of the Beitbridge Migrant Resource Centre, which is a one-stop centre for safe migration and services to potential migrants.
The United Kingdom Pre-departure Tuberculosis Detection Programme has continued to support tuberculosis screening of migrants travelling to the United Kingdom, while the TB Reach programme has continued to screen returned migrants at the border crossing points. Both projects have continued to support the Ministry of Health and Child Welfare in containing the spread of tuberculosis.
In the words of IOM Director General Ambassador William Lacy Swing, at the United Nations summit to adopt the post-2015 development agenda, “IOM is delighted that migration has been included in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and in particular that migration has been incorporated as part of Goal 10 on inequality, which includes a target on facilitating orderly and safe migration through well-managed migration policies.” IOM Zimbabwe will focus on capacity-building in migration management, ensuring that migration management is consistent and in line with the Sustainable Development Goals, particularly Target 10.7.
The implementation of IOM Zimbabwe’s strategy will be anchored on long-term funding. In this regard, it is noteworthy that during the first year of the implementation of the strategy,
IOM Zimbabwe has secured four-year funding from the European Commission to support the implementation of a migration governance project. IOM will continue intensifying its resource mobilization strategy to raise the required resources for the duration of the strategic plan.
While achievements were significant, contextual challenges remain. Support to the country’s socioeconomic transition at the broad national level requires attention and support.
Lastly, I take this opportunity to express warm gratitude to the Government of Zimbabwe, donors and development partners (European Commission; Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency; Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation; United States Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration; and World Health Organization), and all stakeholders for the excellent support and collaboration with IOM in Zimbabwe.
Martin Ocaga
Chief of Mission IOM Zimbabwe