Addis Ababa – The Central Statistics Agency (CSA) in Ethiopia, working with IOM’s Global Migration Data Analysis Centre (GMDAC) and the IOM Regional Data Hub this week (23-25 July) led sessions to strengthen its capacity to collect migration data, which will improve evidence-based programming and policy making related to mixed migration in the country.

The meeting brought together technical units of 16 government agencies and ministries, and other international agencies, and was supported by the Regional Mixed Migration Program (RMMP), funded by the US State Department, Bureau of Population, Refugees and Migration (PRM).

The government of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia (FDRE) has expressed a strong commitment towards improving migration policy and governance, and requested IOM to support ministries that collect, analyse, and disseminate migration data, as well as to identify and develop data-aggregation protocols.

With the Horn of Africa region accounting for one of the largest migrant movements on the African continent, Ethiopia is working to ensure that national census statistics planning is complemented by administrative sources of migration data. They have, therefore, included a variety of migrant-data related indicators in the forthcoming national census.

The country also plans to improve the production of updated migration data, as well as generation and aggregation of statistics related to irregular migration, and diaspora communities.

In his opening remarks, Mr Asalifew Abera, the Deputy Director General, FDRE Central Statistics Agency (CSA), said “the workshop will help to create a common understanding of the key elements of migration data for national and international statistical reporting; discuss the development of a new national migration data governance framework; inform the creation of a national migration data technical working group identify existing migration-related information, data and secondary sources; and define a plan of action for increased cooperation on migration data amongst key actors and stakeholders”.

The workshop drew on lessons learned and peer-exchange information from other contexts, with officials from the Government of Nigeria sharing their experience.

In addition, experts from IOM Nigeria’s team, who have been active in that country’s migration data working group, as well as in the recent beta launch of a migration data portal also shared experiences on harmonization of sectoral migration data, as a well as data management trends in West Africa.

PRM aims to improve the management of mixed migration flows in the Horn of Africa and Tanzania by supporting governments and protecting the rights of migrants. Part of this work includes collaborating closely with respective government institutions and the central statistics agencies to improve their structures, processes, and approaches.

The government of Ethiopia is showing a strong commitment in engaging in these processes which will lead towards the elaboration of a national migration data governance framework and the formation of a national Migration Technical Working Group.

For more information please contact:
Rachel Beach at IOM Ethiopia, Tel: +251 115571550, Email: rbeach@iom.int
Eric Mazango at the IOM Ethiopia, Tel: +251 115571550 ext. 1456, Email: emazango@iom.int.