Addis Ababa (6 May 2025) – The Government of Japan and the International Organization for Migration (IOM) launched a new collaborative initiative to enhance safe and regular migration pathways, regional connectivity, and integration in Africa through innovative digital solutions. The project will be implemented in Côte d’Ivoire, Ethiopia, Rwanda, and Madagascar, supporting efforts to strengthen legal identity systems, border governance, and regional connectivity in key migration corridors.

Significant challenges persist at points of entry (PoEs) in these and other African countries, particularly in remote border areas where many migrants and borderland communities live and work. Limited connectivity, inadequate or insufficient infrastructures, and security concerns hinder the movement of people and goods, restrict access to essential services, and increase communities' vulnerability to shocks and crises.

The project, titled Creating Smarter Borders: Enhancing Regular and Safe Mobility Pathways, Connectivity and Integration in Africa through Digitization, is a new initiative aimed at promoting secure, efficient, and inclusive cross-border mobility while supporting regional economic development and humanitarian action. With a budget of USD 3 million and a 12-month implementation period from March 2025 to February 2026, the project, funded by the Government of Japan, will be implemented by the International Organization for Migration (IOM) in collaboration with the African Union Commission (AUC).

The initiative seeks to foster legal identity, strengthen data systems, and enhance the capacity of ports of entry to contribute to safe, orderly, and regular migration across the continent. It will target key migration corridors in West and East Africa, particularly the Côte d’Ivoire-Burkina Faso, Rwanda-Uganda and Djibouti- Ethiopia-Kenya routes as well the sea ports of Madagascar. These corridors, essential to cross-border trade and human mobility, will benefit from upgraded digital infrastructure, improved identity systems, and enhanced border security measures.

“Japan is proud to support this shared vision, helping to strengthen human security while promoting productivity and economic integration. Through innovative and collaborative approaches, we aim to support more efficient, secure, and humane border management systems that serve people across Africa. The TICAD 9 on this August presents a key opportunity to further advance Japan-Africa collaboration on digitization and mobility. We look forward to the positive impact this project will bring to connectivity and regional integration," stated his excellency Tsutomu Nakagawa, the Ambassador of the Mission of Japan to the African Union.

"The AU fully supports this initiative and expresses its commitment to provide support to redouble efforts to strengthen integration in Africa through the use of digitalization and innovative technology solutions to facilitate cross-border trade and mobility for migrants and border communities," said Dr. Sabelo Mbokazi, Head of the Department of Labour, Employment and Migration at the AUC. "The African Union recognizes that technology has immense potential to improve migration governance and is a game changer in efforts to make border management efficient to achieve streamlined policies and regulations," he added.

“The initiative on smarter borders bases its foundations on the flagship projects of the African Union as potential conduit for efficient, safe, and accessible pathways that will not only facilitate better trade and travel but also strengthens the bonds between the Member States,” said Mrs. Mariama Cissé, IOM Director of the Special Liaison Office to the African Union and UNECA. “The project is intended to serve as a vehicle for harnessing regional connectedness, integration, regional mobility, and trade, consistent with the African Union 2030 Agenda and the UN 2030 on SDGs,” she added.

Through this partnership, Japan and IOM will also work together to pilot and scale up advanced technologies for digital border surveillance, identity management, and automated processing systems. The project also aims to foster public-private partnerships, including collaboration with Japanese technology companies with expertise in secure digital identity and border technologies.

This initiative builds on Africa’s growing momentum toward regional integration, particularly through the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and the Protocol on Free Movement of Persons, as outlined in the AU’s Agenda 2063. Japan’s support for this initiative aligns with the themes of the upcoming Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD 9) in August 2025, which will focus on co-creating innovative solutions with Africa.

For more information, please contact Aïssatou Sy, IOM Ethiopia Media and Communications Coordinator, aisy@iom.int