Context
In 2024, an estimated 304 million people were living outside their country of origin as international migrants. Women account for almost half of this figure. Migrants make an important contribution to development, acting as a bridge between their countries of origin and the countries where they now live and work.
However, migration also entails risks when individuals leave their home countries due to a lack of opportunities or when migrants work in precarious conditions. The Global Compact for Migration (GCM), which was adopted in 2018, provides a broad political basis for mitigating the risks of migration.
Objective
The programme’s partner countries are implementing a range of GCM goals for safe, orderly and regular migration, while also drawing on the engagement of the diaspora in Germany to achieve these objectives.
Approach
The programme has the following priority areas:
- It supports the development-related activities of the diaspora in Germany, for instance by subsidising assignments by diaspora experts or by helping diaspora entrepreneurs set up businesses in their countries of origin. It advises partner countries on the implementation of diaspora policy strategies.
- It supports political partners such as ministries of labour in establishing and expanding advisory services for individuals interested in migrating, and advises them on the implementation of standards for fair and ethical recruitment.
- The programme strengthens political and civil society actors in its partner countries in order to minimise risks both before and during the migration process, and to increase protection of migrants’ rights.
- MEG also strengthens global partnerships, for example by cooperating with international organisations. Contributing to the UN Migration Multi-Partner Trust Fund is one way in which the programme supports international migration governance. MEG also helps state and non-state actors to actively participate in international migration governance forums.