UN Network on Migration held its first meeting of the Regional Stakeholder Advisory Group (RSAG) in the Arab Region and Regional Partners’ Briefing in Cairo on May 22-23, 2023. Both events in which UCLG-MEWA took part were hosted and moderated by International Organization for Migration Regional Office for Middle East and North Africa (IOM MENA).
Consisting of a wide range of member list, the advisory group brought together various stakeholders such as UCLG-MEWA, ILO Regional Office for Arab States, OHCR MENA, UNDP RBAS, UNICEF MENA, MYCP, ITUC-Arab Region, ESCWA, Migrant Forum in Asia (MFA), Insan Association, academics and migration experts.
Founded to monitor and facilitate the implementation of Global Compact for Migration (GCM) in the Arab Region, the Stakeholder Advisory Group targets contributing to GCM Regional Review in 2024 via data collecting and reporting. Within this context, the stakeholders presented their ideas and expectations on the functioning process of the advisory group. Moderated by IOM Regional Office in Cairo, the day-long meeting allowed the stakeholders both for discussing the hot items on their agenda and defining a road-map for the following period.
As one the members of the Stakeholders in the Advisory Group, UCLG-MEWA highlighted its pivotal and unique role on MEWA region within the context of migration. Stressing its strong network that covers 130 member municipalities from 16 countries in the region, UCLG-MEWA mentioned its devoted efforts in the field carried out via Global Task Force on Migration (GTFM).
The day after the inaugural meeting, Regional Partners’ Briefing took place. Organized under the auspices of IOM Regional Office in Cairo, the event was broadly participated both by the high-level figures of the region and some prominent researchers and experts who are actively working in the field.