M4D

Virtual fair

 
 

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The first M&D event of its kind, the Fair provides a window on the GFMD, allowing visitors to network, visit virtual exhibitions and post questions online...

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About the Global Forum on Migration and Development

 The 3rd Global Forum on Migration & Development

“Integrating Migration policies into development strategies for the benefit of all”

LASTEST UPDATES: Final Summary Reports: Roundtable 1 - Roundtable 2 - Roundtable 3 - Roundtable 4

[Day 1 Discussion Summaries: Roundtable 1 - Roundtable 2]

This week approximately 200 delegates representing NGOs and other civil society members from around the world met in Athens to exchange ideas on how to best integrate migration policies into development strategies in order to maximize the benefit for migrants, countries of origin and destination. Participants in the Athens Civil Society Days (CSD) draw on their individual experiences in the field of migration and development.

 

 

The conclusions and recommendations of the Civil Society Days were presented during the Government days immediately following the CSD on the 4th and 5th of November. Here senior policymakers from around the world  exchanged experiences, to identify best practices, and to foster interstate cooperation in leveraging migration for the benefit of development.

During the two events the representatives participated in roundtables in which the different dimensions of this year’s central theme were debated.  While the first three topics were discussed under the same heading during both, the Civil Society Roundtables and in the Government Day Roundtables, for the CSD an additional platform was created in order to give non-state actors the opportunity to voice their opinion on the potential benefit of “Building Alliances in Private Sector Engagement with other Civil Society Actors.”

To join the discussion on these background papers click here. 

Background to the GFMD

The Global Forum on Migration and Development (GFMD) is a global consultative forum where the impact of international migration on development in all its complexity as well as the potential of better migration management for development is discussed. The GFMD stands for an open and transparent dialogue on migration and development in an informal, non-binding and state-led framework that will promote practical, evidence-based outcomes and cooperation between governments.

The creation of a global forum was proposed at the UN General Assembly High-Level Dialogue on International Migration and Development (HLD) in September 2006 by the then Secretary General of the UN, Kofi Annan. As a result this proposed forum was put into practice one year later in Brussels and has since been replicated on a yearly basis: In 2008 the GFMD was hosted in Manila, the Philippines while this year Greece will chair the GFMD in Athens from the 2-5th of November 2009. During the forum itself,  in order to ensure a broad discussion in which both state actors and civil society are able to voice their oponions , the GFMD features two successive events: first the Civil Society Days (CSD), and second the Government Days with representatives from United Nations member states.

In accordance with the changing venues the overarching topic and thus the goal of the Forum is redefined each year. While in Brussels the main goal was to examine “the Impact of Migration on Social and Economic Development”, in Manila the GFMD revolved around the central theme, “Protecting and Empowering Migrants for Development”. This year in Athens, both governments and civil society are focussing on the topic “Integrating Migration Policies in Development Strategies for the Benefit of All”.

 For further information please visit the GFMD Civil Society or Government Days websites.