Examining the state of mixed movements along the Western Indian Ocean Route
The Mixed Migration Centre (MMC) and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) are organizing a research consultation workshop on the findings of a new joint-study on the mixed movement dynamics along the Western Indian Ocean Route on 5 December in Pretoria, South Africa.
The event will be structured into thematic sessions, with research presentations from MMC complemented by interventions from stakeholders. During their interventions, stakeholders will be invited to discuss the implications of the data and research for mixed movement programming and policy in the Western Indian Ocean region, and/or in countries along the route. Each panel will have a small Q&A session where participants in the room and online can ask targeted questions to the presenter(s) and discussants. All attendees will then take part in a facilitated discussion.
Agenda
| 08:45 – 09:30 | Arrival and registration, with light breakfast
Moderation and facilitation of the workshop by: Dr Ayla Bonfiglio, Head of the Mixed Migration Centre Eastern and Southern Africa |
| 09:30 – 09:45 | Welcome and introductory remarks
Igor Ciobanu, UNHCR Deputy Representative South Africa Multi-Country Office (SAMCO) |
| 09:45 – 10:15 | Panel 1: Introduction to the research and profiles, routes and mixed movement drivers
Jim van Moorsel, Research Coordinator, Mixed Migration Centre Eastern and Southern Africa Interventions from programming: TBC |
| 10:15 – 10:30 | Coffee/tea break |
| 10:30 – 11:00 | Panel 2: Interactions with smugglers and smuggling networks
Dr Ayla Bonfiglio, Head of the Mixed Migration Centre Eastern and Southern Africa Interventions from programming and policy: TBC |
| 11:00 – 11:30 | Panel 3: Risks and assistance needs
Tracy Haggai, Research Specialist, Mixed Migration Centre Eastern and Southern Africa Interventions from programming: TBC |
| 11:30 – 12:15 | Facilitated discussion
Key questions:
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| 2:15 – 12:30 | Next steps and key take aways
Dr Ayla Bonfiglio, Head of the Mixed Migration Centre Eastern and Southern Africa UNHCR (TBC) |
| 12:30 – 14:00 | Lunch and networking |
RSVP
Participants located in Johannesburg or Pretoria are encouraged to participate in-person. Furthermore, selected delegates from The Comoros, Madagascar and Tanzania will be sponsored to join in-person. For other participants who wish to join online, a Zoom link to join virtually will be provided after RSVP’ing. All participants are kindly requested to RSVP through this link by 29 November latest.
Who
MMC and UNHCR are seeking the participation of national and local government actors and civil society (in particular delegates from The Comoros, Madagascar and Tanzania), multilateral actors (including the Indian Ocean Commission and the Southern African Development Community), embassies and donor government focal points covering the region and working on refugee and migration issues, humanitarian and development actors working on refugee or migration issues in Eastern and Southern Africa, and academia specialising in the topics of South-South migration in the Indian Ocean and Eastern and Southern Africa
Aims
- To provide a platform for consultation, validation and discussion of research findings and their implications;
- To discuss evidence and information gaps and challenges on mixed movements along the Western Indian Ocean Route;
- To reflect on implications of the research for (routes-based) policy and programming along the Western Indian Ocean Route;
- To advocate for more resources for programming, evidence and research on the Western Indian Ocean Route.