Freetown - On 18th and 19th March, the United Nations Network on Migration (UNNM) in Sierra Leone held its retreat at the place Resort in Tokeh, located in the Western Area Rural District. The retreat was attended by UN Agencies to validate the UNNM 2022 Workplan and discussed thematic/programmatic areas of interest for multi-agency action in the migration sector in Sierra Leone.

In his brief opening statement, Dr. James Bagonza,the Head of office at IOM Sierra Leone, Dr. James Bagonza acknowledged the effort of network members to participate in the retreat. He added that: “members can use the retreat as an opportunity to deepen their knowledge and leverage support of the UN system for the effective implementation of the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration (GCM).”

During the 2 days retreat, participants discussed migration issues and identify solutions across network members on how agencies can work together to address migration-related challenges such as irregular migration, gender, and protection challenges on various issues including trafficking. Participants also shared their thoughts and ideas on emerging migration issues and how migration can be integrated into agencies’ program design. “The retreat was necessary and insightful. It provides us the opportunity to review and share valuable inputs to the network annual work plan. Also, being that migration is a cross-cutting issue, it availed us the opportunity to discuss interesting migration topics” said Peter Koroma, Program Specialist, Population and Development at the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) Sierra Leone.

The United Nations Network on Migration for Sierra Leone (The Network) was established by the United Nations Country Team to facilitate effective, timely, and coordinated UN system-wide support to Sierra Leone on migration governance, including on the implementation, follow-up, and review of the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration (GCM).

The UNNM promotes migration policy that supports the well-being of migrants and societies in a coherent, holistic, and balanced manner, including policies and their implementation that are aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework 2020-2023 (UNSDCF), the SDGs, the African Union Migration Policy Framework, the 2063 Agenda, and other sub-regional initiatives, while supporting progress in implementing all the GCM’s 23 objectives.

For more information, please contact Dr. James Bagonza, Email: jbagonza@iom.int

For Media Enquiries, Alfred Fornah, Email, afornah@iom.int