IN AFRICA
MIGRATION
FOR DEVELOPMENT
Executive Summary
IN AFRICA
refugees, and addressing the root
causes of refugee movements (including
conflict and political instability).
Internal Displacement of populations can
occur as a result of terrorism, conflict,
natural disasters or climatic conditions, and
it prevention may require transnational
cooperation. Member States adopted the
Kampala Convention for the Protection
and Assistance of Internally Displaced
Persons in Africa to comprehensively
address the plight of IDPs. It recognises
that the primary responsibility to
prevent internal displacement, as well as
protect and assist IDPs, lies with national
authorities. Safeguarding humanitarian
access to IDPs, promoting livelihood and
resilience activities as well as alternatives
to encampment through integration into
host communities are recommended.
Internal Migration is impacting the
population distribution in Africa in
important ways, with rural-urban migration
and the process of urbanization being its
most significant feature. If not effectively
managed, urbanisation can have adverse
consequences for migrants and other
urban populations alike, by
straining the existing urban infrastructure
and services. To leverage the economic
and social development potentials that
urbanisation represents, Member States
need to strengthen the local dimension
of migration policies and strategies.
Regarding migration and trade, the
movement of persons for trade, especially
short-term migration, is becoming of
increasing relevance. In this context, the
implementation of the Continental Free
Trade Area and the AU Free Movement
of Persons Protocol should aid trade,
continental integration and development.
In addition to the above key thematic areas,
the MPFA also addresses the following
eleven cross-cutting issues: Migration and
Development; Migration Data and Research;
Human Rights of Migrants; Principles of
Non-Discrimination; Migration, Poverty and
Conflict; Migration and Health; Migration
and Environment; Migration and Gender;
Migration, Children, Adolescents and
Youths; Migration and Older Persons; and
Inter-State and Inter-Regional Cooperation.
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