Dear Reader,

I am pleased to present the fifth edition of IOM Zambia’s Newsletter. It contains the latest information on IOM's activities and projects implemented in 2015, as well as insights into the migration context in Zambia.

We are proud of all the exceptional work being done by the IOM Zambia team to help address the complicated issues surrounding migration. Our IOM Zambia Country Strategy 2015-2016 was developed and finalised. The Strategy aims to support the Government of Zambia in strengthening migration governance in the broad areas of: Migrant Assistance; Immigration and Border Management; Migration Health; Operations, Emergencies and Recovery; and Labour Migration and Development.

Our Migration Health team have spearheaded innovative efforts to strengthen local capacities to address and curb the spread of HIV/AIDS in border districts through supporting decentralised planning using an investment framework approach. Labour migrants and mobile populations, a designated key population group in the Zambian response, were included in these plans which outlined innovative approaches to reach key populations.

Gender-based violence (GBV) can be a result of social upheaval, and areas with high levels of population flows are often prone to violence.  IOM has been conducting capacity building on GBV and migration amongst stakeholders and migration-affected communities, as well as strengthening GBV prevention and response programmes for the same communities.

The Migration Management team has also been instrumental in collaboration with technical partners in various government ministries and departments to facilitate the rolling out of comprehensive protection tools and training materials for the protection of vulnerable migrants. IOM has supported the Department of Immigration with setting up of Interview Spaces at border posts to facilitate the screening and assessment of vulnerable migrants.

Furthermore, our Operations team worked closely with partners to provide durable solutions through resettlement to third countries and assisted voluntary return to countries of origin for more than 700 hundred refugees and vulnerable migrants.

To remember the challenges faced by migrants and refugees around the world, especially those who have tragically lost their lives in 2015 as a result of migration, IOM joined the rest of the world in organizing a Candlelight Vigil to commemorate International Migrants Day on 18 December, 2015.

IOM also continues to work as part of the United Nations Joint Programmes on Human Trafficking (UNHCR, IOM, and UNICEF) and Gender-Based Violence (UNDP, UNICEF, UNFPA, WHO, IOM, ILO, UNHCR).

For IOM, “Leaving no one behind” – as articulated through the overriding theme of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) – entails ensuring migrants and displaced people are included in IOM and national priorities and programmes.

Whether it is migrants’ health, human trafficking, or border management, to mention a few, IOM Zambia is committed to the goal of “Migration for the benefit of all.”

We thank our partners in government, donors, civil society and the private sector for their continued support.

Thank You!

Abibatou WANE
Chief of Mission