{"id":465549,"date":"2019-04-09T10:18:15","date_gmt":"2019-04-09T09:18:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/en.financialafrik.com\/?p=465549"},"modified":"2019-04-09T10:19:46","modified_gmt":"2019-04-09T09:19:46","slug":"african-migrations-opportunity-not-crisis-says-mo-ibrahim-foundation","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.financialafrik.com\/en\/2019\/04\/09\/african-migrations-opportunity-not-crisis-says-mo-ibrahim-foundation\/","title":{"rendered":"African migrations: opportunity not crisis,\u00a0says Mo Ibrahim Foundation"},"content":{"rendered":"
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2019 Ibrahim Governance Weekend highlights urgent need for robust data and informed policy to manage mobility and spur economic development<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Debating and discussing African migrations, youth and jobs, the 2019 Ibrahim Governance Weekend, held in Abidjan 5-7 April, heard that the global view of African migrations urgently needs to be reset since distorted data leads to inadequate policies. African migrations present an opportunity for both the continent and the world, and yet today this topic triggers an emotional reaction and is generally misunderstood.<\/p>\n

Driven by the need for jobs and economic opportunity, most African migrations begin and end on the continent. Their arrival in host countries is welcomed, with many Africans saying they would like more migrants in their country. The number travelling beyond Africa are comparatively few, totalling only 14% of the global migrant population in 2017 (significantly less than Asia, 41% and Europe, 24%).<\/p>\n

Mo Ibrahim, Chairman of the Mo Ibrahim Foundation<\/strong>, said: \u201cMigration in Africa, and around the world, is largely about aspiration, not desperation. Africans leaving their home countries are looking for the chance to work and contribute to their host countries. African governments should welcome migrants while ensuring that their own citizens – our continent\u2019s greatest asset – have the education and economic opportunities they deserve. Now is the time to take action before it\u2019s too late for our young people.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Ibrahim Forum brings together a powerful coalition of African and global leaders to discuss an issue that is critical to the continent\u2019s future. The 2019 Ibrahim Forum focused on the Foundation\u2019s latest report,\u00a0Africa\u2019s Youth: Jobs or Migration?\u00a0<\/em>In recognition of the importance of young people to Africa\u2019s development, this year the Foundation welcomed back the Now Generation Forum, a meeting of young leaders from 35 countries whose recommendations fed into the discussion.<\/p>\n

The first session of the Ibrahim Forum –\u00a0Setting the picture right on African migrations<\/em>\u00a0– explored African perspectives on migration, highlighting that human mobility is not a recent phenomenon but a dynamic that has contributed to progress over many centuries.<\/p>\n

Ellen Johnson Sirleaf<\/strong>,\u00a0former President of Liberia, 2017 Ibrahim Laureate<\/strong>\u00a0and Chairperson of the High-Level Panel on International Migration in Africa<\/strong>, said: \u201cIn recent times, there has been a lot of movement of young Africans across borders in search of opportunity. This has created a fear and a very emotional response\u2026but there is no migrant crisis. The majority of those who cross borders do so legally; they carry with them capital, knowledge, skills, technology; they pay taxes; and they form a sizeable part of the GDP of their host countries.\u201d<\/p>\n

Vera Songwe<\/strong>,\u00a0Executive Secretary of the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa<\/strong>, highlighted how a lack of economic opportunity is driving Africans to leave their home countries: \u201cThe conversation on migration is essentially a conversation on governance and what our leaders need to do to ensure Africans do not go outside the continent. 80% of those Africans migrating say they are doing do because they don\u2019t have jobs, because our countries don\u2019t have the right business or policy environments.\u201d<\/p>\n

In the second session \u2013\u00a0The African youth bulge confronted by jobless growth<\/em>\u00a0\u2013 panellists discussed the current and future challenges of the African job market, including the unexploited potential of agriculture and the changes expected from the Fourth Industrial\u00a0Revolution.<\/p>\n

Abdourahmane Ciss\u00e9<\/strong>,\u00a0Minister of Petroleum, Energy and Renewable Energy of C\u00f4te d\u2019Ivoire,<\/strong>\u00a0outlined his country\u2019s efforts to create economic opportunities for its youth. \u201cInnovation is key, yes, but if you want people to innovate, you need to ensure they have access to the necessary resources, particularly information technology. In C\u00f4te d\u2019Ivoire, we have focussed on vocational training and\u00a0technical skills, and invested in areas that help students access jobs, including creating tax incentives to provide internships and hire recent graduates. We need to see many more young people engaged in politics so that they can be part of the discussions about their future.\u201d<\/p>\n

Hailemariam Desalegn Boshe<\/strong>,\u00a0former Prime Minister of Ethiopia<\/strong>, said: \u201cOur youth are deeply dissatisfied. They feel economically, socially and politically marginalised.\u00a0 African leaders and civil society should address these issues with a sense of urgency. Let\u2019s look at the education and skills that our young people actually need, focussing on what is necessary for the current economic situation in Africa.\u201d<\/p>\n

Akinwumi Adesina<\/strong>,\u00a0President of the African Development Bank Group<\/strong>, highlighted the importance of involving more young Africans in agriculture: \u201cWe always talk about the great potential of our continent, but nobody can eat potential. We need to take this great demographic asset that we have – our young people – and turn it into an economic powerhouse, both for ourselves and the rest of the world. We\u2019ve got to get young people into agriculture and create a new group of \u2018agri-preneurs\u2019\u201d.<\/p>\n

Natasha Kimani<\/strong>,\u00a0Head of Programmes at Well Told Story and a member of the Now Generation Forum<\/strong>, argued for a fresh perspective. \u201cWe need to change how we talk about young people and how we talk to young people. Instead of assuming we know what they need, why don\u2019t we ask them? And as young people, if we want to thrive, we must hold our governments accountable. We need to put our leaders on the spot and ask them difficult questions. Don\u2019t be afraid to challenge authority and ask for what you deserve \u2013 because the more you ask, the more you get!\u201d<\/p>\n

In the third session –\u00a0The way forward: bolstering mobility, updating skills, sharing responsibilities –<\/em>\u00a0panellists explored options to strengthen the capacity of the continent to make the most of its greatest resource, its human capital, and ensure no one if left behind.<\/p>\n

Arancha Gonz\u00e1lez<\/strong>,\u00a0Executive Director of the International Trade Centre<\/strong>, said: \u201cThe countries where mobility works are the countries which manage mobility, that don\u2019t leave mobility purely to market forces\u2026We have to recognise that migrants are often different – different in religion, culture, colour, sexual preference – this also needs to be discussed and managed. Mobility introduces diversity and diversity means strength.\u201d<\/p>\n

Festus Mogae<\/strong>,\u00a0former President of Botswana and 2008 Ibrahim Laureate<\/strong>, stressed the importance of responsible leadership in managing migration. \u201cAfrican leaders and governments should go out of their way to explain to their populations that migrants often benefit the countries into which they migrate, correcting the misperception that migrants are taking local jobs.\u201d<\/p>\n

Closing the session,\u00a0Oumar Seydi<\/strong>,\u00a0Africa Director of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation<\/strong>, highlighted the challenge of population growth. \u201cThe elephant in the room is family planning. If you look at the data, you see that the countries with the highest population growth have also tended to be the poorest ones. In our experience, investing in family planning is one of the most effective tools that countries have to break the poverty cycle. It enables women to plan their futures and fulfil their potential.\u201d<\/p>\n

The 2019 Ibrahim Governance Weekend opened with a Leadership Ceremony, celebrating progress in African leadership and governance. The evening featured a special tribute to Kofi Annan, reflecting on the legacy he left and the inspiration he continues to be. Thoughts and memories were shared by, among others: Mo Ibrahim, Chairman of the Mo Ibrahim Foundation; H.E.\u00a0Amina J. Mohammed, Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations; Kojo Annan; Mark Malloch-Brown, former United Nations Deputy Secretary-General; and Bono.<\/p>\n

Addressing over 1,200\u00a0guests,\u00a0His Excellency President Alassane Ouattara<\/strong>\u00a0said: \u201cKofi Annan was more than a friend of C\u00f4te d\u2019Ivoire, he was the son of our country and a brother who shared our pain. The name of Kofi Annan is tightly linked to the return of peace and security in our country. He was determined not to let our country sink and did not hesitate to use the full authority of the United Nations and his exceptional ability for negotiation. This nation owes him a lot.\u201d<\/p>\n

The weekend wrapped up with a star-studded music concert at the Palais de la Culture featuring some of C\u00f4te d\u2019Ivoire\u2019s and Africa\u2019s biggest stars, including: Fally Ipupa, Youssou N’Dour, Serge Beynaud and Safarel Obiang. Addressing the crowd of young Ivorians, Mo Ibrahim said: \u201cYou are the future\u201d.<\/p>\n

The 2019 Ibrahim Forum discussed latest findings from the Ibrahim Forum Report, including:<\/strong><\/p>\n