DAR ES SALAAM: TANZANIA and the International Organization for Migration (IOM) have agreed to deepen cooperation on migration, employment and diaspora investment as the country seeks to use migration to support its long-term development goals under Development Vision 2050.
The agreement was reached on Monday during talks between President Samia Suluhu Hassan and IOM Director General Amy Pope at State House in Zanzibar.
The discussions focused on aligning IOM programmes with Tanzania’s development priorities, including overseas employment, diaspora engagement, investment, border management, migration data and health security.
“We have a good opportunity to build a strategic partnership between Tanzania and IOM by developing programmes that are aligned with our Development Vision 2050 and the actual needs of our people,” Samia said.
The president said Tanzania wanted to make greater use of the skills, knowledge, capital and networks of its citizens living abroad by encouraging them to invest at home and contribute their expertise to the economy.
She also called for expanded and orderly migration pathways for young Tanzanians seeking work abroad, with safeguards to protect them from exploitation, trafficking and other abuses.
Tanzania would continue working with countries of origin, transit and destination to address irregular migration while upholding the rule of law, human dignity and national security, she said.
Samia said the partnership should strengthen overseas employment systems so that Tanzanians could access decent jobs through safe migration channels, fair contracts and effective protection.
She identified other priorities as developing an inclusive national migration policy, improving migration data and coordination, using technology in border management, and responding to displacement linked to disasters and climate change.
Pope said IOM was ready to support Tanzania in connecting young people with lawful employment opportunities abroad, skills development and investment opportunities.
“The world needs migrants; Tanzania has young people who need opportunities. We want to ensure migration brings investment, growth and skills while protecting those seeking employment abroad from exploitation and violations of their rights,” Pope said.
IOM could also help Tanzania engage its diaspora, identify skills within the community and establish mechanisms to channel diaspora resources into productive investment, Pope said.
She also pointed to opportunities for cooperation on border management, identification systems, health and security at official entry points.
Pope warned of growing risks from networks that deceive African youths with false promises of jobs abroad, saying job seekers needed accurate information, secure employment contracts and protection before leaving their countries.
The two sides also discussed the use of clean cooking energy during humanitarian emergencies, particularly to protect women’s health and safety, reduce environmental damage and strengthen communities’ resilience to disasters.
IOM, a United Nations agency, promotes humane and orderly migration and has 175 member states and a presence in more than 100 countries. It has operated in Tanzania since 2002.