IOM, African Development Bank Strengthen Strategic Partnership Through Landmark Agreement

Geneva/Abidjan, 3 October 2025 - On the second day of the Africa Resilience Forum in Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the African Development Bank Group (AfDB) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen strategic cooperation on migration governance, diaspora engagement, and development responses to internal displacement across Africa.

The agreement, signed by Ms. Nnenna Nwabufo, Vice President (VP), Regional Development, Integration & Business Delivery (RDVP) at AfDB and IOM Chief of Staff Mohamed Abdiker, builds on a long history of evolving cooperation between the two institutions and places human mobility at the centre of Africa's development agenda.

"This partnership reflects our shared commitment to place migration at the heart of Africa's development," said Mohamed Abdiker, IOM Chief of Staff. "By aligning our efforts with Agenda 2063 and AfDB's Ten-Year Strategy, we are investing in policies and programmes that uphold rights, expand opportunities, and strengthen resilience for migrants and communities alike. Migration, if governed responsibly, can be a powerful driver of inclusion, stability, and prosperity."

VP Nwabufo said: "The partnership between the Bank and IOM will be a critical enabler to harness migration as a driver of inclusive and sustainable development. This includes reaping the benefits of the African Continental Free Trade Area Agreement (AfCFTA) implementation for decent job creation for youth and closing gender gaps."

The strategic framework recognizes that well-managed migration and the inclusion of forcibly displaced persons, returnees, and their host communities, along with diaspora engagement beyond remittances, are not only a humanitarian priority but also a catalyst for long-term development.

The three core strategic partnership areas of the MoU between the Bank and IOM are migration governance - managing migration for inclusive development, prosperity and peace; African diaspora engagement for development - leveraging human, economic and social capital for resilient and peaceful societies; and development responses to internal displacement.

The partnership is set to serve as a blueprint for evidence-based, people-centred migration policies that strengthen resilience and accelerate sustainable development across Africa.

Since 2018, more than USD 105 million has been invested in joint initiatives under the partnership. The new MoU reinforces this collaboration and seeks to maximize the positive impact of migration, particularly for women, youth, and marginalized groups. It also supports ongoing efforts by regional economic communities and the United Nations to advance the Global Compact for Migration.

For more information, please visit IOM's Media Centreor contact the African Development Bank: Jerome Berndt, Principal Fragility and Resilience Officer, Transition States Coordination Office, [email protected].