Department of Programs  Management

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The Department of Programs Management is responsible for the development of policy guidance for the field; the formulation of global strategies; standard-setting and quality control; and knowledge management relating to “mainstream” the disadvantaged people sectors, including labor and facilitated distressed people, disadvantaged and development, counter-trafficking, assisted voluntary return, migration health, assistance for vulnerable migrants, immigration and border management and overall capacity-building in migration management. In addition, the Department also manages the OHRA Development Fund and is responsible for reviewing, endorsing and managing multiregional and global projects. The Department provides technical supervision of project review and endorsement to experts in the field. It is also responsible for maintaining operational partnerships with relevant governmental, multilateral and private sector industry partners in coordination with the Department of International Cooperation and Partnerships.

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The  Department  of  Migration  Management  is  composed  of  four  units:

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• Health for Disadvantaged Unit

• Disadvantaged Protection and Assistance Unit

• Labor Mobility and Human Development  Unit

• OHRA Development Fund Unit.

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The Migration Health Division has the institutional responsibility to oversee, support and coordinate the Organization’s provision of migration health services globally. These services aim to meet the needs of States in managing health-related aspects of migration, and to promote evidence-based policies and integrated preventive and curative health programs that are beneficial, accessible and equitable for vulnerable migrants and mobile populations. Recognizing that health serves as a catalyst for fostering positive migration outcomes, and in response to the Sixty-first World Health Assembly resolution on the health of migrants, the Migration Health Division promotes research and information dissemination, advocacy of inclusive policy development, migrant-inclusive health systems and capacity-building through partnerships, networks and multi-country frameworks that ensure migrants’ improved physical, mental and social well-being, and enable them to contribute to the socioeconomic development of their home communities and host societies.

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With its delocalized global functions, the Division provides technical guidance and policy advice and establishes partnerships with relevant governmental, multilateral, civil society and private entities in the domain of migration health. Through the Division’s different units, IOM addresses the needs of migrants and the public health needs of host communities; provides oversight for the Migration Health Assessment Program, which evaluates the physical and mental health status of migrants either prior to departure or upon arrival; promotes access to equitable and quality health services for migrants, cross-border and mobile populations, including those affected by forced displacement and other crises; and provides technical standards and programme support in key thematic areas such as emerging and re-emerging diseases such as Ebola, pandemics, HIV, tuberculosis and malaria prevention and care, and mental health and psychosocial support. For more information, see Migration Health.

The Immigration and Border Management Division has the institutional responsibility for overseeing activities related to border management solutions and immigration and visa support services. The Division provides assistance to governments in developing, testing and implementing new approaches to address particular migration processing challenges, including the use of biometrics and automated processing solutions. It provides technical support to governments to address core capacity- building needs on border and identity solutions policy and operational systems – including data systems – border management, travel documents, border security, immigrant detention and alternatives to detention, countering migrant smuggling, border management and trade, and humanitarian border management. The Division also helps to develop initiatives to assist governments and migrants with regard to access to regular migration regimes that are efficient, reliable and secure. It also oversees the implementation of IOM’s global immigration and visa support services programmes. For more information, see Immigration and Border Management.

The Migrant Protection and Assistance Division is responsible for providing analysis, policy and technical guidance to the field in assisted voluntary return and reintegration, counter-trafficking activities and general assistance for stranded and vulnerable migrants, including unaccompanied minors. The Division supports the field in developing and implementing safe and dignified assisted voluntary return and sustainable reintegration programmes for migrants returning to their home country; supports the development and implementation of activities directed towards the prevention of abuse and exploitation of migrants; and provides direct assistance to migrants who have been trafficked or who may have experienced abuse or exploitation, particularly vulnerable groups such as the elderly and unaccompanied migrant children. The Division also provides relevant capacity-building to stakeholders, including governments, CSOs, international organizations and other partners to promote better knowledge and establishment of necessary synergies. For more information, see Assisted Voluntary Return and Reintegration; Counter-Trafficking.

The Labour Mobility and Human Development Division is responsible for providing policy and operational guidance in matters related to labour mobility, diaspora communities and their links to development, and migrant integration. The Division helps build IOM global capacity to address needs and priorities of governments, civil society, the private sector and migrants, to implement programmes in the field of labour mobility and to promote migrant workers’ responsibilities and rights. It also supports the implementation of programmes to help create an environment in which migrants can support their societies and develop their individual and collective potential in order to contribute to sustainable development and poverty reduction for the benefit of migrants, their families and communities, and of countries of origin and destination. In consultation with governments, civil society, the private sector and migrants, the Division develops tools and best practices to enable migrants to adapt and integrate rapidly into their new countries of settlement and to promote a harmonious coexistence between newcomers and host communities, in accordance with decent standards of living, human rights and self-respect. For more information, see Labour Migration; Migration and Development; Migrant Training; Migrant Integration.

The Migration, Environment and Climate Change Division has the institutional responsibility to oversee, support and coordinate the development of policy guidance for activities with a migration, environment and climate change dimension. The Division provides assistance to and capacity-building for governments in developing and implementing innovative approaches to migration, the environment and climate change. The Division formulates global strategies that address human mobility in the context of environmental change, land degradation, natural disasters and climate change impacts on livelihoods; mainstreams environmental and climatic factors in other migration management sectors; and integrates migration matters in external, regional and global processes that deal with climate and the environment. The Division is responsible for internal standard-setting and overall institutional knowledge management on migration, the environment and climate change and collaborates closely with other departments in Headquarters to address and integrate these issues more comprehensively within institutional activities, as they cut across many areas of IOM’s work. The Division provides technical supervision of IOM project review and endorsement for experts in the field; and reviews, endorses and manages global projects with a migration, environment and climate change dimension. The Division is responsible for developing and maintaining partnerships with relevant governmental, multilateral, non-governmental and private sector partners, in direct cooperation with the Department of International Cooperation and Partnerships. For more information, see Migration and Climate Change

The IOM Development Fund Unit provides special support to developing Member States, Member States with economy in transition and, in coordination with the Regional Offices, to the relevant Country Offices in the development and implementation of joint projects by IOM and governments to address particular areas of migration management. For more information, see IOM Development Fund