Tanzania taps migration potential

ZANZIBAR: TANZANIA and the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) have agreed to strengthen cooperation in harnessing migration to drive development, investment and safe employment opportunities as the country implements its Development Vision 2050.

The agreement was reached yesterday at State House in Zanzibar, when President Samia Suluhu Hassan held talks with IOM Director General Amy Pope, who is in Tanzania for a working visit.

The discussions focused on aligning IOM priorities with Tanzania’s Development Vision 2050, particularly in employment, diaspora engagement, investment, border management 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,” President Samia said.

She said Tanzania was ready to harness the knowledge, skills, capital and networks of its diaspora to accelerate national development by encouraging Tanzanians working abroad to invest at home and use the experience gained overseas to contribute to the national economy upon their return.

The president also emphasised the need to expand safe and orderly migration pathways, particularly for young Tanzanians seeking employment opportunities abroad, while ensuring that their rights and welfare are protected.

She said stronger cooperation with IOM could help Tanzania maximise the development benefits of migration, while addressing challenges associated with irregular migration, human trafficking and other cross-border risks.

President Samia said the partnership should also focus on strengthening overseas employment systems to ensure Tanzanians access decent jobs through safe migration channels, fair contracts and effective protection against exploitation.

She said 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.

The president identified other priorities as developing an inclusive national migration policy, improving coordination and migration data, deploying technology in border management, and addressing displacement and migration linked to disasters and climate change.

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For her part, Ms Pope said IOM was ready to support Tanzania in making migration a driver of development by connecting young people with legitimate employment opportunities abroad, skills development and investment opportunities that offer long-term benefits to the country.

“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,” Ms Pope said.

She said IOM could also support Tanzania in engaging its diaspora, identifying skills within the community and establishing mechanisms to channel diaspora resources into productive investment.

Ms Pope also highlighted opportunities to strengthen border management, identification systems, health and security at official entry points.

She warned of growing risks posed by networks that deceive African youths with promises of jobs abroad, stressing the need for accurate information, secure employment contracts and adequate protection for job seekers before they leave their countries.

The two leaders also discussed cooperation on clean cooking energy during humanitarian emergencies, particularly as a way of protecting the health and safety of women, conserving the environment and strengthening communities’ resilience to disasters.

IOM, part of the United Nations system, is the leading intergovernmental organisation promoting humane and orderly migration for the benefit of all.

Established in 1951, it has 175 member states and a presence in more than 100 countries. IOM has operated in Tanzania since 2002.

The meeting underscored the importance of treating migration not only as a matter of mobility and border management, but also as a potential driver of economic growth, skills development, investment and social development under Tanzania’s long-term development agenda.