Between October and November 2025, the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) conducted a series of important initiatives in Rosso, a strategically located town on the Senegalese border with Mauritania in a bid to transform the local approach to migration management. The sessions aimed to raise awareness of the dangers of irregular migration and provide the 200 participants with concrete alternatives. 

The participants represented various stakeholders, including security forces, local authorities, community organisations, and migrants who had already settled in Rosso.

This initiative was implemented in an area that is a major transit point for migrants. According to data from the Displacement Tracking Matrix, nearly 34,000 movements were recorded at the Rosso border post between January and March 2025, 67% of which were heading towards Mauritania. This figure highlights the necessity of a coordinated strategy involving local authorities and international organisations.

The three-day exercise in the series was structured around a variety of formats to address every aspect of migration. The first day focused on capacity building. Security forces, local authorities and migration managers came together to discuss important topics such as human rights, protecting migrants at borders and cooperation between institutions. This session helped to enhance understanding of the issues at stake and to develop the skills necessary for implementing coordinated responses that fully uphold fundamental rights.

The community discussions that followed opened the door to direct and meaningful exchanges. Migrants living in Rosso, young members of the local Sports and Cultural Association and local authorities were able to discuss the realities of migration, protection and reintegration mechanisms, as well as local employment, vocational training and entrepreneurship opportunities. These discussions encouraged open dialogue about aspirations and challenges, strengthening social cohesion and building trust among local stakeholders.

“These activities helped us to better understand the risks associated with irregular migration, but also the opportunities that exist here, particularly for women,” said Mariama Gaye, head of a Women’s Promotion Group in Rosso. “We need support and training to create our own activities and contribute to the development of our community.”

To wrap up the initiative, the community forum organised brought together nearly 150 attendees. The discussions focused on two themes: the causes, impacts and local realities of irregular migration and the concrete alternatives available through employment, training and entrepreneurship. Through focus groups, powerful testimonies and cultural activities, participants emphasised the vital role communities play in preventing irregular migration and promoting sustainable, local solutions. This confirmed the effectiveness of an inclusive, community-based approach.

“Migration can be an opportunity when it is well prepared for and managed,” explained Yaya Diallo, the IOM project lead. He emphasised the goal of strengthening young people’s resilience by offering them concrete prospects in Senegal: “Our local initiatives aim to empower people so that migration is chosen freely, not forced by circumstance.”

Abdou Diagne, the Second Deputy Mayor of Rosso, welcomed the collaborative approach that had enabled sustainable, locally tailored solutions to be identified. “Rosso is a border area greatly affected by migration. It is therefore important to raise awareness and provide young people with genuine opportunities,” he said, reaffirming the municipality’s commitment to continuing this process.

This initiative is a key component of the “Strengthening the Resilience of Young People and Communities through Awareness of Irregular Migration and Its Sustainable Alternatives in Senegal” project, which is being implemented by IOM with the support of the Swedish Ministry of Justice. The project will continue to support communities, ensuring the sustainable implementation and scalability of these solutions.