How can migration issues be mainstreamed into social and territorial equity policies?
This was the central question at a technical meeting recently held between the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) and the Directorate-General for Community Development, Equity Promotion and Child Protection (DGDCPE), as part of the development of the National Equity Strategy (SNE).
A migration sector with multiple levers
Far from being a marginal issue, migration emerges, following these discussions, as a genuine driver for reducing social and territorial inequalities in Senegal. Six key areas for collaboration were identified by both parties: the reintegration of returning migrants, the protection of vulnerable populations, access to legal identity, human mobility linked to climate change, support for the diaspora, and the production and analysis of migration data.
This last aspect received particular attention. As Senegal seeks to develop more targeted public policies, the availability of reliable data on migration flows – whether relating to returns, departures or displacement linked to climate disruption – is becoming a strategic priority for steering government action towards the regions and populations most at risk.
Coordination and co-creation: the watchwords
Beyond identifying these key areas, the meeting above all brought to light structural needs: better coordination between the various stakeholders involved, enhanced data sharing between institutions, and the development of co-created projects designed specifically to serve the most vulnerable populations.
This emphasis on coordination is significant. It reflects a desire to move away from a sectoral and fragmented approach to migration and to fully integrate it into cross-cutting policies on community development and equity – an issue that is all the more sensitive in a country where migratory dynamics, both internal and international, are profoundly reshaping territorial balances.
IOM reiterates its commitment
Following the meeting, the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) reaffirmed its readiness to support the Senegalese authorities in the collection, analysis and utilisation of migration data. The declared objective is to contribute to the emergence of a more inclusive public policy, based on evidence rather than solely top-down approaches.
This technical partnership forms part of a broader trend in which data is gradually becoming a key tool for governance in Senegal, whether to anticipate the effects of climate change, provide better support for returning migrants, or strengthen ties between the State and its diaspora. It remains to be seen how these technical guidelines will be implemented in practice within the National Equity Strategy, which is currently being developed.
