End the 鈥榟armful narrative鈥�; migration is a net-gain for Africa, finds UN report
End the 鈥榟armful narrative鈥�; migration is a net-gain for Africa, finds UN report
The large-scale migration of people within Africa tends to boost growth and lifts the continent鈥檚 whole economy, a new United Nations report has said, urging the world to dispel misconceptions and 鈥渉armful narratives鈥� targeting migration.
Photo: IOM Photo
Participants at an International Organization for Migration (IOM) training on welding, mechanics, masonry and tailoring skills in Rwanda. According to a UN report, remittances accounted for 13 per cent of the country's GDP in 2012 figures. Photo: IOM Photo
Cross-border movement offers 鈥�, with the social and economic benefits extending to both source and destination countries, as well as future generations,鈥� said Mukhisa Kituyi, the Secretary-General of the听听(UNCTAD), launching the agency鈥檚听听report on Thursday.
鈥淥ur analysis shows this to be true for millions of African migrants and their families,鈥� he said, adding that public perception, 鈥減articularly as it relates to international African migration, is rife with misconceptions that have become part of a divisive, misleading and harmful narrative.鈥�
According to the report, remittances travelling back home from migrant workers both outside and inside Africa rose 鈥� on average 鈥� from $38.4 billion between 2005-2007, to $64.9 billion, during the two-year period up to the end of 2016. By that point, remittances accounted for over half of the capital flows within the continent.Likewise, migrants contributed nearly 20 per cent of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in C么te d鈥橧voire according to figures from 2008, and 13 per cent in Rwanda (2012 figures).
Overall, some 19 million international migrants moved within Africa, and 17 million Africans left the continent during last year. The continent was also the destination for about 5.5 million people from outside, the report found.
Close relation between trade and migration
The report also provides evidence of the 鈥渋ntimate correlation鈥� between migration and trade 鈥� two sides of the same coin 鈥� said Junior Roy Davis, the lead author of the report.
鈥淎frica is on the cusp of tremendous change,鈥� he said, noting the recently agreed African Continental Free Trade Area and the Protocol on the Free Movement of Persons.
鈥淚n this context the report contributes to a better understanding of the implications of intra-African migration for the continent鈥檚 socio-economic transformation,鈥� added Mr. Davis.
Continent hosting majority of the world鈥檚 refugees and displaced persons
However, alongside the numbers of migrants moving and working within Africa, the continent also has some of the听听due to conflict or natural disasters.
On top of the development gains lost at home, there is a significant economic and social burden faced by host countries, leaving many migrants dependent on international humanitarian aid.
