The Global Compact for Migration and Its Impact on African Youth


Migration is a reality of our interconnected world. Whether driven by economic aspirations, conflict, environmental changes, or education opportunities, migration shapes the lives of millions globally, including African youth. In this context, the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly, and Regular Migration (GCM) plays a crucial role in influencing migration governance, policies, and practices. But how does this international framework specifically affect African youth, who represent a significant proportion of the continent's population and a substantial segment of its migratory flows?

Understanding the Global Compact for Migration

Adopted in December 2018, the GCM is the first intergovernmental agreement designed to cover all dimensions of international migration comprehensively. Though non-binding, the Compact provides a cooperative framework with 23 objectives aimed at improving migration governance. These objectives include minimizing the adverse drivers of migration, ensuring migrants' human rights, combating trafficking, and strengthening the contribution of migrants to sustainable development.

For Africa, a continent with over 400 million young people and significant migration flows both within and beyond its borders, the GCM holds particular relevance. African youth migrate for diverse reasons, ranging from seeking better educational opportunities and employment prospects to escaping conflict and climate change-induced hardships. However, they also face unique vulnerabilities during their migratory journeys and in host countries, making it essential to evaluate how the GCM addresses their needs and aspirations.

Key Areas of the GCM and Their Impact on African Youth

1. Addressing the Root Causes of Migration

The GCM emphasizes tackling the adverse drivers of migration, such as poverty, unemployment, inequality, and climate change. For African youth, this focus aligns with their aspirations for better living conditions and meaningful opportunities at home. Initiatives under the GCM encourage investment in education, skills development, and sustainable livelihoods in countries of origin. By addressing these structural challenges, the Compact aims to reduce the necessity for precarious and irregular migration.

2. Fostering Skills and Labor Mobility

Many African youth migrate in search of work, yet they often face barriers to accessing decent jobs in host countries due to restrictive visa regimes and skills recognition challenges. The GCM promotes pathways for regular migration and calls for bilateral and regional agreements to enhance skills and labor mobility. If implemented effectively, this could open doors for African youth to access opportunities abroad without resorting to dangerous irregular routes.

3. Ensuring Protection and Human Rights

The GCM places significant emphasis on the protection of migrants, including access to basic services, combating discrimination, and safeguarding against exploitation. Young African migrants, particularly those traveling irregularly, are disproportionately vulnerable to human trafficking, abuse, and neglect. The Compact’s human rights-based approach provides a framework to ensure that states prioritize the dignity and safety of migrants, especially young people.

4. Empowering Migrants to Contribute to Development

The Compact recognizes migrants as agents of development and calls for leveraging their skills, remittances, and networks for the benefit of both origin and destination countries. African youth—dynamic, innovative, and resilient—are well-positioned to contribute significantly to sustainable development. By fostering their potential, the GCM envisions a win-win scenario where migration benefits individuals, communities, and economies.

5. Addressing Climate-Induced Migration

Africa is disproportionately affected by climate change, with young people often bearing the brunt of its impacts. The GCM acknowledges the link between environmental degradation and migration, advocating for strategies to build resilience and provide safe migration pathways for those displaced by climate-related factors. For African youth, this focus is crucial in addressing a growing driver of forced migration.

Challenges in Implementation

While the GCM provides a comprehensive framework, its implementation faces significant challenges, especially in Africa. Limited resources, political instability, weak governance, and inadequate data on migration hinder the effective translation of the Compact’s objectives into actionable policies. Furthermore, the non-binding nature of the GCM means that its success largely depends on political will and international cooperation, which can vary widely across regions and countries.

Amplifying Youth Voices in Migration Governance

For the GCM to truly impact African youth, their voices must be at the center of migration governance. Youth-led organizations, advocacy groups, and networks have a critical role in shaping policies, raising awareness, and holding governments accountable. Platforms such as the African Union’s Youth Envoy and regional migration dialogues offer opportunities for young people to engage meaningfully in decision-making processes.

Final thoughts : Opportunities for African Youth

The Global Compact for Migration presents a roadmap to address migration challenges while harnessing its benefits. For African youth, the Compact’s potential lies in its focus on creating opportunities at home, providing safe and legal migration pathways, and protecting their rights throughout the migratory process. However, translating this potential into tangible outcomes requires robust implementation, adequate resources, and inclusive governance frameworks.

African youth stand at the crossroads of opportunity and challenge in the migration landscape. With strategic investments, policy alignment, and genuine commitment from stakeholders, the GCM can serve as a catalyst for empowering young Africans and fostering sustainable development across the continent.

Your Views Matter

What are your thoughts on the Global Compact for Migration?

  1. Do you think it adequately addresses the unique challenges faced by African youth?
  2. How can young people play a more active role in shaping migration policies and ensuring their effective implementation?

Share your views in the comments below!

 

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