Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, 22 April 2025 – The Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) and the African Union Commission (AUC) have been working on the implementation of a transformative project titled "International Migration in Africa: Shaping a Positive Narrative and Removing Barriers to Mobility." This initiative is dedicated to promoting the economic empowerment of returnee migrant women with a particular focus on domestic workers, in Ethiopia, Kenya, and Uganda.
Global migration patterns have evolved significantly since World War II, with over 1 billion individuals having migrated. Today, approximately 281 million are international migrants, and 750 million have moved domestically. These vast shifts in migration dynamics present both challenges and opportunities for both origin and destination countries. A key area of focus is the economic empowerment of migrant women, who often find themselves in informal and precarious employment scenarios, leading to vulnerability to exploitation and rights violations.
Recognizing these challenges, the ECA and AUC are fully committed to advancing economic opportunities for returnee migrant women. This initiative aims to strengthen their participation in diverse economic activities and facilitate their reintegration into local economies. In October 2024, a workshop was conducted at the ECA, presenting findings regarding the economic conditions of returnee migrants from the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) in Ethiopia. The workshop catalyzed a strategic dialogue among stakeholders, focusing on effective reintegration and sustainable support.
“As labor migration to the GCC remains prevalent, it's crucial to support these women facing economic challenges upon return”, stated Keiso Matashane-Marite, Chief of Gender Equality and Women Empowerment Section, at the Economic Commission for Africa, in her opening remarks.
“Our joint project with the African Union aims to address challenges for returnee migrant women in Ethiopia, Kenya & Uganda. Following the October 2024 meeting in Ethiopia, an assessment report was finalized. A grant facility and capacity building activities will be launched soon”, she added.
“The goal of RRR is to improve the quality of support to people who choose to return and for it to be effective there has to be effective policies on Return, Readmission & Reintegration; enhanced engagement and collaboration’’, said Tapiwa Mucheri, on behalf of Sabelo Mbokazi, Head of Labour, Employment & Migration Division, at the African Union Commission.
A key outcome of the workshop held in October 2024 was the proposal to establish a dedicated working group which will provide strategic guidance and ensure the long-term sustainability of initiatives designed to empower returnee migrant women. By fostering multi-stakeholder collaboration, the working group will play an essential role in advancing the project’s objectives and improving the lives of countless women.
The Working Group Meeting seeks to offer strategic oversight for empowering returnee migrants from the GCC; ensure continuity and lasting impact of the project initiatives; drive policy advocacy for migration and reintegration policies and finally to enhance collaboration among stakeholders.
Participants at the Working Group Meeting include representatives from representatives from relevant government ministries, migration experts, civil society organizations, ENAT Bank, NGOs, returnee domestic workers as well as experts in labour, employment, migration, gender equality and women empowerment, economic empowerment from AUC, ILO and ECA.
Issued by:
Communications Section
Economic Commission for Africa
PO Box 3001
Addis Ababa
Ethiopia
Tel: +251 11 551 5826
E-mail: eca-info@un.org