M&D Forum

The UAE has selected the overarching title of “The Future of Human Mobility: Innovative Partnerships for Sustainable Development”. Changes in technology, culture, wealth distribution and demographic shifts are all likely to impact migration governance in the coming decades. How can Member States anticipate the scale and impact of these changes, and how can the GFMD foster effective partnerships to deal with them? Under this title, six themes have been developed which are intended to direct the course of 2020 activities towards a conversation that is future-focused and partnership-oriented. As in previous years, the six themes are the basis on which core GFMD activities will be conducted throughout 2020.

To promote inclusive and multi-stakeholder consultations on the proposed thematic agenda of the GFMD 2020 UAE Chairmanship this GFMD Migration and Development (M&D) Forum has been made available online in order to gather comments, inputs and suggestions from all Friends of the Forum (UN Member States and GFMD Observers) and other concerned stakeholders (civil society, private sector, mayors / local authorities, academia, migrant and diaspora associations and others).

The GFMD 2020 Chair wishes to elicit views and contributions grounded on solid experience and expertise in managing migration challenges and maximizing its opportunities. The responses (comments, suggestions, feedback, etc.) and contributions (project documents, assessment reports, etc) received will be considered, to the extent possible, in the preparations of the GFMD 2020 regional meetings which, in turn, will feed into the elaboratoin of the Roundtable background papers that will subsequently inform the Dubai Summit in January 2021.