14th Summit of the Global Forum on Migration and Development (GFMD), chaired by France

Migration and development: interlinked priorities of international interest

Migration is made up of multiple shifting trends affecting countries of origin, transit and destination. The migration-development nexus demonstrates the interconnection between both themes, while questioning both the impact of development policies on migration and the impact of migration on economic, social and cultural development.

The GFMD plays a central role in international negotiations related to migration and development; through the events it regularly organizes, it encourages the exchange of ideas and best practices, and designs tangible and lasting solutions to global challenges.

The work of the GFMD comes on top of the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the implementation of the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration, adopted under the aegis of the United Nations in Marrakesh in 2018. The Forum also works in concertation with various multilateral initiatives regarding migration, at the intersection of the relevant international agendas.

Priority topics of the French Chairmanship of the 2022-2023 GFMD

France has held the rotating Chairmanship of the GFMD since 1 July 2022, and will chair the 14th Summit. It has committed to governance that is both inclusive and proactive and that can open up and develop dialogue on the contemporary challenges of human mobility.

The French Chairmanship was therefore structured around two innovative focuses:

• discussing the effects of climate change on human mobility; and
• highlighting the cultural heritage acquired through migration.

A cross-cutting approach was used to examine these focuses, taking into account the other thematic priorities of the French programme: protection of the rights of migrants; diasporas; labour migration; links between migration and culture and discourse surrounding migration; and multi-level governance of migration.

Two events highlighting these themes took place in Paris on 27 and 28 June 2023.

On 27 June, the “Narratives, culture and mobility” event took place at the French Museum of the History of Immigration (MNHI) at the Palais de la Porte Dorée. The day was structured around three themed round tables, along with original cultural features, such as the distribution of a special edition of the “Hommes & Migrations” magazine published by the museum and a visit to its permanent exhibition followed by a concert.

The “Climate and human mobility” event held in the offices of the Agence Française de Développement (AFD) on 28 June sparked discussions around three round tables of best practices and reactive and long-term operational recommendations in order to anticipate migration and displacement in the context of disasters, climate change and environmental degradation.

The January 2024 Summit, the culmination of the French Chairmanship

The Summit is the culmination and final event of the French Chairmanship. It will take place in Geneva in January 2024 and look back at discussions held regarding the migration development nexus. It will bring together more than 100 States, as well as players in civil society and the private sector, local government bodies and representatives of young people.

In this high-level setting, six themed round tables chaired by States will stimulate tangible progress towards the priorities chosen by France. Leading up to the Summit, the French mandate will feature special events, preparatory meetings and technical workshops.