Community Development
  • In Mainé-Soroa, the arrival of internally displaced persons fleeing attacks perpetrated by non-state armed groups has affected the education sector. The primary school's reception capacity was limited, and the facility was obsolete, offering an environment to children from local communities that was not conducive to learning. In 2022, the Niger Community Cohesion Initiative (NCCI) programme renovated and equipped the primary school to improve conditions for learning and reduce the dropout rate. Ramatou, the principal of a primary school in Mainé-Soroa, a commune from the Diffa region at the heart of the Lake Chad Basin region and at the border with Nigeria, recalls what it was like before when classes were held under tents which amplified the…

  • Beneficiaries receiving seed capital for their entrepreneurship.

  • It is essential to disseminate that the immigration status of parents should not be an impediment to process the birth certificate and grant the right to identity to their children. An IOM team accompanied in August 2022 a session to issue birth certificates to children of migrant workers in the Soconusco region of southern Mexico, Mexico. Tthe story of a midwife who encourages families to obtain birth certificates for their daughters and sons in Tapachula, Chiapas.

  • Photos of by IOM Georgia taken during different activities in previous years.

  • A compilation of visibility products for IOM's 70th Anniversary. For queries, contact avteam@iom.int

  • Different UN agencies working in Marka Town, Lower Shabelle Region of Somalia conducted a joint visit on June 2021 to Marka hospital, a local NGO supported by the UN, Nuurto Taliyo IDP camp, and other locations. Marka Town of Marka District was recovered from Al Shabaab (extremist group) in March 2017. Certain areas of Marka District are still under Al Shabaab control and are slowly being recovered with the government and AMISOM support. IOM continues to provide community stabilization support to Marka Town and especially newly liberated locations in Marka district and other locations within Lower Shabelle Region.

  • Documentation of IOM programmatic works in Nigeria in the time of COVID-19 pandemic. (Please find more information in the individual photos and videos)

  • The Central-East region is the most affected community by irregular migration in Burkina Faso. In 2018, 56 per cent of migrants assisted to voluntary return to Burkina Faso by IOM came from this region. As part of its awareness raising activities, IOM trained 25 community actors from the Central-Eastern Region of Burkina Faso trained by the International Organization for Migration (IOM) in community mobilization techniques. The goal is to empower these voices to effectively raise awareness among young people about the dangers of irregular migration. Migration of young “able-bodies” from the region is more often due to a precarious economic situation, plus social and cultural motivations. Therefore, it is crucial to adopt participatory approach…

  • Returned migrants participate in a cash-for-work activity in Garango, in Eastern Burkina Faso. When migrants return home, they often lack money to care for their basic needs. IOM organizes cash-for-work activities as a first step towards the sustainable reintegration of migrants. These activities contribute to strengthening social cohesion between returned migrants and community members, while offering returned migrants the financial boost they need to restart their lives.

  • In Burkina Faso, The International Organization for Migration (IOM), in collaboration with the Government of Burkina Faso, and with funding from the European Union, is supporting the establishment of livestock farmer groups in Burkina Faso. In Centre-East and Centre-South of Burkina Faso, the two main regions of origin for migrants leaving this country, IOM has provided about 500 sheep, rams, oxen and donkeys to 99 Burkinabè who returned from Libya and Algeria in 2018 to ensure their socio-economic reintegration in the country. To support their sustainable reintegration, the returnees received – in addition to this in-kind assistance – training in business management, cooperative operation and livestock farming techniques. The training sessions,…

  • On 23 March 2019, a joint monitoring mission led by the Ministry of Interior of Jubaland State Government with participants from various line ministries and MOIFAR was conducted in Kismayo to monitor three Midnimo projects (2 schools and 1 market shed). The monitoring team first visited Gulwade Primary and Secondary School where five latrines as well as three rooms were constructed in December 2017 used as common facility: an examiner›s room, kitchen, and storage. The team also visited Aqoon Bile Primary School, which was constructed in February 2018 and opened in March 2018. Prior to the construction of this school, Aqoon School had two campuses in different locations. One was right outside the school which was comprised of two structures…

  • Due to a major drought in 2017 in Mauritania, people in the Hodh El Chargui region are receiving a humanitarian assistance.

  • IOM Global Solar Lantern Initiative

  • Stories and Dreams of Conflict-displaced Children

  • Half of the displaced Iraqis at Haj and Qayara emergency sites are under the age of 17. They did not have enough recreational spaces to release stress and frustration caused by displacement. Thanks to our US-based partner, IOM Iraq was able to construct playgrounds at both sites that include football and volleyball pitches. At the inauguration on 10 September 2017, little girls played obstacle races while boys played football.

  • Refugees under IOM care in Indonesia who've completed a vocational training program provide free haircuts to street children and residents of their host community.

  • Vulnerable members of three host communities,namely Itang, Bonga and Jewi, in Gambella Region were provided with transitional shelter and livelihood assistance.

  • The military crisis may be over in Mosul city, but the humanitarian calamity continues. To help people return, the city needs tremendous humanitarian assistance. Massive destruction meets the eye across West Mosul

  • Since 1991, over a quarter million undocumented migrants have arrived in Bangladesh from the northern Rakhine state of Myanmar. Approximately 32,000 of these migrants are officially registered as Myanmar Refugees living in the two government-recognized camps in Kutupalong village of Ukhiya Upazila and Nayapara village of Teknaf Upazila in Bangladesh's south-eastern district of Cox's Bazar. Over 60,000 are undocumented, not registered as refugees, and officially known as Undocumented Myanmar Nationals (UMNs). They live in makeshift settlements around the same areas. The vast majority of UMNs live amongst the Bangladeshi population throughout Cox's Bazar and the surrounding districts. IOM and its partners have programs targeting UMNs and…

  • A collection of portraits of migrants from everywhere IOM works to help make migration humane.

  • Starting from March 2016 migrants and local community members in the Nigerien town of Agadez have been trained how to make bricks using only plastic and sand. OIM Niger and the Italian NGO Terre Solidali are behind this innovative and eco-friendly training project. The Italian NGO, based in Niamey, has a solid experience in this EU-Certified technique and has provided an excellent training to the participants. The produced bricks will be then used to offer a paving service in the town of Agadez. The training has been received with optimism by local authorities and stakeholders. The principal objectives are to encourage community development project, provide alternatives to irregular migration and offer professional training to the youth…

  • Following a request by the Ministry of Livestock, IOM conducted a commercial destocking exercise on 1 October 2011 in the Kulan host community, Lagdera District. IOM purchased 500 emaciated goats and sheep from host community families. The proceeds from the sales will meet their immediate, life-saving needs and the meat will be used to supplement their diets.

  • IOM works with the government of Sri Lanka and with international governments to help restore stability to the country after 30 years of conflict. The strongest needs are in the North and East of the country, which also suffered most in the tsunami of December 2004. IOM works with communities to provide livelihood support – simply put, getting people back to work so they can feed, clothe and educate their families. Many thousands of Sri Lankans, particularly in the Tamil north, have been displaced several times by conflict. In fact the world’s largest camp for internally displaced people, at Menik Farm, near Vavuniya, closed just last year. Hundreds of thousands of people have returned to their former homes, to a shattered economy and a climate…