…The flexible funding deal running through 2028 reaffirms Belgium’s decades-long commitment to principled migration governance and diaspora empowerment.
By Bunmi Yekini
GENEVA – The Government of Belgium has announced a renewed partnership with the International Organization for Migration (IOM), committing €1 million annually from 2025 to 2028 in flexible, unearmarked funding to support global migration governance.
The announcement was made during the IOM’s 36th Standing Committee on Programmes and Finance and builds on a high-level bilateral meeting earlier this month. The agreement underlines Belgium’s longstanding role as a committed ally in addressing migration challenges and promoting dignified, safe, and sustainable migration systems.
“Belgium has been a steadfast and valued partner to IOM since our founding, consistently supporting our mission to protect people on the move and promote safe, orderly, and dignified migration,” said IOM Director General Amy Pope. “This renewed support reflects Belgium’s commitment to international solidarity and allows us to continue assisting migrants and communities facing the greatest challenges, from protracted displacement to human trafficking and climate-driven mobility.”
The flexible nature of Belgium’s contribution enhances IOM’s ability to swiftly respond to urgent needs on the ground. Past support from Belgium has proven pivotal in areas such as early recovery in war-affected Ukraine and a six-country regional project in West Africa aimed at boosting resilience to climate change, improving migration data governance, and driving sustainable development.
In Belgium itself, IOM collaborates extensively with all levels of government, civil society, diaspora communities, and the private sector to advance inclusive migration management. Since 1984, the organization has supported over 90,000 voluntary returns of migrants from Belgium, in partnership with the Federal Agency for the Reception of Asylum Seekers (Fedasil), ensuring dignified and sustainable reintegration.
Belgium also leads in diaspora engagement through its robust collaboration with IOM’s Country Office in Belgium and Luxembourg. With over two decades of experience, the office implements global strategies that empower diaspora communities to actively participate in development initiatives.
Key projects include O-REMIT, which enables migrants to send remittances affordably and invest in their home countries, and the Conex programme, which equips diaspora leaders with skills to protect and support vulnerable community members. Both initiatives are guided by the IOM Belgium Diaspora Advisory Board, ensuring alignment with community priorities.
“These efforts leverage the skills, networks, and resources of diaspora communities to strengthen migration governance and development both at home and abroad,” the IOM noted in a statement. “Guided by the voices of migrants themselves, Belgium’s partnership continues to deliver real, lasting impact.”
The new funding commitment positions Belgium as a model for whole-of-society approaches to migration, one that is responsive, inclusive, and grounded in solidarity.