Migration Dialogue from the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa Member States (MIDCOM) Type: Regional consultative process on migration (region covered: Africa)

Formal association with regional or multi-stakeholder organization: ​Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA)

Established: 2013

The Migration Dialogue from the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa Member States (MIDCOM), [formerly known as the COMESA – RCP) was formed as a pillar on migration within the broader framework of the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa, itself a part of the African Economic Community.
The main objective of the COMESA MIDCOM is to provide a platform for informal and non-binding dialogue on issues and opportunities related to migration management thereby improving the capacity of the governments to better manage migration, network building through regular meetings, including substantial progress towards harmonized data collection systems and harmonized immigration policy and legislation.

Current Thematic Focus
Migration, trade and development;
Irregular migration;
Migration profiles
Migration and health;
Capacity building in migration management;
Forced migration;
Labour migration;
Data collection
Migration policies, legislation, signing, ratification and full implementation of COMESA Protocols on Free Movement of Persons, Services, Labour, Rights of Establishment and Residence.

Members States (19 States)

Chairing Country: Zambia
Past Chairs: Ethiopia, Zambia

Observer States
Under discussion

Observer Organizations
Provision shall be made for Organizations such as African Union (AU), AU Regional Economic Communities (RECs), other ISCMs, UN agencies and other Inter-Governmental Organizations to participate as Observers.
The following criteria will be generally considered for granting observer status on an ad hoc basis:
i.              The benefit to be derived by the MIDCOM from the relevant experience, expertise and/or perspective on issues of concern to the MIDCOM member countries of the prospective Observer(s);
ii.             The ability and readiness of the prospective Observer(s) to conduct complementary activities at national, regional and international levels that is of relevance to the RCP objectives;
iii.            The ability of the prospective Observer to mobilize financial and other resources to support the proposed actions of the RCP and/or their willingness to align their activities with those of the RCP.
The Chair-in-Office, with due regard to the considerations in Section (i-iii above), may invite on an ad hoc basis relevant international, regional, organizations, institutions and affiliates to participate as Observers for that particular meeting. The Chair-in-Office will duly inform the RCP Member States of such invitation.

Currently, the COMESA Secretariat acts also as a secretariat for MIDCOM until the issue of the RCP Secretariat is discussed and decided on.
IOM provides support to the COMESA Secretariat.

Ben Bella Road, P. O. Box 30051
Lusaka, Zambia
Tel: +260 211 229725/32
Fax: +260 211 225107
Email: info [@] comesa.int

IOM Mission in Zambia
P.O. Box 32036
Telephone: +260 1 25 67 01/02; +260 211 25 03 28; +260 211 25 40 55
Fax:  +260 211 25 38 56

No specific website for MIDCOM, but see COMESA general website www.comesa.int

28 July 2017, Lusaka, Zambia, the First meeting of the COMESA Regional Dialogue on Migration (MIDCOM)
26 – 27 September 2013, Lusaka, Zambia, Founding Meeting of the COMESA Regional Dialogue on Migration
19-20 November 2012, Kampala, Uganda, COMESA 31st meeting of the Council of Ministers
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