Links between migration and sustainable development discussed

Students today discussed on interlinkages between migration and sustainable development at an interactive event organised jointly by the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) to mark the SDGs Action Week 2021.

"The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development recognises that migration, if managed well, can be a powerful driver of sustainable development to both the countries of origin and host,” said the UN resident coordinator for Nepal Sara Nyanti, addressing the event.

"Remittances inflow to Nepal contributes equal to nearly 30 per cent of the country’s GDP," she said, adding that it is crucial that all play role in making Nepali migration work for sustainable development.

The event was organised with the aim to sensitise and bring the young people into discussion about how migrant youths and well-governed migration contribute to achieve the sustainable development goals.

"Nepalis are working, studying, or living in over 100 countries across the world," IOM Nepal chief of mission Lorena Lando said addressing the inaugural session. "Over a million Nepalis have returned home since the pandemic hit the country in 2020 - many of them empty-handed," she said, adding that an IOM study conducted in September 2020 suggests that 50 per cent of the returned migrants desired for remigration citing lack of livelihood opportunities and poverty at home. "IOM sees an urgent need to set up an integrated rights-based and gender-responsive sustainable socio-economic reintegration package for the returnee communities."

Migration experts from IOM’s regional office in Bangkok and Headquarters in Geneva were among the presenters at the event, which was organised in collaboration with Samata School, an educational foundation serving the nation by providing education in much lower fee-structure with motto of 'Education for All'.

The programme is part of the UN Nepal initiative to bring together stakeholders to reinforce shared commitment between partners across government, civil society, business, academia, and the UN system to accelerate action on the sustainable development goals (SDGs) during an annual week of action, awareness, and accountability for the SDGs, called SDGs Action Week from September 17 to 28.

The global theme for the year is #TurnItAround for a healthy, green and just recovery and keep the promise of the SDGs.