The Hague – The Cooperation on Migration and Partnerships to Achieve Sustainable Solutions (COMPASS) successfully concluded its second global meeting in The Hague from 30 May to 1 June, as convened by the Protection Division of the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands.

COMPASS represents a platform for enhanced engagement and collaboration at national, regional, and global levels to consolidate protection efforts and promote sustainable solutions for migrants within 14 partner countries: Afghanistan, Algeria, Chad, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iraq, Lebanon, Libya, Mali, Morocco, Niger, Nigeria, Sudan, and Tunisia.

The initiative announced the launch of its new phase during the meeting, which brought together IOM staff from missions implementing the COMPASS initiative as well as their respective government representatives.

The primary objective of this meeting was to effectively prepare for the next phase of COMPASS which will be implemented between 2024 and 2027 as well as to foster stronger cooperation between the partners in addressing the challenges and opportunities to guide safe migration. The event also served as a platform for sharing context-specific experiences and learning opportunities and highlight key achievements of the current COMPASS programme.

“The second global meeting of COMPASS served as a pivotal moment for reiterating the importance of this partnership’s approach to strengthen cooperation on migration. We are excited about the outcomes of this event and the opportunities it presents for guiding safe migration and achieving sustainable solutions for migrants,” said Monica Goracci, Director of the Department of Programme Support and Migration Management.

During the three-day assembly, participants actively engaged in discussions to define the future direction of the COMPASS programme. This next phase of the initiative will continue to promote a comprehensive approach to migrant protection and guiding safe migration, with a focus on reducing fragmentation (several small projects), strengthening evidence-based programming, improving the quality of interventions, and adopting a more long term and flexible approach to funding and programming.

Additionally, COMPASS will continue to pilot and scale up promising initiatives, such as community-based planning – an approach that puts communities in the driver’s seat and offers a specialised protection approach and enhances access to legal identity.

“COMPASS represents a fundamental change in the way we address migration challenges,” stated Yitna Getachew, Head of the Protection Division at IOM. “We are forging a new path towards protection and sustainable solutions for migrants.”

The initiative also serves as a model for other donors in consolidating investment and contributing to strategic priority areas. It represents a global effort towards a more comprehensive and long-term approach to migration governance.

“The COMPASS initiative demonstrates our commitment to a holistic and inclusive approach to migration governance. Through sustained cooperation and strategic investments, we can contribute to a more secure and prosperous future for migrants,” said Warner Ten Kate, Head of the Migration and Development Division at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands.

The Global Meeting served as a crucial milestone in shaping the future of COMPASS, positioning it as a global endeavour to guide safe migration and contribute to a more effective and comprehensive migration governance framework.

For more information, please contact Barbara Salewski-Ratering, bsalewski@iom.int at IOM The Netherlands or compass@iom.int for general media inquiries.