Support for efforts to tackle irregular migration at source will
be boosted today [9 October] as funding is announced to support
programmes across the globe, including those which aim to reduce
migration flows upstream as well as protecting migrants from
being exploited by criminal smuggling gangs.
In the biggest contribution made by any donor to date, £4 million
from the existing aid budget will be allocated to the UN's
Migration Multi-Partner Trust Fund (MMPTF), which was launched in
2019 to help implement the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and
Regular Migration.
The MMPTF has to date funded 24 programmes around the world in
collaboration with 16 UN organisations, including initiatives
which tackle organised immigration crime, such as by training
border authorities and security officials in efforts in Guinea
and Liberia.
Others are aimed at supporting migrant communities globally, and
in doing so support our work to tackle criminal smuggling gangs.
This includes providing health and housing support to migrant
street children in Ethiopia and supporting migrants in Ecuador to
build skills and find employment opportunities.
By providing more opportunities at home, the funding aims to
reduce the need for dangerous journeys to other countries,
including the UK.
Today's announcement marks the latest step in delivering on the
government's manifesto commitments to smash criminal gangs,
secure UK borders and protect the vulnerable. It complements
wider work the government is undertaking to reduce irregular
migration and smash the criminal gangs responsible, including by
creating a new Border Security Command, which will coordinate the
work of law enforcement and intelligence agencies to tackle
organised immigration crime.
Development Minister, ,
said:
“Earlier this year, the new UK government made a commitment
to tackle irregular migration at source. In our largest
contribution to the UN's Migration Multi-Partner Trust Fund to
date, today's announcement will do just that.
"Working with our international partners, including the UN
and those in the Global South, we will grip the migration crisis
that is putting millions of lives at risk. It will complement
work already underway to secure the UK border against criminal
smuggling gangs.”
The £4 million in funding will be formally announced later today
during a conference organised by the UN Network on Migration,
which is coordinated by the International Organisation for
Migration, and the UN Economic Commission for Africa, in Addis
Ababa, Ethiopia. A panel event, which the UK will speak on, will
explore how countries can work together to deliver on the Global
Compact for Migration – the first-ever UN global agreement on
international migration.
The announcement comes as Kenya reaffirms its commitment to the
Fund, highlighting the ongoing international cooperation taking
place to help make global migration safer and more
orderly.
Today's announcement follows a commitment made by the Prime
Minister during this year's European Political Conference (EPC)
to work with international partners, including countries across
the Global South, to tackle the migration crisis. The Prime
Minister announced an up to £84 million funding package for
projects across Africa and the Middle East to address the factors
that drive people into small boats.
The UK has confirmed that £14 million of the package will support
the UNHCR and World Food Programme to help refugees in Jordan,
and £4 million will go towards the Rome Process, the Italian
government's project to tackle the root causes of irregular
migration.
Notes to editors:
