The global significance of the MICIC Guidelines lies in their operational approach to addressing challenges faced by migrants before and during crises and conflicts. With a primary focus on safeguarding human rights, enhancing assistance, and promoting inclusivity, the MICIC guidelines support governments, international organizations, civil society and local communities to strengthen resilience, save lives, and mitigates social tensions in times of conflict or disaster. Through effective cooperation and policy development, it facilitates post-crisis recovery and fosters global solidarity, ensuring comprehensive protection and well-being for migrants across borders.

Supported by the US Department of State Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration (PRM), the MICIC Guidelines are put into practice through the Regional Migration Programs (RMP) to strengthen the capacities and resources of governments to manage complex migration flows, particularly to protect migrants in vulnerable and crisis situations. The work of the Regional Migration Programs centers revolves around three operational hubs: Asia, Africa, and the Western Hemisphere. Since the launch of the MICIC Guidelines, IOM has delivered more than 100 trainings and awareness raising sessions to various stakeholders in more than 60 countries.

Asia

The migration and mobility landscape in South, Southeast, and Central Asia is dynamic, diverse, and complex, characterized by circular and seasonal migration, regular and irregular migration, large populations of refugees, asylum seekers, internally displaced people, and stateless persons.

This encompasses a range of essential activities, including enhancing governmental capabilities to formulate and execute emergency consular contingency strategies aimed at safeguarding their nationals facing adversities overseas. Additionally, it focuses on empowering destination countries with the necessary expertise and capabilities to deploy emergency migration management mechanisms, ensuring effective aid and protection for migrants during times of crisis.

Since 2018, activities connected to achieving and implementing the MICIC guidelines have been completed in: Azerbaijan, Cambodia, China, Japan, Malaysia, Maldives, Micronesia, Philippines, Thailand, Turkmenistan and Türkiye.

Africa

Migration flows in Africa are complex and mixed. 80 – 90 per cent of migration on the continent is internal and driven by dynamic socioeconomic factors, as well as conflict and political instability.

Under the MICIC initiative, the capacity of governments to better anticipate, prepare for, and respond to migration flows relating to emergencies and crises has been strengthened. MICIC capacity-building activities across the region brought together consular officers from embassies and government officials to familiarize them with emergency management of vulnerable and stranded migrants. Training of Trainers sessions on MICIC and the Migration Crisis Operational Framework (MCOF) have increased the expertise of government officials and stakeholders on emergency management.

Since 2018, activities connected to achieving and implementing the MICIC guidelines have been completed in: Burkina Faso, Djibouti, Egypt, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Libya, Mozambique, Nigeria, South Africa, Sudan, Tunesia, and Tanzania.

Western Hemisphere

Countries in the Western Hemisphere continue to be a source, transit and destination of internal, intra-regional and international migration, with an increase in recent years both in terms of numbers and complexity of migration scenarios. The main drivers for migration in the region are the search for economic opportunities, the occurrence of disasters related to natural hazards, the need for family reunification, as well as instability and civil unrest driven by inequality, insecurity, discrimination, and violence.

Through the Regional Migration Programme, the MICIC guidelines are used to help governments to better prepare for and respond to migration flows and crises. MICIC activities in the region aim to strengthen capacities and interinstitutional coordination for the inclusion and protection of migrants in the context of emergencies, as well as capacities of government-run migrant centers to manage large-scale population movements in times of crisis. During the COVID-19 pandemic, IOM strengthened the capacities for institutional camp management and supporting institutions to incorporate migrant-sensitive actions that are in line with the MICIC Guidelines, in standard operating procedures and emergency response strategies.

Since 2018, activities connected to achieving and implementing the MICIC guidelines have been completed in: Bahamas, Belize, Bolivia, Costa Rica, Dominica, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Guatemala, Mexico, Panama, Peru and St Maarten.