SESRIC participated in the High-Level Officials’ Meeting on Strengthening Migration Data in the Arab Region, jointly organised by the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the League of Arab States (LAS) in Cairo, Arab Republic of Egypt, on 27–28 October 2026. The meeting brought together Directors-General and senior representatives of national statistical offices (NSOs), migration authorities, regional organisations and international agencies to discuss priorities for strengthening migration data systems and enhancing regional cooperation on migration statistics.

The meeting served as a platform to exchange experiences and identify practical actions to improve the availability, quality and use of migration data across the Arab region. Discussions focused on strengthening statistical coordination, addressing emerging migration data needs, promoting harmonised approaches to migration statistics, and supporting the operationalisation of the Arab Migration Data Network (AMDN).

Representing SESRIC, Mr. Seyid Tahir MAHMUD, Senior Statistics Officer, participated in the meeting and facilitated the discussions of Group 2, “Emerging Migration Data Needs and Route-Based Analysis and Research”, under Session 4 on “Strengthening Migration Statistics: Harmonization, Emerging Priorities and Future Data Needs”.

The group discussion focused on emerging migration trends requiring stronger statistical evidence across the region, key information gaps concerning migration routes and movements between countries of origin, transit, destination and return, and opportunities for strengthening regional cooperation on migration research and analysis. Participants also discussed ways to improve evidence on labour mobility, mixed migration, return and reintegration, climate-related mobility and displacement, and migrant deaths and disappearances.

During the discussions, participants highlighted the importance of enhancing data-sharing and cooperation mechanisms among relevant national institutions, strengthening the use of administrative and statistical data sources, and promoting collaborative research initiatives to better understand migration dynamics and evolving mobility patterns in the Arab region.

The working group identified priority areas where enhanced regional cooperation could contribute to addressing existing migration data gaps and supporting evidence-based policymaking. The recommendations developed during the session are expected to contribute to the first Workplan of the AMDN for 2026–2028.

In Session 5, “The Arab Migration Data Network”, LAS and IOM presented the proposed framework for the Network, which was discussed and endorsed by the Directors-General of the NSOs. The AMDN was officially launched, and its first Work plan adopted, on 28 October 2026 at a ceremony held at the General Secretariat of the LAS.

The meeting also provided an opportunity for participants to exchange views on future avenues for technical cooperation and capacity development aimed at strengthening migration statistics and analytical capacities across the region.

SESRIC remains committed to supporting OIC Member Countries and regional partners in advancing the production and use of high-quality statistics and evidence for informed policymaking through cooperation, knowledge sharing and capacity-building initiatives, including its Statistical Capacity Building (StatCaB) Programme.

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