The Department of Migration Management is responsible for the development of policy guidance for the field; the formulation of global strategies; standard-setting and quality control; and knowledge management relating to “mainstream” migration sectors, including labour and facilitated migration, migration and development, counter-trafficking, assisted voluntary return, migration health, assistance for vulnerable migrants, immigration and border management and overall capacity-building in migration management.

In addition, the Department also manages the IOM Development Fund and is responsible for reviewing, endorsing and managing multiregional and global projects. The Department provides technical supervision of project review and endorsement to experts in the field. It is also responsible for maintaining operational partnerships with relevant governmental, multilateral and private sector industry partners in coordination with the Department of International Cooperation and Partnerships.

The Department of Migration Management is composed of five divisions and one unit:

Migration Health Division

The Migration Health Division has the institutional responsibility to oversee, support and coordinate the Organization’s provision of migration health services globally. These services aim to meet the needs of States in managing health-related aspects of migration, and to promote evidence-based policies and integrated preventive and curative health programmes that are beneficial, accessible and equitable for vulnerable migrants and mobile populations.

Recognizing that health serves as a catalyst for fostering positive migration outcomes, and in response to the Sixty-first World Health Assembly resolution on the health of migrants, the Migration Health Division promotes research and information dissemination, advocacy of inclusive policy development, migrant-inclusive health systems and capacity-building through partnerships, networks and multi-country frameworks that ensure migrants’ improved physical, mental and social well-being, and enable them to contribute to the socioeconomic development of their home communities and host societies.

With its delocalized global functions, the Division provides technical guidance and policy advice and establishes partnerships with relevant governmental, multilateral, civil society and private entities in the domain of migration health. Through the Division’s different units, IOM addresses the needs of migrants and the public health needs of host communities; provides oversight for the Migration Health Assessment Programme, which evaluates the physical and mental health status of migrants either prior to departure or upon arrival; promotes access to equitable and quality health services for migrants, cross-border and mobile populations, including those affected by forced displacement and other crises; and provides technical standards and programme support in key thematic areas such as emerging and re-emerging diseases such as Ebola, pandemics, HIV, tuberculosis and malaria prevention and care, and mental health and psychosocial support.

For more information, see Migration Health.

Immigration and Border Management Division

The Immigration and Border Management Division has the institutional responsibility for overseeing activities related to border management solutions and immigration and visa support services. The Division provides assistance to governments in developing, testing and implementing new approaches to address particular migration processing challenges, including the use of biometrics and automated processing solutions.

It provides technical support to governments to address core capacity- building needs on border and identity solutions policy and operational systems – including data systems – border management, travel documents, border security, immigrant detention and alternatives to detention, countering migrant smuggling, border management and trade, and humanitarian border management. The Division also helps to develop initiatives to assist governments and migrants with regard to access to regular migration regimes that are efficient, reliable and secure. It also oversees the implementation of IOM’s global immigration and visa support services programmes.

For more information, see Immigration and Border Management.

Migrant Protection and Assistance Division

The Migrant Protection and Assistance Division is responsible for providing analysis, policy and technical guidance to the field in assisted voluntary return and reintegration, counter-trafficking activities and general assistance for stranded and vulnerable migrants, including unaccompanied minors.

The Division supports the field in developing and implementing safe and dignified assisted voluntary return and sustainable reintegration programmes for migrants returning to their home country; supports the development and implementation of activities directed towards the prevention of abuse and exploitation of migrants; and provides direct assistance to migrants who have been trafficked or who may have experienced abuse or exploitation, particularly vulnerable groups such as the elderly and unaccompanied migrant children.

The Division also provides relevant capacity-building to stakeholders, including governments, CSOs, international organizations and other partners to promote better knowledge and establishment of necessary synergies.

For more information, see Assisted Voluntary Return and Reintegration; Counter-Trafficking.

Labour Mobility and Human Development Division

The Labour Mobility and Human Development Division is responsible for providing policy and operational guidance in matters related to labour mobility, diaspora communities and their links to development, and migrant integration. The Division helps build IOM global capacity to address needs and priorities of governments, civil society, the private sector and migrants, to implement programmes in the field of labour mobility and to promote migrant workers’ responsibilities and rights.

It also supports the implementation of programmes to help create an environment in which migrants can support their societies and develop their individual and collective potential in order to contribute to sustainable development and poverty reduction for the benefit of migrants, their families and communities, and of countries of origin and destination.

In consultation with governments, civil society, the private sector and migrants, the Division develops tools and best practices to enable migrants to adapt and integrate rapidly into their new countries of settlement and to promote a harmonious coexistence between newcomers and host communities, in accordance with decent standards of living, human rights and self-respect.

For more information, see Labour Migration; Migration and Development; Migrant Training; Migrant Integration.

Migration, Environment and Climate Change Division

The Migration, Environment and Climate Change Division has the institutional responsibility to oversee, support and coordinate the development of policy guidance for activities with a migration, environment and climate change dimension. The Division provides assistance to and capacity-building for governments in developing and implementing innovative approaches to migration, the environment and climate change.

The Division formulates global strategies that address human mobility in the context of environmental change, land degradation, natural disasters and climate change impacts on livelihoods; mainstreams environmental and climatic factors in other migration management sectors; and integrates migration matters in external, regional and global processes that deal with climate and the environment.

The Division is responsible for internal standard-setting and overall institutional knowledge management on migration, the environment and climate change and collaborates closely with other departments in Headquarters to address and integrate these issues more comprehensively within institutional activities, as they cut across many areas of IOM’s work. The Division provides technical supervision of IOM project review and endorsement for experts in the field; and reviews, endorses and manages global projects with a migration, environment and climate change dimension.

Furthermore, the Division is also responsible for developing and maintaining partnerships with relevant governmental, multilateral, non-governmental and private sector partners, in direct cooperation with the Department of International Cooperation and Partnerships.

For more information, see Migration and Climate Change.

IOM Development Fund Unit

The IOM Development Fund Unit provides special support to developing Member States, Member States with economy in transition and, in coordination with the Regional Offices, to the relevant Country Offices in the development and implementation of joint projects by IOM and governments to address particular areas of migration management.

The Department of International Cooperation and Partnerships is responsible for supporting and coordinating the Organization’s relations with its Member States, intergovernmental organizations, civil society and the media. It also provides guidance and support for relations with governmental, multilateral and private sector donors.

The Department leads and coordinates IOM’s forum activities, including the IDM, IOM’s support for global and regional consultative processes and preparations for IOM’s annual governing body meetings. It is also responsible for the Organization’s communications and public information functions. One of the Department’s principal functions is to act as a first port of call and a “window” into IOM for external partners, answering inquiries, arranging briefings and generally providing information about the Organization and migration issues and trends in general.

The Department monitors national and international migration policy developments and promotes awareness and understanding of international migration law. It ensures broad and consistent development and dissemination of IOM’s institutional positions on key international migration policy issues and trends, in consultation with other organizational units. The Department is also responsible for keeping IOM staff informed on strategic planning and programme development, as well as coordinating, promoting and disseminating new research, in particular with respect to emerging issues. These functions include contributions to the international migration discourse, tracking international meetings, determining priorities and ensuring adequate representation

The Department of International Cooperation and Partnerships is composed of six divisions and one unit:

Governing Bodies Division

The Governing Bodies Division is responsible for preparing and coordinating the sessions of the Council and the Standing Committee on Programmes and Finance, informal consultations and the IDM, including ministerial-level conferences. It is the focal point for information concerning meetings and documents and is responsible for the translation of IOM’s official documents and publications, in the three official languages, or others as requested.

Through the IDM and by lending support to other dialogue initiatives, the Division also works to monitor emerging migration-related issues and major trends, to enhance understanding of migration and its impacts, and to strengthen the capacities and cooperative mechanisms of governments and other relevant stakeholders to address migration comprehensively and effectively. For more information, see Governing Bodies; International Dialogue on Migration.

International Partnerships Division

The International Partnerships Division is responsible for monitoring and developing IOM’s partnerships, in particular with intergovernmental organizations, civil society and other multilateral and regional institutions with a view to improving policy coherence and cooperative approaches to migration management.

The Division develops and disseminates IOM’s contributions to State-led, regional migration-related processes, supports IOM’s participation in the Regional Consultative Processes (RCPs) as a member, partner, observer or service provider at the request of participating governments, and serves as a global focal point for information on and exchange among the RCPs. It is the focal point for relations with Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) and organizes consultations to facilitate the identification and sharing of effective policies and practices on a wide range of migration issues. For more information, see Partnerships; Regional Consultative Processes.

Media and Communications Division

The Media and Communications Division enhances knowledge and understanding of IOM as the global migration agency and is the primary reference point for external sources in need of information and views on migration trends and issues. The Division has the institutional responsibility for formulating and implementing an effective public communication strategy that targets both internal and external audiences to raise public awareness about both the Organization and migration issues with a view to helping establish IOM as the reference organization on the subject. It also seeks to position IOM at the centre of the debate surrounding migration. For more information, see Press Room.

Donor Relations Division

The Donor Relations Division has the institutional responsibility for donor liaison, appeals submission and for providing guidance on reporting. The Division aims to strengthen and diversify IOM’s collaboration with donors and partners on IOM programmes and new strategic initiatives. It provides guidance, tools and funding analysis to identify donor priorities and trends and match them with ongoing and future IOM programmes. It uses a range of complementary approaches, including bilateral consultations with traditional and non-traditional donors and the private sector, field-based assessments and briefings for representatives of the international community, development of resource mobilization strategies and coordination of IOM inputs to multilateral funding mechanisms.

The Division is also responsible for the production and publication of IOM’s annual appeal document, Migration Initiatives, as well as the Partnerships in Action photo books. For more information, see Donor Relations and Resource Mobilisation.

Migration Policy Research Division

The Migration Policy Research Division is responsible for supporting IOM’s worldwide efforts in developing and conducting policy-oriented and operational research, as well as implementing its own research projects in order to inform programme delivery and policy development. It promotes deeper and more nuanced understanding of international migration within and outside IOM, and is responsible for preparing the World Migration Report. The Division is also responsible for developing and coordinating the Organization’s overall research and publishing standards and the production of around 200 IOM publications annually, including on specific migration topics, migration law, and country migration profiles. For more information, see Migration Research.

Multilateral Processes Division

The Multilateral Processes Division is the organisation’s nodal point for developing and articulating IOM’s positions and policies for key multilateral processes related to international migration policy and overall liaison with the United Nations system, including the Global Migration Group (GMG), providing guidance to IOM staff in their work with regard to coordination processes and document preparation, including in the United Nations country teams.

The Division develops and articulates IOM’s positions and policies on international migration governance and policy, including taking the lead on IOM’s work related to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, representing IOM or providing guidance to those representing the Organization at key multilateral processes dealing with these issues. The Division is also responsible for developing and maintaining the relationship with other migration-relevant platforms, such as the Global Forum on Migration and Development (GFMD), as well as other key actors, such as parliaments, cities and local authorities. The Division maintains an online portal that provides the latest information on IOM’s engagement in multilateral processes and access to guidance notes. For more information see Multilateral Processes.

International Migration Law Unit

The International Migration Law Unit is the institutional focal point for promoting awareness and understanding of international migration law. A key objective of the Unit is to encourage the dissemination and understanding both within IOM and among IOM counterparts of the international legal standards that govern migration and protect the rights of individuals involved in migration, and thus to promote migration governance that is more effective and consistent with the rule of law.

The Unit assists governments in developing and implementing migration legislation and procedures consistent with applicable international and regional standards. The Unit also represents IOM in relation to the International Steering Committee for the Campaign for Ratification of the Migrants Rights Convention and cooperates with the United Nations treaty monitoring bodies, among others. For more information, see International Migration Law.

The Office of the Director General manages the Organization and has overall responsibility for the formulation of coherent policies and oversight of activities to ensure compliance with strategic priorities. The Office comprises those units and functions that report directly to the Director General and provide advisory services and/or direct support to the whole Organization.

The Office of the Director General is composed of:

Office of the Chief of Staff

The Office of the Chief of Staff assists the Director General in the fulfilment of his mandate and provides strategic planning and coordination for the Director General’s organization and management objectives; facilitates the development and strengthening of management capacity and ensures that both Headquarters and field structures respond adequately to organizational challenges; coordinates the Organization’s complex activities; ensures accountability, follow-up and implementation of organizational policies and procedures; and facilitates coordination between Headquarters and the field.

This Office also serves as a focal point in the Office of the Director General for all matters that require direct intervention, such as staffing, financial issues and reporting matters.

Office of the Inspector General

The Office of the Inspector General contributes to the oversight and internal control of the Organization through its functions of internal audit, evaluation, rapid assessment and investigation. The Office formulates proposals for remedial action in response to problems encountered. It ensures that IOM’s objectives are pursued in compliance with the Organization’s rules, regulations and ethical standards; detects fraud, waste, abuse and mismanagement; and contributes to the management and minimization of risk.

For more information, see Evaluation.

Ethics and Conduct Office (ECO)

The Ethics and Conduct Office (ECO) is responsible for providing counsel to the Administration and staff about ethics and standards of conduct. It promotes ethical awareness and behavior through training, communication, policy development and liaison. It also provides advice on ethical issues relating to external relations. ECO receives, manages and tracks referrals concerning allegations of misconduct and unethical behavior in compliance with the IOM Standards of Conduct and related policy issues, including fraud, harassment, abuse of authority, discrimination and conflicts of interest.

A complaint intake system allows the reporting and tracking of misconduct and unethical behavior. All IOM staff have an obligation to report such cases to ECO at eco@iom.int. External parties are also invited to submit any reports or complaints in relation to any breach of IOM Standards of Conduct by an IOM staff directly to ECO: eco@iom.int.

An IOM beneficiary can also file a complaint directly on MigApp.

Access MigApp on the IOM website here.

Office of Legal Affairs

The Office of Legal Affairs is responsible for ensuring that the Organization’s activities are carried out in accordance with the constitutional and other relevant provisions adopted by its governing bodies, and that its relations with governments, organizations, private institutions and individuals have a sound legal basis. It provides advice, inter alia, on constitutional issues, the privileges and immunities of the Organization and its staff, contractual issues and staffing matters. It is also the focal point on data protection issues and provides advice to Field Offices and Headquarters to ensure that personal data of IOM beneficiaries are collected, used, transferred and stored in accordance with the IOM Data Protection Principles.

Senior Regional Advisers

The Senior Regional Advisers ensure effective coordination, communication and coherence among Headquarters, Regional Offices and Country Offices in support of the Office of the Director General. They work under the direction of the Office of the Chief of Staff, and in close cooperation with the Department of International Cooperation and Partnerships, other Headquarters departments and the Regional Offices

Spokesperson

The Spokesperson advises the Director General and senior management on all media and public information matters and oversees all aspects of public communication in the Organization, including management and supervision of the Media and Communications Division.

Gender Coordination Unit

The Gender Coordination Unit promotes and supports the implementation of the Organization’s gender policy by providing advice and technical guidance to Headquarters departments and the field. The Unit aims to ensure that a gender perspective is factored into all IOM programmes and policies and within human resources management. It strives to raise awareness on gender and migration-related issues, actively cooperating with partners at the inter-agency level, and oversees and works with a network of Headquarters and field-based gender focal points.

For more information, see Gender and Migration

Ombudsperson

The Ombudsperson is a designated impartial dispute-resolution practitioner whose role is to address employment-related problems of staff members in accordance with the Standards of Practice and Code of Ethics of the International Ombudsman Association.

For more information see here.

Staff Security Unit

The Staff Security Unit is responsible for safety and security management throughout the Organization. The Unit identifies the Organization’s institutional responsibilities in relation to all aspects of occupational safety and security and advises the Office of the Director General accordingly. The Unit also oversees its operations centres in the Administrative Centres and works with a network of field-based Staff Security Unit focal points.