Kathmandu – Nepali students today (23/09) participated in discussion on interlinkages between migration and sustainable development at an interactive event organized jointly by the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) to mark the SDGs Action Week 2021.

“The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development recognizes that migration, if managed well, can be a powerful driver of sustainable development to both the countries of origin and host,” said Sara Nyanti, the UN Resident Coordinator for Nepal addressing the event.

“Remittances inflow to Nepal contributes nearly 30% of the country’s GDP. It is crucial that we all play role in making Nepali migration work for sustainable development,” she added.

The event was organized with the aim to sensitize and bring the young people into discussion about how migrant youths and well-governed migration contribute to achieve the sustainable development goals.

“Nepalis are working, studying, or living in over 100 countries across the world. Over a million Nepalis have returned home since the pandemic hit the country in 2020 - many of them empty-handed. An IOM study conducted in September 2020 suggests that 50% of the returned migrants desired for remigration citing lack of livelihood opportunities and poverty at home,” said Lorena Lando, IOM Nepal Chief of Mission addressing the inaugural session of the event.

“IOM sees an urgent need to set up an integrated rights-based and gender-responsive sustainable socio-economic reintegration package for the returnee communities,” she added.

Migration experts from IOM’s regional office in Bangkok and Headquarters in Geneva were among the presenters at the event, which was organized in collaboration with Samata School, an educational foundation serving the nation by providing education in much lower fee-structure with motto of “Education for All.”

The programme is part of the UN Nepal initiative to bring together stakeholders to reinforce shared commitment between partners across government, civil society, business, academia, and the UN system to accelerate action on the sustainable development goals during an annual week of action, awareness, and accountability for the SDGs, called SDGs Action Week from 17 to 28 September. 

The global theme for the year is #TurnItAround for a healthy, green and just recovery and keep the promise of the SDGs.

The event was organized in hybrid format – participants joining both physically and virtually with full compliance to the health protocols set by the Government of Nepal.

For more information, please contact Lorena Lando at IOM Nepal at Email: iomnepal@iom.int