Kolonia – The Government of the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) will develop the country’s first National Migration Policy, with support from the International Organization for Migration (IOM). 

The process was kickstarted at a recent meeting (9 August), chaired by Leonito Bacalando, Acting Secretary of the Department of Justice, and attended by Elina Akinaga, Secretary of the Department of Resources and Development and Assistant Secretaries from the Department of Emergency, Climate Change and Disaster Management (DECEM); the Department of Health and Social Services; and the Department of Foreign Affairs. Also joining the task force meeting were heads of the Anti-Human Trafficking Services Division (AHTSD), Division of Immigration and Passport Services, and Division of Labour. 

In his opening remarks, Bacalando emphasized the importance of formulating a policy to strengthen migration governance and to harness the potential of migration for national development. He stated, “The taskforce will address key migration areas of concern, to FSM citizens including those living abroad and to ensure the protection needs of people in vulnerable situations.” 

A comprehensive migration policy is expected to facilitate consultation on labour mobility issues and migration strategies. 

This initiative follows an Executive Order issued by Wesley Simina, President of the FSM, on 8 May 2024, calling for the launch of a taskforce composed of various departments to identify migration-related priorities. 

At the meeting, the representatives appointed the Department of Justice as the chair and DECEM as the vice chair of the taskforce, which will include the Departments of Justice, Foreign Affairs, Resources and Development, Health and Social Affairs and Education.  

Bacalando also stressed the need to ensure representation and active participation from all four FSM States – Pohnpei, Chuuk, Kosrae and Yap – as well as non-governmental stakeholders throughout the policy development process.  

Under the Compact of Free Association (COMPACT) agreement with the United States, FSM citizens can travel and work in the United States without a visa. This offers opportunities for education and employment in the U.S., whilst also fueling significant rates of emigration. Additionally, FSM hosts foreign nationals annually, who work in various governmental and non-governmental agencies and contribute to frequent travel within the Micronesia sub-region and the North Pacific. 

Despite these dynamics, migration-related data is limited. The new policy development project will be evidence-based, FSM Task Force-driven, and will contribute to systematic collection of migration-related data and building an evidence base to inform the policy drafting process and future programmes.  

Natasha Katusiime, Migration Management Program Officer, affirmed that IOM will provide technical assistance during the policy development process and conduct participatory capacity-building sessions for the taskforce to identify key focus areas for the migration policy. She underlined that the policy development process will be driven by the taskforce while IOM will play a supporting role. 

IOM, with support from the IOM Development Fund, is assisting similar initiatives in the Republic of the Marshall Islands and the Republic of Palau. 

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For more information, please contact at IOM Micronesia: Haimanot Abebe, Email: haabebe@iom.int, +691 320 8735