Geneva/Seoul, 11 March – The International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on the Conflict and Fragile Countries Supporting Programme.  

This collaboration marks a pivotal initiative, bringing together eight international organizations, including IOM, under KOICA's programme aimed at enhancing the ability of fragile states to mitigate and manage societal, political, economic, and environmental risks. This initiative is aligned with the Government of the Republic of Korea’s Humanitarian-Development-Peace Nexus Implementation Strategy.  

With the support from the KOICA Conflict and Fragile Countries Supporting Programme, IOM has supported more than half a million people in Haiti, the Solomon Islands, Colombia, Zimbabwe, and Yemen. In the enhanced new phase, IOM will brand its Conflict and Fragility programme as Empowering Livelihoods and Economic Vitality in Fragile and Conflict Settings (ELEVATE) programme. The ELEVATE is aligned with IOM’s commitment to advance humanitarian assistance, development, and peacebuilding initiatives and the Global Compact for Migration (GCM). 

At the signing ceremony, Chang Won Sam, the KOICA President, said: “We are writing a new chapter in our history of partnership and cooperation today. Today’s MOU will provide opportunities to leverage the expertise of both KOICA and IOM and create synergies together, to make the world a better place to live in. With a focus on HDP nexus, KOICA and IOM have worked together and been able to overcome unexpected challenges and obstacles through solidarity and collaboration based on common values.”  

"IOM greatly values the partnership with KOICA, the Korean government, and the Korean people. For decades, IOM has partnered with KOICA to serve the world’s most vulnerable people in extremely challenging locations. What is most appreciated from the MOU is the recognition that IOM and KOICA together will bring about long-term solutions. We are investing in communities, investing in comprehensive approaches, and ultimately, we are investing in human capacities.” said Amy Pope, IOM Director General. 

With KOICA’s financial support of USD 23 million over the next three years, IOM is set to launch a series of interventions aimed at catalyzing short-term livelihood opportunities through community-based projects, supporting Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs), and enhancing economic infrastructures. Additionally, the initiative aims to enhance social cohesion and facilitate the integration of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), return migrants, host communities, and vulnerable persons in selected regions across Africa, Central Asia, and the Middle East. 

For more information, please contact: 

Jieun LEE, Email: jilee@iom.int, +82 70 4820 2648