Empowering stakeholders to respond to challenges related to unmanaged internal migration in Madagascar through Human security approach

As part of the project funded by the United Nations Trust Fund for Human Security (UNTFHS) and implemented by the International Organization for Migration (IOM) in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), two training sessions on human security were conducted in September 2024 to strengthen the capacities of key stakeholders facing the challenges of unmanaged internal migration in Madagascar.

Training 1: Human security approach for civil society actors (September 4-6, 2024), Menabe region

Held from September 4 to 6, 2024, in Morondava, the first training session gathered 17 civil society actors, including 7 women and 10 men, to explore the add value of human security in the context of internal migration through the following five modules:

1. Foundation of Human security: participants gained knowledge on human security principles, focusing on protecting individuals from threats such as violence and social exclusion. They were sensitized on the importance of rights-centered approach to ensure the safety of migrants.
    
2. Advocacy for Human security: participants were trained in advocacy techniques to promote the integration of human security into public policies, with messages targeting migrant protection and the recognition of their rights.
    
3. Resource mobilization: participants gained insights into strategies for accessing funding, enabling organizations to implement human security-focused initiatives.
    
4. Practical workshops and Real-World scenarios: interactive exercises allowed participants to apply learned concepts to real-life situations, fostering reflection on suitable solutions for specific threats faced by migrants in their regions.
    
5. Evaluation and feedback: participants assessed their learning and shared impressions, showing a deeper understanding on the issues and reinforced commitment to integrating human security into their future actions.

Training 2: Human Security Concepts and Application for Government Actors (September 9-11, 2024), Menabe Region

From 9 to 11, 2024, a second training session was held in Morondava, bringing together 27 government representatives from the Menabe region, including 23 men and 4 women. This session focused on applying the concept of human security in public policies or government interventions through four modules:

1. The three pillars of human security: participants learned about the fundamental freedoms—freedom from fear, freedom from want, and living with dignity—as the basis of human security.
    
2. Core principles: participants gained knowledge on the four guiding principles of human security essential for formulating public policies that respond to the needs of migrants and local communities, namely: human-centered approach, prevention, integrated and participatory approach, and inequality reduction. 
    
3. The seven components of Human security: participants gained knowledge on the dimensions of human security (economic, food, health, environmental, personal, community, and political) to better understand how they influence individuals’ lives, particularly in the context of migration.
    
4. Responses to local challenges and solutions for peace: participants gained insights into the specific realities of migrants and host communities, promoting an inclusive approach to reinforce peace and social cohesion.

Outlook and Collaboration with UNDP

These two training sessions in the Menabe region complement UNDP’s initiatives in regions (Androy) from where migrants depart, with similar activities. This synergy aims to establish a national strategy for managing internal migration in Madagascar, consolidating efforts to protect migrant rights and promote social cohesion in host communities. 

These sessions have thus laid the groundwork for sustainable collaboration, fostering inclusive human security to address the growing challenges of internal migration in the country.