Migration is a powerful driver of sustainable development. Migrants represent approximately 3% of the world's population, but they produce more than 9% of world GDP, some $3 trillion more than if they had stayed in their place of origin, according to  data from IOM and McKinsey & Company.

Within the framework of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, migrants have the potential to contribute to the development of their host communities through capacity building, increased workforce, investment and cultural diversity. They can also assume a central role in improving the quality of life and revitalizing the economy and the labor market in their countries of origin by transferring skills and financial resources.

However, if the migration is poorly managed it can have a negative impact on the development of the local economy and even endanger migrants and the national labor force. Other factors addressed by the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) such as climate change, labor markets, education, poverty and violence can have an impact on migration.

The 2030 Agenda provides a platform to address this close relationship and maximize opportunities. Decision makers must recognize that the SDGs are interdependent and that, therefore, an action intended to meet specific migration goals should not occur in isolation.

In search of greater synergies and broad participation, IOM developed the "A Guide for practitioners on Migration and Development", which provides ideas and advice to implement aspects of migration in the 2030 Agenda in an integrated manner with other sustainable development initiatives, involving all government levels and all social actors.

Below, we present a series of essential aspects for the implementation of integral initiatives in the field of migration and development:

  1. Participation at the local level. Local governments are in an ideal position to transform the 2030 Agenda into concrete and efficient actions; they can better adapt the goals and objectives of the Agenda to specific contexts, communicate and encourage the importance of local action for citizens and play a crucial role in the provision of services. It is vital that local actors are included in the process of designing and implementing national policies so that they are an integral part of them and that they can contribute to its functioning.
  2. Horizontal participation. Migration has complex relationships with different sectors of government. To address them adequately and work for sustainable and well-managed migration governance, governments must adopt an intersectoral approach. For example, promote a process through which migration is integrated into policies in areas such as health, education, employment and social security.
  3. Follow up of relevant structures and mechanisms. It involves evaluating the institutions, strategies, legislation, policy frameworks, plans and projects that are relevant in relation to the priority goals of the SDGs and will help to map and analyze possible synergies and compensations among the related interventions with migration. In addition, it allows identifying inconsistencies and preventing duplication of efforts.
  4. Mobilization of resources. It is necessary to identify the funding sources of the interventions. If this is done within the framework of a broader SDG implementation process, the implementing agencies should follow the implicit resource mobilization strategies. If not, or in addition to this, they will be able to write a resource mobilization plan to show which proposed interventions require additional resources and which strategies to approach partners.
  5. Develop and implement an action plan. Government actors must formally adopt plans. If the actions are carried out as part of a broader implementation of the SDGs, they should follow the formal planning processes that this entails. Otherwise, they must draft an operational ODS-migration action plan. This will summarize the priority objectives of the SDGs, the interventions to address them and provide more details on their design and implementation.​​

Here you can consult the guide with information and tips for the implementation of initiatives.