Global Forum on Migration and Development

We are the official platform for young people and children to organize and participate in the activities of the Global Forum on Migration and Development (GFMD), through its participating governments and stakeholder mechanisms.

We participate through

  • Contributing to GFMD summits

    We have participated in GFMD Summits and Regional Meetings since 2018, sending youth participants and speakers. We have also organized Youth Forums as preparation spaces for young people and participants.

  • Participating in working groups

    We participate in year-round Working Groups as active members and contributors.

  • Regional Meetings

    We participate in all regional meetings, consulting and preparing young people’s inputs, that are then conveyed through young representatives.

  • Year Round Activities

    As the platform for youth engagement, we are also observers to the Friends of the Forum and GFMD Steering Group, where we can participate to represent youth voices in the coordination of the GFMD Strategy.

Relevant projects

  • Youth Forums

    Our annual Youth Forums linked to the GFMD Summit have allowed young people to consult and prepare for their participation in government and other stakeholders’ discussion and spaces.

  • #Ittakesacommunity

    Youth contributed to the design of the GFMD-led social media campaign, and led youth takeovers on IOM accounts.

  • Shaping narratives working group

    We hold one of the seats of the working group on Shaping Public Narratives, led by Canada and Ecuador at the GFMD.

  • Covid Working Group

    We contributed to the working paper of the Working Group on COVID-19 co-led by Switzerland and the Business Mechanism at the GFMD

  • GFMD REGIONAL CONSULTATIONS 2020

    We led consultations with 150+ organizations form 75 countries representing 88,000 youth and presented the results at the GFMD

Impact

  • 4

    Youth Forums

  • 430+

    Participants

  • 98.000

    Youth Consulted

  • 19

    Roundtables Contributions

Latest report

Impact reports

How we engage

History of Engagement

We started our engagement as MGCY in 2018, building off the work of One Third and the Swedish Chairmanship in creating spaces for youth engagement in civil society at the GFMD. After the first delegation in 2018, we continued to engage and create stronger spaces and Youth Forums for youth participation until the achievement of our mandate in 2021.

What is the GFMD?

Global Forum on Migration and Development

Created in 2007, the Global Forum on Migration and Development (GFMD) is a state-led, informal and non-binding process, which helps shape the global debate on migration and development. It provides a flexible, multi-stakeholder space where governments can discuss the multi-dimensional aspects, opportunities and challenges related to migration, development, and the link between these two areas. The GFMD process allows governments – in partnership with civil society, the private sector, the UN system, and other relevant stakeholders – to analyze and discuss sensitive issues, create consensus, pose innovative solutions, and share policy and practices.