Excellencies, esteemed participants,

Like migrants deciding which path to take, our world is at a crossroads. 

Down one road – the one we know – lie multiple crises for our planet.

The other is an uphill climb. But it rewards us with our only viable future: - a world that can sustain, and include, everyone.

We are in danger of missing that turn.

• Conflicts and violence are spreading; 
• COVID-19's ill effects linger; 
• Many economies are not delivering for the public good, and;
• Livelihoods and lives are increasingly being lost in climate extremes.

As a result, people are leaving their homes at levels not seen before. And too many are being lost on the way. 

Addressing these challenges is more urgent than ever. But collective action is frustratingly slow. 

There is a lack of progress in reducing the potential costs of migration, or in harnessing its many benefits – for the communities they join and those they support from afar.

Societies that welcome migrants flourish. Because migrants bring their skills, expertise and new ideas with them. 

For their families who remain behind, remittances lift millions out of poverty.

Migrants and diasporas also play an increasingly critical role in climate action.

Despite overwhelming evidence of their contributions, migrants keep facing barriers to regular and safe passage, as well as to jobs, housing, education and other basic rights. 

Instead of celebrating migrants, public voices too often use an “us” versus “them” narrative. 

Politicians simplify or politicize migration, contributing to rising anti-immigrant attitudes. 

Racism, xenophobia and discrimination sow distrust and polarization, preventing migration from fulfilling its tremendous development potential, while slowing international cooperation. 

We must reverse these trends now. UNDP is working hard to enable that. 

With human mobility programmes and partnerships in over 75 countries and territories, including with IOM and other UN partners, we see the value communities gain when countries have policies, laws and programmes to leverage migration for the common good.

In Bangladesh, we launched Aspire to Innovate (a2i), an online portal for migrant workers, forcibly displaced people and host communities. 

This helps the most vulnerable, especially women, build their skills through online training, and connects them to jobs.

In Peru, UNDP supports entrepreneurship among displaced Venezuelans and host communities through digital technology and knowledge-sharing. 

This kind of initiatives, along with others highlighted in a recent report by UNDP, IDB and OECD, contribute to fostering the socio-economic integration of migrants in Latin America and the Caribbean, as well as social cohesion.

In Moldova, UNDP piloted a unique model for engaging diasporas in local development that has now become a government programme. 

Members of Moldova's diaspora, together with their communities of origin, have supported initiatives in more than 100 municipalities, benefiting over half a million people since 2015.

Through the Africa Climate Mobility Initiative, UNDP also works to boost intra-African human mobility, engaging with Member States in Africa and key stakeholders in Europe, including the European Union, to expand free population movement.

Excellencies, esteemed participants,

We look forward to working with you all to reiterate that migrants are vital to meeting the Sustainable Development Goals – our collective commitment to end poverty and protect the only home we all share – earth. 

This Summit should serve as a basis for better policies and programmes.

I thank H.E. Aurélien Lechevallier for inviting me to join this Forum, a first for me. 

This is also my first trip as UNDP’s Crisis Bureau Director – a priority for me because our organization sees migration as crucial to building resilience, along with breaking the cycle of vulnerability and poverty.

I’m encouraged to see such distinguished guests, and such a diverse audience, coming together to enhance the development promise of migration.

Whether you represent a national or local government, a migrant or diaspora organization, civil society, the private sector, or an international organization, your participation today can help create a safer, fairer world for migrants - allowing them to be real agents of sustainable development.

I’m excited to hear the many experiences and practices we will exchange over the coming days towards this purpose.

UNDP remains ready to support you all in our collective mission to make migration work for everyone and build a future that leaves no one behind.

Thank you!