Thematic Meetings

Upon request of the Rabat Process partner countries, expressed at the 2019 Senior Officials Meeting in Ouagadougou, an assessment of anti-trafficking gaps, needs and transferrable practices in the member states of ECOWAS and Mauritania was conducted in the course of 2019-2020. On 16 September 2020, 14:00 to 15:00 (CEST), the assessment report will be presented to the dialogue partners and discussed at a virtual meeting.

This workshop will open a three-day sequence planned for Paris in October which will bring together the member countries of the Rabat Process for several meetings.

Entitled "International Migration and Development: Integration of the Migration Dimension into Development and Development Cooperation Policies", the general objective of this workshop is to improve the understanding and knowledge of policies and strategies integrating the link between migration and development as well as their monitoring and implementation in the region of the Rabat Process.

Abuja, 5-6 November 2019, hosted by Nigeria and co-chaired by France and Belgium.

On 5-6 November 2019 a technical workshop entitled "Diaspora remittances and sustainable development" was held in Abuja. This workshop, opened by the Nigerian Minister of Foreign Affairs and co-chaired by France and Belgium, was structured into 5 working groups, all aimed at presenting good practices (a dozen in total) in the field of the mobilisation of remittances for productive investments in countries of origin.

Abidjan, 24 October 2019, hosted by Côte d'Ivoire and co-chaired by France.

The Rabat Process organized a Regional Workshop on "Fighting migrant smuggling" in Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire, on 24 October 2019. The meeting, co-chaired by France and Côte d'Ivoire, brought together 68 participants representing 25 partner countries of the dialogue (including 10 European and 15 African countries), the European Union, ECOWAS, UNODC, Frontex, UNHCR, Interpol, MMC, SEEFAR and ICMPD experts. This meeting was the opportunity for a first encounter between the Rabat Process and the Niamey Dialogue which brings together 17 European and West African countries to combat migrant smuggling and human trafficking.

Abidjan, 24 October 2019, organised by the Mixed Migration Centre
The Rabat Process Secretariat, in collaboration with the Mixed Migration Centre (MMC), organised a side event in the margins of the Rabat Process workshop on migrant smuggling held on the 24^th October 2019. This pilot scenario building exercise on future mixed migration in 2030 was for the first time tested in the framework of the Rabat Process and later under the Khartoum Process during the Senior Officials' Meeting organised on the 6^th March 2020.

Madrid, 1-2 July 2019, hosted by Spain and co-chaired by Morocco.
The Rabat Process organised a Technical Meeting on “Cooperation between Countries of Origin, Transit and Destination in the Field of Border Management” in Madrid, Spain between 1^st and 2nd July 2019. The meeting, held under the co-chairmanship of the Kingdom of Spain and the Kingdom of Morocco, gathered 80 participants representing 33 partner countries of the Dialogue, the EU Delegation and ICMPD experts. For the first time Lebanon – a country that is not partner of the Dialogue – was invited to join the discussions in order to share its knowledge of and experience in border management in its very specific context.

Paris, 23-24 October 2018, hosted by France and co-chaired by Senegal.
The root causes of irregular migration and forced displacement are a priority topic in the international cooperation between Africa and Europe. In light of the importance and complexity of the topic, the Rabat Process partners organised a Thematic Meeting exclusively focusing on the root causes of irregular migration in the Rabat Process region. The participating partner countries and stakeholders closely examined this multi-faceted topic and worked towards a common understanding and solutions. The meeting resulted in joint recommendations and conclusions by the co-chairs.

Luxor, 8-9 November 2017, hosted and chaired by Egypt.
The trilateral thematic meeting brought together the representatives of the AU-Horn of Africa Initiative, the Khartoum Process, and the Rabat Process. For the first time, the partner countries and organisations taking part in these three processes, as well as thematic experts, came together for a trilateral meeting, chaired by the presiding countries of each process.

Bamako, 5-6 October 2016, hosted by Mali and co-chaired by France. 

Under the co-presidency of France and Mali, partner countries met to discuss diaspora engagement strategies on entrepreneurship and investments.

• Agenda
• Conclusions
• Background document on diaspora engagement on country entrepreneurship and investment

Brussels, 31 May - 1 June 2016, hosted by Belgium and co-chaired by Côte d'Ivoire.

Under the co-presidency of Belgium and Côte d'Ivoire, participating States worked to establish a technical dialogue between the partners of the Rabat Process on return, readmission and reintegration and to promote partnerships and information exchange. 

• Agenda
• Concept Note
• Summary of debates and conclusions (in French)