Nairobi, Kenya – The International Organization for Migration (IOM), under the auspices of the Better Migration Management (BMM) Programme funded by the European Union and the Government of Germany, organized a 3-day training on the One-Stop Border Post (OSBP) concept with an emphasis on cross-border cooperation for members of border agencies mainly from OSBPs as well as other officers involved in cross-border cooperation from Djibouti, Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, South Sudan and Uganda in Nairobi, Kenya on 15 – 17 June 2022.

During the training, the participants were able to learn the key concepts of One-Stop Border Post (OSBP), Preventing and Countering Violent Extremism (PCVE), Transnational Organized Crime, Trafficking in Persons and Smuggling of Migrants, and Humanitarian Border Management (HBM) followed by a visit to the OSBP facility in Namanga between the Republic of Kenya and the United Republic of Tanzania. The training improved participants' understanding of how best to allow the different agencies to play their role and work together to enhance and accelerate the smooth operationalization of the OSBPs while also providing a platform for exchange and discussion on how regional integration at OSBP level can be strengthened, both operationally and administratively.

Justin MacDermott, IOM Senior Regional Policy, and Programme Coordinator emphasized the importance of this training in “understanding and internalizing the OSBP concept as a new ideal in the region and enhancing awareness on integrated border management processes and other cross-thematic areas to promote a coordinated approach to facilitating the movement of people, trade (goods and services) and improvement of security.”

This activity was an opportunity for IOM and participants to discuss how OSBP operations in the region can be improved and how the rights and freedoms of all persons as enshrined in the different global, continental, and regional frameworks come into play to facilitate safe, orderly, and regular migration especially through cross-border cooperation.

The training was the first of its kind following the endorsement of the BMM supported Integrated Border Management (IBM) Training Manual version 2022 – a reference tool on IBM operations across the EHoA region – developed by IOM in coordination with BMM countries, IGAD and the EAC.  It aimed at supporting the countries’ efforts to facilitate "orderly, safe, and responsible migration and mobility of people” (Target 10.7 of the Sustainable Development Goals) and complements the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) goal that visualises a continent that trades seamlessly with each other.
 
For further information on this activity, kindly contact lbuyu@iom.int