The U.S. State Department’s Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration announced yesterday a contribution of $16 million USD to the International Organization for Migration (IOM) for capacity-building efforts through the Western Hemisphere Regional Migration Program (WHP).

The WHP is one of IOM’s most strategic programs in México, Central America and the Caribbean in enhancing migration management and promoting dialogue between host governments and communities in the region.  Since 2010, the program has been strengthening the capacities of governments and other key stakeholders to manage migration in a humane and sustainable manner that considers migrant vulnerabilities. Additionally, the WHP efforts contribute to the implementation of the goals set in the Los Angeles Declaration on Migration and Protection and the Global Compact for Migration.

“The continued support of the US Government to migration governance in the region has been and will continue to be vital for strengthening the capacity of the governments and other partners to face the growing challenges of migration in the region”, explains Andrea Dabizzi, WHP Senior Regional Coordinator. “Through this US-funded program, IOM has supported the governments to strengthen their migration management capacities through policies and laws based on data and evidence, to face irregular migration and counter migrant smuggling while strengthening the possibilities for regular pathways, as well as to deepen the dialogue and cooperation among countries for more right-based harmonized and synergized practices, among many other pursuits”.