The International Centre for Migration Policy Development (ICMPD) is an international organisation which makes policy recommendations on migration-related issues to governments and intergovernmental agencies.[2] Founded by Austria and Switzerland as a think tank in 1993,[3] and headquartered in Vienna.[4] As of May 2023 ICMPD was composed of 20 member states.[5]
As of 2021, ICMPD has been implementing the "integrated border management programme" together with the Italian Ministry of the Interior, which is financed by the EU Trust Fund for Africa (2021-2027) over €7.39 billion.[8]
Since January 2019, Germany, Poland and the Netherlands have been co-financing the 400,000 euros "RESTART" project to build resettlement (consistently called "reintegration") for Armenian refugees (called "returnees") over a period of 24 months.[11]: 3 Germany has participated in co-financing the construction of a temporary reception center for asylum seekers in Armenia with 158,000 euros.[11]: 3 The project has intended to promote voluntary return, resettlement in the home country by means of benefits in kind in the form of social advice and support, among other things, with the help of finding accommodation, visits to authorities, children's schooling, medical matters and assistance in job search and vocational training, the long-term improvement of living conditions of the returnees and the prevention of new irregular migration to Germany and Europe and fighting the causes of flight.[12]
Since 2016 ICMPD has moved its focus to North African countries, like Libya, Tunisia, Morocco and directly implements border control projects, organizes the procurement for border upgrades; it is involved in designing curricula for police training programs and in developing surveillance technology.[15]
In October 2020, the BavarianInterior MinisterJoachim Herrmann (CSU) wrote to then Federal Minister of the InteriorHorst Seehofer, he planned to implement a special kind of digital refugee card in Bavaria, which could serve as a debit card, in cooperation with Michael Spindelegger and the ICMPD, which would serve as a model for similar projects in Europe. Seehofer even described the plan as a "lighthouse project".[16] The idea of the debit card carrying other personal data, which could be retrieved by police terminals was developed by Jan Marsalek then CFO of the now defunct wirecard.[17]
In April 2023, NGO "SOS Balkan Route" criticized the involvement of the ICMPD with the refugee camp Lipa.[18] The ICMPD denied the allegations[19] and initiated legal action against the NGO in Mai.[20] The NGO considers this a SLAPP lawsuit.[21]
Purpose
The International Center for Migration Policy Development (ICMPD) is an intergovernmental organization that collaborates with national governments, diverse international entities, research institutions, and civil society stakeholders to craft migration-related policies and administer training initiatives. ICMPD's core mission revolves around the promotion and advancement of migration policies. The organization serves as an intermediary, facilitating the exchange of knowledge and services between governments and various organizations. ICMPD assumes a pivotal role in furnishing policymakers with a substantive foundation, equipping them for decision-making within the domain of migration. ICMPD is also operational and engaged in capacity building in various areas of migration governance.[22][23][2][24]
The Office of the Director General consists of Secretariat, Communications, Directorate for Policy, Research and Strategy, Directorate Migration Dialogues and Cooperation, Brussels Mission, People Management and Organisational Development, Corporate Financial Management.
The Policy, Research & Strategy (PRS) is headed by Director, and Deputy Director General Lukas Gehrke.[31]
Operations Support is headed by Sergio Pagliarulo.[32]
Migration Dialogues and Cooperation (MDC) is headed by Director a.i. Sedef Dearing.[33]
The Brussels Mission, is headed by Ralph Genetzke.[34]
