Geneva/Brussels, 27 June 2025 – The Government of Belgium has officially confirmed a new flexible funding agreement with the International Organization for Migration (IOM), providing an unearmarked contribution of €1 million per year from 2025 to 2028. The announcement, made during IOM’s 36th Standing Committee on Programmes and Finance, follows a high-level bilateral meeting earlier this month and reaffirms Belgium’s longstanding commitment to principled and effective migration governance.
“Belgium has been a steadfast and valued partner to IOM since our founding, consistently supporting our mission to protect people on the move and promote safe, orderly, and dignified migration,” said IOM Director General Amy Pope. “This renewed support reflects Belgium’s commitment to international solidarity and allows us to continue assisting migrants and communities facing the greatest challenges, from protracted displacement to human trafficking and climate-driven mobility.”
Belgium’s contributions have been pivotal to IOM’s field operations, from supporting early recovery in Ukraine, where IOM is helping communities rebuild livelihoods and infrastructure, to funding a regional project across six countries in West Africa that strengthens resilience to climate shocks, improves data governance, and promotes sustainable development.
In Belgium, IOM maintains close collaboration with partners at all levels of government, as well as with civil society, diaspora, and the private sector to support whole-of-society approaches to migration management.
Since 1984, IOM has supported Belgium with the voluntary return of more than 90,000 migrants, ensuring dignified return and sustainable reintegration in countries of origin, in collaboration with the Federal Agency for the Reception of Asylum Seekers, Fedasil. Partnerships with the Belgian Immigration Office, Fedasil, regional governments, and the private sector have also forged new pathways for regular mobility for students, workers, and displaced populations.
Belgium also plays a leading role in diaspora engagement through its strong partnership with IOM. IOM’s Country Office in Belgium and Luxembourg, with over 20 years of experience in diaspora engagement, implements the Organization’s global strategy to enable, engage, and empower diaspora, ensuring their inclusion in all stages of project development and execution.
Key initiatives such as the O-REMIT project, supported by the Belgian Directorate-General for Development Cooperation and Humanitarian Aid, are opening new pathways for migrants to send remittances more affordably and invest in their countries of origin, while the Conex programme strengthens the ability of diaspora leaders to assist and protect vulnerable members of their communities through targeted training and capacity building. At the core of this approach is the IOM Belgium Diaspora Advisory Board, which ensures that all initiatives remain firmly grounded in the needs and priorities of the communities IOM serves.
These efforts leverage the skills of diaspora communities, networks, and resources to strengthen migration governance and foster development in both origin and host countries. Guided by the priorities of migrants and diaspora communities, Belgium’s partnership with IOM continues to foster meaningful engagement and lasting impact.
For more information, please visit IOM’s Media Centre.