The state of Migration in the east and Horn of Africa: Policies and strategies

Speaker: Njeri Karuru

According to the Migration data portal, eastern Africa has historically been part of global migration and trade networks and continues to play an important role in both. The east and Horn of Africa region constitutes almost half a billion people and approximately 8.5 million were recorded as migrants in 2021. It is therefore critical for member states and regional economic communities in the region to address concerns and policies that affect migrants. Increasingly women and youth have become the greatest migrants, and the policies should integrate interests of these categories.

This presentation will focus on the drivers of migration in the EHoA, categories of migrants and the challenges faced in the migration process. It will also examine the migration policies in the regional economic communities of IGAD and EAC with the aim of identifying challenges faced in their application. The presentation will draw from recent works undertaken by IOM and the regional economic communities in the region, IGAD, EAC and COMESA.

Njeri Karuru is a highly accomplished leadership and management professional with over 30 years of experience in driving impactful programs and projects across peacebuilding, governance, security, humanitarian assistance, and development sectors. With a specialized focus on peace, security and humanitarian assistance, gender, capacity building, and knowledge management, Njeri has successfully led and managed teams in sub-Saharan Africa, demonstrating exceptional expertise in navigating complex challenges and delivering sustainable results. Njeri has over 25 years of experience in managing research and evaluation, she has served as a Lead Consultant in several UN consultancies including co-authoring critical works on advancing gender equality and promoting human mobility through regional integration.

Her programme management expertise spans governance, peace, security, fragility, violent extremism, humanitarian assistance, migration and development, with a strong commitment to promoting gender equality and building inclusive peace and security in alignment with UNSCR 1325 and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Njeri holds advanced degrees in Security Sector Management (MSc, Cranfield), Anthropology (MA, Nairobi), Political Science (BA, Nairobi), Journalism (PGD, Nairobi), and Women’s Law (PGD, Zimbabwe), underscoring a lifelong commitment to professional excellence and academic achievement.