IOM and the Kingdom of Morocco Launch the “Group of Friends on Sport and Migration” at the Margins of IOM Council

The International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the Kingdom of Morocco announced on Tuesday during the IOM Council in Geneva the official launch of the “Group of Friends on Sport and Migration”  to promote social inclusion, empowerment, and effective migration governance using sport.

This initiative was developed in response to the strong interest expressed by Member States during an event IOM and Morocco held on the margins of the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly, last September, in New York.

The Group of Friends is a voluntary platform for intergovernmental dialogue, aiming to share policies, best practices, and data among governments and organizations. The Group aims to integrate sport into migration and inclusion strategies at both national and international levels, supporting the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration (GCM) that was adopted in Marrakech in 2018.

“This launch event is not a simple institutional act, it carries a conviction, a will and an ambition to make of ‘sport’ a strategic tool to address today migration challenges,” said His Excellency Nasser Bourita, Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation and Moroccan Expatriates of the Kingdom of Morocco

“This initiative comes from a simple but powerful assessment: sport is a universal language, it is a space of expression, where differences disappear and communities meet Beyond this reality, sport is an operational tool, it can generate concrete solutions to challenges that concern us all: social inclusion of migrants, youth engagement, prevention of vulnerabilities, strengthening social cohesion,” he added.

By fostering cooperation among governments, international organizations, and sports stakeholders, the group will advance the GCM, promote best practices and pilot projects that use sport for migrant inclusion, and contribute to the 2026 International Migration Review Forum (IMRF) in May.

Membership is open to all Member States, organizations, sport associations and relevant partners, ensuring a whole-of-society approach.

“The launch of the Group of Friends on Sport and Migration comes at a pivotal moment. As migration and mobility continue to shape our societies, governments need innovative, practical tools to foster inclusion and cohesion,” said Ugochi Daniels, IOM’s Deputy Director General for Operations.

“Sport is a powerful force for bringing people together, breaking down barriers, and building resilient communities. This group will help governments translate these values into concrete policies and partnerships, ensuring that migration is managed in a way that benefits both migrants and host societies,” She added.

Following the establishment of a representative and action-oriented Group of Friends on Sport and Migration, the group will work on the production of a compendium of good practices and an overview of ongoing and planned initiatives, and the launch of pilot projects and policy innovations supporting migrant inclusion.

This initiative underscores the commitment of IOM and the Kingdom of Morocco to advancing intergovernmental cooperation and policy innovation in the field of migration, social inclusion and narrative, harnessing the unique potential of sport as a driver of positive change