Migrant resource centre restored to serve returnees and potential migrants

After years of disruption caused by conflict in northern Ethiopia, the International Labour Organization (ILO), through the Better Regional Migration Management (BRMM) Programme, funded by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), has supported the full renovation and re-equipping of the Migrant Resource Centre (MRC) in Wukro town, Tigray region, Ethiopia. This initiative, implemented in close coordination with the Bureau of Labour and Skills in Wukro restored the centre as a trusted hub for information, services, and protection for potential and returned migrants.

Originally established nearly a decade ago as one of six centres across Ethiopia, the Wukro MRC had been a vital one-stop centre offering accurate migration information and support. The centre had served countless young people preparing to migrate for work, returnees seeking reintegration, and families looking for guidance. However, the two-year war in the region severely damaged institutions including the MRC, leaving a critical gap in services at a time when demand was growing.

With this renovation, Wukro’s MRC has resumed its role as a safe, accessible space offering walk-in and remote support services to the local population. The centre provides essential resources on legal migration processes, risks of irregular migration, migrants’ rights and obligations, and available protection services. As migration remains a major aspiration for Ethiopian youth, often perceived as the only viable path to economic opportunity, the MRC helps individuals make informed, safe, and lawful decisions.

The restored MRC includes a renovated recreational area and serves as a hub for outreach and pre-departure orientation sessions. It now has capacity to deliver financial literacy, entrepreneurship training, and basic language preparation for outbound migrants. For returnees, it offers counselling, referrals, and information on reintegration options and self-employment support.

The MRC also incorporates a built-in complaint mechanism where migrants and their families can safely report recruitment abuses or workplace violations. In a context where many migrants continue to face risks such as fraud, trafficking, and exploitation, especially domestic workers heading to Gulf countries, such protection measures are crucial.

The ILO and local authorities designed the intervention to ensure sustainability. The Wukro City administration and the Bureau of Labour and Skills are committed to taking ownership of the centre’s future management. Government staff have been empowered to conduct outreach in schools, training centres, and other community spaces to raise awareness about safe migration options and services.

By reopening the Wukro MRC, the BRMM Programme has addressed a critical service gap in a high-migration region. It marks a renewed commitment to ensuring that Ethiopian workers, whether preparing to leave or returning home, have access to reliable support, timely information, and the protection they need at every stage of the migration journey.