Towards a Holistic Approach to Labour Migration Governance and Labour Mobility in North Africa (THAMM)

Project background

The “Towards a Holistic Approach to Labour Migration Governance and Labour Mobility in North Africa-THAMM” project is implemented under two separate contracts, one concerning the ILO and IOM funded by the European Union through the “Emergency Trust Fund for Stability and Addressing the Root Causes of Irregular Migration and Displaced Persons in Africa” and one concerning GIZ funded by the European Union and BMZ.

The action is designed as a sub-regional programme aiming at the strengthening of migrant workers’ protection mechanisms throughout the migration cycle and whether workers are leaving the region or seeking employment there.

The THAMM programme promotes safe, regular and fair labour migration and mobility within North Africa and between North African countries and selected European countries.

It supports partner countries in strengthening labour migration governance by improving policies, institutions and systems that protect the rights of migrant workers and promote decent work for all.

The programme also helps develop and expand legal pathways for labour mobility by fostering cooperation between countries of origin and destination, creating opportunities that respond to labour market needs while benefiting both workers and employers.

THAMM's main beneficiaries are working-age people seeking employment opportunities abroad, as well as migrant workers living and working in North Africa. They benefit from stronger labour migration policies, better access to information and services, enhanced protection of their rights, and increased opportunities for legal labour mobility.

By supporting fair and well-managed labour migration, THAMM contributes to sustainable economic and social development for individuals, businesses and partner countries. The programme is aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, particularly those promoting decent work, inclusive economic growth and safe, orderly and regular migration.

Specific objectives

The action comprises five specific objectives: one managed by GIZ and the others jointly by the ILO and IOM. GIZ implements specific objective 4, which consists of establishing a mobility scheme for apprentices and workers. The ILO and IOM implement the remaining four specific objectives jointly:

1. Improved or strengthened policy, legislative, institutional and regulatory frameworks aimed at enhancing the protection of migrant workers;
2. Development and consolidation of mechanisms for the assessment, certification, validation and recognition of migrants' skills and qualifications;
3. Improved labour migration related knowledge and data management;
4. Effective cooperation between relevant stakeholders in the field of legal migration and mobility at sub-regional level.

The ILO and IOM are the implementing partners of the THAMM project.

Other THAMM components are implemented by ENABEL, GIZ and OFII.