Second cohort of SAMM/ITCILO Labour migration experts and practitioners graduate in Johannesburg

On December 2, 2024, the Southern Africa Migration Management (SAMM) Project and the International Training Centre of the ILO (ITC-ILO) celebrated the graduation of the second cohort of the “Diploma for Labour Migration Experts and Practitioners” in Johannesburg, South Africa. The event recognized the successful completion of a comprehensive training program designed to enhance the skills and knowledge of professionals working in the field of labour migration across the Southern African region.

In her opening remarks, Ms Gloria Moreno Fontes, Chief Technical Advisor of the SAMM Project, congratulated the graduates for their dedication over the course of the three-year program.

This diploma is not just an academic achievement but a vital step in strengthening the governance of labour migration in Southern Africa," she said, highlighting the critical areas the program addresses, such as migrant workers' rights and the linkages between migration and sustainable development.

Since its launch in June 2021, the SAMM project has provided scholarships to 400 stakeholders from the SADC and IOC regions, with participants coming from ministries, worker organizations, employers’ groups, and regional economic communities. The programme offers a rigorous combination of coursework and a capstone project to deepen participants' understanding of labour migration governance.

The second cohort’s graduation follows the success of the first group of 30 participants who graduated in June 2024. Graduates were recognized for completing intensive training and capstone projects aimed at solving real-world migration challenges. Moreno Fontes expressed her pride in the graduates, stating that their contributions would have a lasting impact on labour migration policies and protections in the region.

In her concluding remarks, Moreno Fontes encouraged graduates to use their new skills to foster positive change in their respective sectors, emphasizing the importance of continuous learning and global collaboration. She also welcomed them into the ITC-ILO alumni network, hoping the diploma would open new doors in their professional careers.

This graduation marks another milestone for the SAMM project. As the second cohort of graduates embarks on their professional journeys, they carry with them a shared commitment to improving labour migration governance and advocating for the protection of migrant workers' rights across Southern Africa.