Gov’t information officers, retreat ends

Participants

Organised by the Department of Information Services (DOIS), under the Ministry of Information, Communication and Infrastructure (MOICI) in collaboration with International Organisation for Migration (IOM), The Gambia office, the two-day Communication and Advocacy seminar was aimed to review and update the Migration Communication Strategy and incorporate key messages on migration dynamics into it in order to make the document suitable for public discourse and to address emerging migration issues in The Gambia.

The retreat came in the middle of a 15-month capacity building training programme for government information/communication officers under the Strengthening Communication on Migration in The Gambia projectthus IOM is implementing the project in collaboration with the Ministry of Information, Communication and Infrastructure.

During the two-day retreat, participants discussed and developed key messages on combating misinformation on forced return, international migration law, available local opportunities and alternatives to irregular migration, and West African Atlantic Route to the Canary Island, which recently emerged as another route for irregular migration to Europe and has claimed the lives of many migrants, according to reports.

The participants also worked-out a plan to help in effectively implementing the strategy when finalised.

Information officers and members of the TWG found the convergence very insightful and felt that it does not only provide them opportunity to review and share their inputs for the Migration Communication Strategy, but also availed them the opportunity to delve into interesting migration topics such as international migration law.

“This was a great convergence where participants shared their thoughts and ideas to be mainstreamed into the Migration Communication Strategy. But, beyond working on the strategy, it also created another opportunity for them (Participants) to discuss very interesting migration topics as far as The Gambia is concerned. Such as international migration law, local opportunities and alternatives to irregular migration and so on and the participants hope to maximize this opportunity and make sure it adds value to the work of their respective institutions,” says Ya Marie Bojang, Communications Officer, Office of the President (OP).

IOM thanked the participants for ensuring that the retreat achieved its desired objectives and reiterated its commitment to support in strengthening communication on migration in The Gambia.