Moshi – IOM, the UN Migration Agency, held a three-day training course for Sudanese officials at the African Capacity Building Centre (ACBC) in Tanzania. Running from 22 to 24 August, the training focused on the Migration Information and Data Analysis System (MIDAS), IOM’s border management information system developed in 2009. MIDAS is a high-quality, user-friendly and fully customizable solution for States in need of a cost-effective and comprehensive border system. Currently operational in 19 countries, MIDAS has been designed to be fully compliant with international standards.

The 15 trainees came from Immigration and Police, including senior ICT Experts. As part of the training, participants visited Julius Nyerere International Airport, the National Identification Authority (NIDA) Operation Facility in Kibaha, near Dar es Salaam and the Holili Taveta One Stop Border Post (OSBP) on the Tanzanian-Kenyan land border.

The government officials also had the chance to see the newly upgraded Forensic Document Examination Laboratory of the Tanzanian Regional Immigration Training Academy (TRITA) where IOM’s ACBC is located.

The main objective of the training was to further enhance the capacity of Sudanese border and immigration officials to take well-informed decisions for upgrading their current border management information systems.

The training also provided an opportunity for discussions between IOM experts and delegates on new technologies and their potential use – but also the associated risks – in the border management field. The specificities of new biometric applications such as facial matching system software were discussed. The challenge was to explore how such new technology can help address issues related to identity fraud, human trafficking or migrant smuggling, organized crime, or other illicit activities, while also respecting privacy and other concerns.

“This is the first in-house training that IOM ACBC has delivered in Arabic. This, in my view, is a very positive and practical example of IOM’s firm commitment to upgrade its own capacities to best meet the needs and expressed demands of African Member States in the domain of migration and border management. Providing technical training in the appropriate language is a key element for successful outcomes,” stated Dr. Qasim Sufi, IOM Tanzania Chief of Mission, at the training’s closing ceremony.

To underline Tanzania’s support of IOM’s ACBC training activities, the closing event was attended by Ambassador Celestine Mushy, the Director of Multilateral Cooperation in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and East African Cooperation and Hanelore Morgan Manyanga, Commissioner for the Legal Department of Immigration of the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) and current Officer In Charge for the Commissioner General of Immigration of the MHA.

The training was funded through the European Union (EU) Trust Fund project, Better Migration Management (BMM), a regional development cooperation programme to enhance cooperation and to adopt common approaches to improve migration management. The overall objective of the BMM programme is to improve migration management in East and Horn of Africa, by addressing human trafficking and migrant smuggling.

Migrants from East and Horn of Africa continue to attempt to move irregularly to Europe, thereby experiencing great suffering and, far too often, even death along extremely dangerous smuggling and trafficking routes through desserts, mountainous areas, and across the sea. In this broader context, targeted trainings for border officials in Africa are an important tool aimed at contributing to the better protection of vulnerable migrants, the empowerment of regular and safe migration, and increased border management for all. 

For more information, please contact Letizia Tirone at IOM Sudan, Tel: +249 922406645, Email: ltirone@iom.int or Nelson Goncalves at IOM Tanzania, Tel: +255 688700090, Email: ngoncalves@iom.int 

For more information on MIDAS, please contact Jason Clarke at IOM HQ in Geneva, Tel: +41 22 7179 334, Email: jclarke@iom.int

Note: This event was covered by ITV, One UN Tanzania and Reliefweb.