· Assist in meeting the growing operational challenges of migration management

After half a century of worldwide operational experience, IOM has become the leading international organization working with migrants and governments to provide humane responses to migration challenges.

IOM - Facts and Figures

IOM was established in 1951 as an intergovernmental organization to resettle European displaced persons, refugees and migrants.

• Membership increased from 67 States in 1998 to 125 States in 2009 and continue to grow 

• Total Expenditure increased from USD 242.2 million in 1998 and exceeded USD 1 billion in 2008.

• Field locations increased from 119 in 1998 to more then 430 at present.

• Active projects increased from 686 in 1998 to more than 2,030 at present.

• Operational staff increased from approximately 1,100 in 1998 to approximately 6,690 at present, almost entirely in the field.

IOM’s structure is highly decentralized and service-oriented. There are currently 18 Missions with Regional functions (MRFs) serving as resource centres and seven Special Liaison Missions (SLMs).

Projectization is unique to IOM (similar to Activity-based costing), where staff and office costs associated with implementing a project are charged to projects through a time-allocation concept referred to as projectization. Every activity in IOM is assigned a distinct project code. Every project is managed by a project manager to ensure that projects are monitored in a responsible, transparent and efficient manner.

Manila and Panama Administrative Centres: In order to achieve efficiencies and manage growth, IOM has embarked on an exercise to transfer certain functions from Headquarters to lower cost locations. The Manila Administrative Centre currently covers many financial, human resources, information technology, staff security, project tracking, health claims processing and other functions. The recent establishment of another administrative centre in Panama's City of Knowledge further strengthens and broadens IOM's delocalization process.

Lowest Rate of Administrative Support: To cover its indirect costs, IOM charges 5% on total costs of projects for administrative support. IOM’s support costs are among the lowest of all international organizations.

With offices and operations on every continent, IOM helps governments and civil society through:

• rapid humanitarian responses to sudden migration flows
• post emergency return and reintegration programmes
• assistance to migrants on their ways to new homes and lives
• facilitation of labour migration
• assisted voluntary return for irregular migrants
• recruitment of highly qualified nationals for return to their countries of origin
• training and capacity-building of officials
• measures to counter trafficking in persons
• migration medical and public health programmes
• mass information and education on migration
• research related to migration managementand other services for migrants.

While not part of the United Nations system, IOM maintains close working relations with UN bodies and operational agencies. IOM has as partners a wide range of international and non-governmental organizations.

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"Migration will be one of the major policy concerns of the twenty-first century. In our shrinking world, more and more people will look to migration - temporary or permanent - as a path to employment, education, freedom or other opportunities. Governments will need to develop sound migration policies and practices. Properly managed, migration can contribute to prosperity, development and mutual understanding among people. IOM exists to help migrants with all their needs and to assist governments in managing migration for the good of all..."

"In reacting to conflicts and emergencies, speed and flexibility are essential if humanitarian needs are to be properly met. In the post-conflict rebuilding phase, IOM helps returnees restart their lives through a variety of individual and community programmes…"

"The human rights of migrants deserve greater attention. Trafficked migrants are routinely exploited, mistreated or even killed. Migrant workers often find themselves without protection or recourse, either from their own governments or in the country where they are working. IOM is dedicated to assisting migrants in distress."