Overview

International Organization for Migration (IOM) was established in 1951 as the Intergovernmental Committee for European Migration and later evolved into its current form. As an intergovernmental organisation and a related agency of the United Nations, IOM promotes humane and orderly migration globally. Its mission centres on facilitating migration in ways that benefit migrants and society alike.

Mission and focus areas

IOM’s mission emphasises that humane and orderly migration supports both migrants and societies. The organisation focuses on migration policy-and-governance, migration health, immigration and border management, capacity building for governments, and evidence-based research. It aligns with broader sustainability and development goals by recognising migration as a driver of social and economic development, as reflected in its Strategic Plan 2024-2028. While IOM is not primarily a finance or ESG institution, the link between migration governance and sustainable development — including human rights, labour mobility, and inclusive societies — is pertinent for sustainability practitioners assessing workforce, migration-risk and social governance exposures.

Structure and governance

IOM’s governance framework includes a Council as its highest authority, supported by a Standing Committee on Programmes and Finance alongside working groups and informal consultations. The operational leadership consists of a Director General, supported by Deputy Directors General, a Chief of Staff and key strategic offices such as Partnerships, Advocacy & Communications. The organisational framework spans regional offices worldwide and is designed to ensure coordinated global operations aligned with IOM’s mission.

Programs and offerings

IOM delivers a wide range of programmes including the Migration Governance Indicators (MGI), an analytics tool for assessing national migration policies. It also offers policy-and-governance support to states, integration and border management assistance, humanitarian support for displaced persons, and capacity-building for institutions.
IOM publishes strategy documents and research, such as its Strategic Plan and frameworks for crisis operations.
These resources are of value to finance and sustainability professionals seeking to understand migration-related risks, stakeholder impacts, and how migration interacts with social governance and sustainable development agendas.

Mission

Established in 1951, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) is the leading intergovernmental organization in the field of migration and is committed to the principle that humane and orderly migration benefits migrants and society. IOM is part of the United Nations system, as a related organization.

IOM supports migrants across the world, developing effective responses to the shifting dynamics of migration and, as such, is a key source of advice on migration policy and practice. The organization works in emergency situations, developing the resilience of all people on the move, and particularly those in situations of vulnerability, as well as building capacity within governments to manage all forms and impacts of mobility.

The Organization is guided by the principles enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations, including upholding human rights for all. Respect for the rights, dignity and well-being of migrants remains paramount.