The 15th Global Forum on Migration and Development (GFMD) felt different this year. Instead of being hosted in a capital city or a global hub, the Summit took place in Riohacha, La Guajira, Colombia. By doing so, Colombia’s chairship of the GFMD sent a strong message that local and rural communities are not only witnesses but also protagonists in global migration governance.
Over three days, more than 1,500 participants came together in Riohacha representing a myriad of development stakeholders. For the ICMPD delegation, and in particular for the EUDiF team, this GFMD was a milestone, especially in terms of youth engagement.
EUDiF at the Migration Youth Forum
One of the highlights was the 5th Migration Youth Forum, the official preparatory space for young people, coordinated by our close partners at the Migration Youth and Children Platform (MYCP). Taking place one day before the Summit, the Forum gathered around 30 young leaders from across the world to exchange, set priorities, and prepare a common youth declaration for the GFMD.
EUDiF was proud to be represented by Maria Regina “Gia” Tongson, one of our Diaspora Youth Alumni. Gia contributed actively to the roundtables on education, innovation, media, and climate change, bringing her perspective as a young diasporan with both professional and lived experience.
The final output of this experience was the La Guajira Declaration. This declaration calls on states and stakeholders to recognise young migrants not as problems but as partners in development, and to place dignity, rights, and opportunity at the heart of migration governance.
The Youth Forum was also an opportunity for Oleg Chirita, Head of Global Initiatives at ICMPD, to take the floor. In the closing remarks of the forum, Oleg underlined the importance of youth voices in migration policy. His message was clear: youth participation cannot be tokenistic. It must be structured, consistent, and meaningful, as set out in EUDiF’s Diaspora Youth Recommendations.
Supporting youth innovation: the YLIA
Our collaboration with MYCP did not end with the Youth Forum. On the second day of the GFMD, the spotlight turned to the 3rd Youth Leadership and Innovation Award (YLIA). This competition highlights youth-led solutions to migration challenges, giving visibility, mentorship, and seed funding to brilliant projects from around the world.
Agustín Searle Vial, EUDiF Project Officer, served as a judge for the Award. For EUDiF, this was another way to support MYCP’s vision and stay connected with youth innovation. Having been mentors in the 2024 Youth Innovation Contest and partners in youth-focused workshops earlier this year, it felt natural to continue supporting youth ideas.
Why youth engagement matters
Why do we insist on youth so much? The answer is simple: young people represent 31% of all international migrants. They are not only the future but also the present. They are active, creative, and resourceful actors in migration and development.
At EUDiF, we see this every day. Our Diaspora Youth Recommendations point out that youth must be treated as experts, not as tokens. Their contributions need recognition, fair opportunities, and structural inclusion. Youth-led organisations often bring the most innovative and practical ideas, but they struggle with access to funding and visibility. This is why we push to keep youth at the centre of diaspora engagement: in our internship programme, our alumni network, and in the partnerships we build with organisations like MYCP.
Diaspora and climate action: sharing our experience
Beyond youth-focused activities, EUDiF also played a key role in the side event “Climate change: adaptive solutions through international partnerships and labour mobility”, co-organised with Enabel and the OECD Development Centre.
Agustín and Gia both took the stage to talk about diaspora as climate actors. Their interventions showcased concrete examples from EUDiF’s projects:
- In the Philippines, diaspora experts co-developed an Education for Sustainable Development curriculum, trained teachers, and built local capacity to access climate finance.
- In Mexico, diaspora academics co-created a citizen climate action toolkit on circular economy together with local CSOs.
Looking back, looking ahead
The GFMD in Riohacha was a special experience. Holding the Summit in La Guajira empowered local communities, brought migration discussions closer to the realities on the ground, and highlighted the importance of inclusion at all levels.
For EUDiF, it was an opportunity to amplify youth voices, strengthen our collaboration with partners, and continue showcasing diaspora as partners in addressing global challenges such as climate change.
Looking ahead, we remain committed to keeping youth and diaspora at the centre of our work. The energy and ideas we witnessed in Riohacha are proof that meaningful change comes when young people and diasporas are not just invited but are fully involved in shaping solutions.