At the World Economic Forum’s Annual Meeting 2026 in Davos, themed “A Spirit of Dialogue,” the Director General of the International Organization for Migration, Amy Pope, joined global leaders to discuss pressing challenges including international cooperation, economic growth, responsible innovation, investment in people, and sustainable prosperity. IOM’s participation emphasized how well-managed migration can transform mobility from a humanitarian challenge into an engine for economic growth and stability. By advancing evidence-based approaches that promote self-reliance, durable solutions for displacement, and climate-smart housing and property rights, the organization aims to reduce long-term dependence on aid while supporting inclusive prosperity.
DG Pope highlighted migration as a powerful driver of development when managed responsibly. She noted that mobility can unlock economic potential, empower communities to thrive independently, and provide long-term solutions to displacement, all while upholding national sovereignty and human rights. IOM’s work demonstrates that migration policies and programmes, when evidence-driven, can create sustainable outcomes for both migrants and host communities.
The organization’s engagement also underlined the role of the private sector in delivering practical solutions. Partnerships with organizations like the Novo Nordisk Foundation leverage artificial intelligence and data to improve health screening, migration planning, and labour market policy, while a decade-long collaboration with Apple ensures fair recruitment practices and high working standards across global supply chains. Additional collaborations with Revolut and the Robert Bosch Stiftung expand digital fundraising and give migrant and diaspora communities a stronger voice in shaping labour mobility and economic opportunities.
IOM also focuses on enabling migrants to move beyond aid by providing vocational training, entrepreneurship support, and reintegration into local economies. Sustainable and climate-smart recovery initiatives are another key area, with partners such as Innovation Norway piloting diaspora-backed shelter solutions, renewable energy access, circular economy models, and green livelihoods for displaced populations. These efforts support adaptation to climate change while helping communities rebuild their lives.
The organization highlights diaspora communities as drivers of inclusive growth, using remittances and diaspora capital to fund business creation, increase digital financial access, and open new markets, ultimately creating jobs and supporting community self-reliance. At Davos, DG Pope participated in high-level panels and hosted events with global leaders, investors, and philanthropies to secure commitments for self-reliance funding, property restitution, and mobility initiatives that benefit communities and foster shared prosperity.
Through these initiatives, IOM positions itself as a trusted partner for governments, businesses, and philanthropic actors in designing migration strategies that promote self-reliance, provide lasting solutions for displaced people, and drive economic growth. By reframing migration as a source of opportunity, the organization demonstrates how mobility can contribute to sustainable development and inclusive prosperity globally.
