Kigali — Cross-border trade is critical for economic growth and development particularly, in the Great Lakes region. To this end, IOM, in partnership with TradeMark East Africa (TMEA), has been implementing the EU funding project, “Secure Cross-Border Social, Economic and Commercial Activities in the Great Lakes Region” since December 2018. 

The project aims to strengthen the social cohesion and economic integration of the cross-border communities in Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) through effective implementation of an integrated border management system, facilitated by improved infrastructure, especially with the construction of the One Stop Border Post (OSBP) at the Rusizi II border to enhance cross border trade and movements. 

The Rusizi II border is a critical geographical location to set up the OSBP due to its importance as a trade and transport corridor and the daily movement of the cross-border communities, who cross in search of employment, business opportunities and health. 

This is the first OSBP project that IOM is implementing in Africa.  Through this project, IOM is taking a unique approach in contributing to the nexus between migration management and trade through its expertise in migration and border management.  

IOM’s added value to the OSBP structure comes from building cohesive institutional capacities in migration management tailored to the OSBP model. Additionally, increasing socio economic benefits while contributing to cross border social cohesion through the empowerment of cross-border traders (mostly women) and raising awareness on health and environmental issues that directly impact the lives of communities are all factors that IOM intends to support within this project.     

IOM will reinforce its core function in supporting the seamless movement of people and goods while at the same time improving the communication between border agencies in the two countries. 

Through this project, IOM and TMEA will empower and improve the lives of over three million people living in Bakavu and Ruzsizi II regions in the DRC and Rwanda, respectively. 

For further information on the ‘Secure Cross-Border Social, Economic and Commercial Activities in the Great Lakes Region’ project, please contact: Alvina SAMJAWON, IOM Rwanda: Email: asamjawon@iom.int