The COVID-19 pandemic is a health crisis with devastating socioeconomic and humanitarian impact. It has presented unparalleled challenges and exacerbated the deepest inequalities within our global society. In addition, the pandemic dimmed the prospects for advancing the attainment of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and reversed global progress made on many fronts.  

The International Dialogue on Migration (IDM), convened on 15 and 16 October 2020 on the theme “COVID-19 crisis: Reimagining the role of migrants and human mobility for the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals”, was an extremely timely exchange of best practices and recommendations regarding how we can respond to the immediate and longer-term challenges of the pandemic for migrants and human mobility. It brought together governments, health experts, civil society, the private sector and youth representatives, and reinforced the critical role played by the IDM in offering a venue for discussion of the key migration issues of the day. 

The Dialogue had several aims: to improve knowledge about the global impact of the pandemic and its social and economic consequences for diverse migrant populations; to identify best practices and lessons learned; and to make recommendations relating to migrants and their needs and skills in recovery efforts.  

The present publication provides a summary report of the deliberations at the session. It also includes a collection of experiences and best practices for addressing the COVID-19 pandemic and its implications for migrants, migration and mobility, and contains a set of recommendations for promoting migrant inclusive socioeconomic recovery plans.