IOM and NAUSS Strengthen Regional Cooperation on Migration and Border Governance
Geneva, 13 May 2025 – The International Organization for Migration (IOM) has signed a Letter of Intent with the Naif Arab University for Security Sciences (NAUSS) to establish the framework for the second phase of the Arab Center for Technical Cooperation on Migration and Border Management (ACTC-MBM).
This milestone builds on the achievements of a longstanding collaboration between IOM and NAUSS—the academic body of the Arab Interior Ministers Council—and reaffirms the shared commitment to advancing regional cooperation on migration and border governance across the 22 Arab States.
“This partnership with NAUSS and other key institutions in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is strategically important to IOM’s global and regional mission. ACTC-MBM has already made a real difference in how migration and border management are addressed,” said Ugochi Daniels, IOM Deputy Director General for Operations. “The next phase offers a clear and ambitious path to deepen our cooperation through data, technology, and innovation, and IOM remains fully committed to advancing this shared vision.”
The second phase of the ACTC-MBM, spanning 2025 to 2029 with a budget of USD 6 million, will deepen institutional cooperation, scale up technical assistance, and enhance policy dialogue and capacity-building across the region.
NAUSS plays a critical role in equipping security professionals across the Arab region with cutting-edge skills and knowledge. Its commitment to innovation is reflected in its forward-looking vision, which integrates emerging technologies into curricula and practice—ranging from digital border management tools to data-driven approaches for migration governance.
The contract will be formally signed later in 2025, during the annual anniversary ceremony of NAUSS, which will be convened under the patronage of the Minister of the Interior of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, His Royal Highness Prince Abdulaziz bin Saud bin Naif bin Abdulaziz.
The agreement also reinforces IOM’s strategic engagement with Arab States to promote safe, orderly, and regular migration while supporting rights-based and integrated approaches to border management.
For more information, please contact IOM Media Centre
