The incoming head of the U.N. migration agency said she has talked to Microsoft (MSFT.O) about migration collaborations.
The Geneva-based International Organization for Movement (IOM) promotes humanitarian and orderly movement for more than 100 million forcibly displaced individuals worldwide.
Washington’s nominee Amy Pope, who defeated her Portuguese boss Antonio Vitorino in a heated election last month to lead the organization, said Western asylum systems were “completely overwhelmed” and needed to be relieved.
“I want to go to the private sector being a major part of how we deliver around the world,” Pope told Reuters. “Doing good isn’t enough. It’s about sustainability partnerships.”
Pope, who becomes Director-General in October, mentioned Microsoft talks about African initiatives as an example of private sector investment in migration work. Microsoft didn’t respond to Reuters’ request for comment.
She added only $15 million of IOM’s $2.5 billion budget is private. Pope said such ventures offered economic migrants alternatives to the refuge.
Pope said she would wait to see how last month’s asylum limitations by U.S. President Joe Biden at the Mexico border are applied.
Under the new Biden policy, individuals who cross the border illegally after passing through Mexico or other countries without seeking refuge or using U.S. legal procedures will be denied asylum.
Pope, a White House aide, will become the 11th IOM head. Biden personally supported his candidacy. American except two.
Pope stated that “climate sustainable migration solutions” are another objective of her mandate. However, she said she doesn’t support climate refugees.
North Africa to Europe via the central Mediterranean is the world’s worst migratory route, with hundreds drowning this year. Pope called the issue a “symptom” of widespread despair leading people to risky excursions.
“My hope, I intend that collectively, we can raise that perspective to 30,000 feet,” she remarked.
