Press Release – 05 December 2025 – Dakar, Senegal – The International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the United Nations Volunteers (UNV) have launched a new mentorship network to support migrants as they reintegrate into their home countries across Sub-Saharan Africa. Announced on International Volunteer Day, the initiative aims to strengthen community-based support for thousands of people rebuilding their lives after returning from challenging journeys.
The initiative will deploy a first cohort of 50 UN Volunteers as Community Mentors for returned migrants in Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, Ethiopia, Ghana, Guinea, Mali, Senegal and The Gambia. Most mentors are former migrants themselves, better positioned to provide guidance to people navigating the challenges of returning home after difficult journeys.
“The Mentorship Network initiative is more than just a support mechanism; it is a strategic investment in stronger, more resilient reintegration systems,” said Sylvia Ekra, IOM’s Regional Director for West and Central Africa. “By pairing returnees with mentors who understand their journey firsthand, we reinforce national capacities, strengthen community ties and social cohesion, and ensure that reintegration is grounded in dignity, trust, and practical guidance. This is a prime example of a locally anchored, people-centered approach that delivers lasting, meaningful change.”
Since August 2022, over 115,000 migrants stranded along perilous routes in Sub-Saharan Africa and North Africa have voluntarily returned to their countries of origin with IOM’s support. More than 100,000 have received at least one form of support, including economic, social, or psychosocial assistance upon their return, helping them rebuild their lives with dignity and stability.
The Mentorship Network initiative is designed to reinforce national reintegration systems by providing community-based psychosocial support, strengthening social networks, reducing stigma, and improving access to essential services. Before deployment, mentors will receive training in basic psychosocial support, protection principles, referral pathways, and community engagement.
The initiative is jointly implemented by IOM and UNV, with support from the European Union, to assist migrants returning under Assisted Voluntary Return and Reintegration (AVRR) programmes. It promotes locally led, volunteer-driven support that strengthens reintegration over time and contributes to more cohesive and resilient communities.
“The Mentorship Network initiative strengthens our joint approach with IOM toward more sustainable reintegration, grounded in local expertise,” said Paul Armand Menye, Regional Manager, UNV West and Central Africa. “This strategic partnership demonstrates how volunteerism can reinforce community systems and support solutions that are adapted to the realities on the ground.”
The programme emphasizes the need for a holistic approach to reintegration that brings together economic well-being, mental health, social cohesion, and community acceptance. By embedding mentors within local communities, IOM and UNV aim to create scalable, locally anchored systems that strengthen national capacities and ensure migrants receive the support they need to rebuild their lives successfully.
About the MPRR-SSA programme
The Migrant Protection, Return and Reintegration programme in Sub-Saharan Africa (MPRR-SSA) is funded by the European Union and implemented by IOM in 16 countries. The programme provides protection assistance, assisted voluntary return, and holistic reintegration support to migrants in vulnerable situations.
Zanele Muholi (South Africa)
Most Famous Photo: Images from their ongoing series “Faces and Phases,” which documents the lives of black lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and intersex individuals in South Africa.
Short Bio: Born in 1972, Zanele Muholi is a visual activist and photographer who focuses on empowering and reclaiming the visibility of the LGBTQIA+ community in South Africa. Their powerful black-and-white portraits challenge stereotypes and highlight the struggles and triumphs of individuals often marginalized and subjected to violence.
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