The World Health report 2006 estimated the global health worker shortage at 4.2 million, including more than 1 million in Sub-Saharan Africa. Health worker migration from countries already experiencing a human resource for health crisis, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa, is weakening further their already fragile health systems and represents a serious impediment for the achievement of the right to health care and the health millennium development goals

Globally, the World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that 4.3 million more health workers are required to achieve the health related Millennium Development Goals and has identified 57 countries with critical shortages of health workers—36 of these countries are in Africa.

The WHO together with Realizing Rights and the Global Health Workforce Alliance (GHWA), is working on the development of an international Code of Practice for health worker migration.

The NGO Committee on Migration, a Committee of the Conference of Non-Government Organizations in Consultative Relationship with the United Nations Economic and Social Council (CONGO) organized a program on Asian NGO Perspectives on the GFMD In the Current Financial Crisis.

On August 30-31, 2009, the Migration Policy Institute (MPI) and the Hellenic Migration Policy Institute (IMEPO) convened senior business leaders and policymakers from Europe, North America, Latin America, and Asia to discuss how the private sector can more effectively engage in international migration policy. The roundtable, which was organized with significant support from the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, provided an opportunity for representatives of the private sector to lend their voices to this important global debate, with an eye toward participation in the third GFMD.

The ILM Focus Group and Malaysian employers, international brands, civil society and unions met for two days in Kuala Lumpur to find ways together to build greater protection for migrant workers in Malaysia.
Appreciating that the current system in Malaysia presents complex challenges for brands and their local suppliers, the primary goal of the convening was to 1) build knowledge, understanding and relationships, 2) understand and agree on key areas of focus and participation for a pilot project in two factories in Malaysia, and 3) develop an ongoing stakeholder forum to continue the social dialogue in Malaysia.

Efforts to improve the situation of foreign workers in Malaysia should center on 'improving worker awareness', 'communication mechanisms', and a more direct approach to recruitment.

To read more about the ILM Focus Group's conclusions and key findings please download the Briefing Report.

On 1-2 October 2009, the African Diaspora Policy Centre (ADPC) will host a Policy Seminar, co-organised by the International Centre for Migration Policy Development (ICMPD) and supported by the Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the European Commission
The Seminar is the second phase of a programme initiated earlier this year by the ADPC, to further strengthen the Africa-EU Strategic Partnership by mobilising the significant potential of the African diaspora living in Europe to play a valuable bridge-building role in its implementation.

The Migrant Forum in Asia (MFA) together with the National Legal Aid Agency organized a national consultation on migration and development on 13-14 August 2009 at the Hanoi, International Convention Center, Hanoi, Vietnam. The consultation was attended by 50 participants from CSOs, trade unions, legal aid agencies, government ministries and the media. Aside from local Vietnamese participants, a representative of MFA member in Taiwan, the Hope Workers Center, participated in the program.