Background
The increasing complexity of international migration presents significant challenges for statistical measurement and policy formulation. Recognizing the importance of robust data for evidence-based policies, the United Nations Statistical Commission has, over recent years, undertaken several decisions to strengthen statistical standards and frameworks related to international migration and temporary mobility.
The Statistical Commission, in its Decision 49/101 (2018) welcomed the recognition of the importance of data for evidence-based policies in the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular migration (GCM) and established the Expert Group on Migration Statistics. Furthermore, the Statistical Commission, in its Decisions 52/109 (2021) and 54/104 (2023), endorsed the revised conceptual framework, statistical concepts and definitions, and the set of core and additional indicators on international migration and mobility statistics, as integral parts of the upcoming revision of the Recommendations on Statistics for International Migration.
The Statistical Commission also recognized the urgent need for statistical capacity-building and resources to support countries in their efforts to strengthen their migration data, in the context of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration (Decision 50/117, 2019).
The development of a harmonized migration database system to provide migration flows and profiles within the SADC region is a medium-term objective of the SADC Secretariat.
The regional workshop responds to the above mandates as well as the direct request from SADC secretariat and several requests received from countries and regions, notably during the International Forum on Migration Statistics 2023, and the 54th session of the Statistical Commission. The regional workshop will be implemented with technical support from the Collaborative on Administrative Data (CAD) and the United Nations Statistics Division, Social and Gender Statistics Section.

Objectives
• Increased awareness of target group of standards and methods related to migration statistics: Participants will gain enhanced knowledge of the revised framework, statistical concepts, and definitions endorsed by the United Nations Statistical Commission to improve the quality and comparability of migration data across countries.
• Enhanced data integration skills and improved implementation practices among target group: The workshop will provide guidance on the practical aspects of implementing new statistical methodologies and indicators on international migration, focusing on overcoming operational challenges, and integrating these into national systems. Emphasis will be on developing skills for understanding and managing administrative migration data, which is essential for producing relevant, high-quality, and disaggregated statistics that can inform policymaking and monitoring.
• Reinforcement of a community of practice: Participants will benefit from access to a network of experts and a pool of best practices that can assist in continuous improvement post-workshop, ensuring long-term capacity enhancement.