Migration is a global phenomenon that impacts the lives of most people. An estimated 258 million people are international migrants (UN DESA, 2017), and in our increasingly interconnected world, millions more are impacted through family ties, economic exchanges and cultural connections. Migration is a powerful driver
of sustainable development, for migrants themselves and their communities in countries of origin, transit and destination.

As much as migration has an impact on development, migration is also affected by development. The development contexts in which people live, where they move to, and the places they go through to get there play a role in shaping people’s resources, aspirations, motivations and opportunities to migrate. Conflict, climate change, labour markets and other development- related factors can all impact the drivers and nature of migration.

The United Nations General Assembly adopted the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development (2030 Agenda) in September 2015. The Agenda consists of 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and 169 accompanying targets. These goals and targets were formulated through a participatory and multi-stakeholder process that involved states, global civil society and many other actors. The 17 Goals are successors to the 8 Millennium Development Goals (2000) and aim to be a comprehensive set of targets that
tackle poverty and inequality.

This guide is designed to serve government actors, both national and local, involved in any process of Sustainable Development Goal implementation, including those working specifically in migration, and those working in other sectors who are interested in integrating migration. It is also for government actors working in the migration field who wish to integrate the SDGs into their work.

The focus of this guide is to help policymakers implement the migration aspects of the SDGs. Policymakers can use this guide to integrate migration into local or national development planning, by designing and implementing interventions that relate to migration in the context of the SDGs.