As the Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development (FfD4) concludes this Thursday in Seville, Spain, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) is calling for innovative investment in human mobility to spur growth and help close the USD 4 trillion annual development financing gap.
"Migrants contribute at every level of society," said IOM Director General Amy Pope. "They build economies, connect communities, and strengthen resilience in the face of multiplying crises. Migration, however, remains underprioritized in development planning and financing. When we invest in safe, orderly and regular migration, it becomes a central part of how we build stronger, more connected societies."
The conference emphasized the need to move beyond reactive responses and focus on long-term, strategic planning. IOM called for migration to be recognized as a driver of economic opportunity and social cohesion when supported with dignity and foresight. It urged governments and development banks to reflect this in how they plan and fund development efforts.
This includes building financing systems that make migration safer and more predictable, integrating displacement into national development planning, reducing the cost of remittances, expanding digital access, and creating conditions for diaspora investment to flourish. It also requires the use of quality data to identify who is displaced, what their needs are, and which solutions deliver the greatest impact.
One such mechanism is the Migration Multi-Partner Trust Fund , a pooled financing instrument that supports inclusive, rights-based migration governance across countries of origin, transit, and destination. Since its launch, the Fund has supported 27 joint programmes. IOM is urging partners to step up support and raise its capitalization to USD 150 million by 2026.
A key outcome of the Conference is the Compromiso de Sevilla, a political commitment to reshape development financing for greater inclusion, sustainability, and impact. As a member of the UN Inter-Agency Task Force on Financing for Development, IOM contributes expertise on how migration, remittances, diaspora investments, and displacement financing can bridge development gaps and ensure support reaches those most in need.
