The International Organization for Migration (IOM) in Morocco has introduced internal adjustments to optimize its financial resources amid a global funding crisis affecting the United Nations system, an informed source told Hespress AR.
According to the source, “the UN system is currently facing financial challenges that have affected many of its agencies, including the IOM,” prompting a “comprehensive review of operations and priorities at the global level.”
In Morocco, however, the IOM “has ensured the continuity of its core activities supporting migrants and host communities,” the source said, adding that the agency is working to “strengthen its financial resilience through the IOM Resilience Campaign, which seeks flexible and sustainable funding to maintain operations.”
The source also noted that “Morocco became the first country to contribute to this global fund, reflecting its commitment to multilateral cooperation and shared responsibility in addressing migration issues.”
The IOM remains “fully committed to its mandate in Morocco,” continuing close collaboration with the government, civil society, and UN partners to “promote effective migration governance and community resilience in line with national priorities,” the source added.
The wider UN system has been struggling financially, particularly following the policy shifts of U.S. President Donald Trump, whose administration has significantly reduced Washington’s contributions. The United States typically covers about one-quarter of the UN’s annual budget, according to Reuters.
In May, Reuters reported that the UN Secretariat was preparing to cut its $3.7 billion budget by as much as 20%, eliminating roughly 6,900 positions across multiple agencies.
In Morocco, the impact has been visible across several UN branches. François Reybet-Degat, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees’ (UNHCR) representative in the country, said earlier this year that refugees are in an “extremely fragile situation.”
“Our office, with a team of 50 people, handles between 60 and 80 cases daily, about 20,000 per year,” he said during a June press briefing. “While we operate within Morocco’s supportive policy framework, our means remain limited compared to actual needs.”
Reybet-Degat confirmed that UNHCR has reduced its staffing by one-third due to the funding shortfall, including in Morocco, where the team was downsized from 50 to 34 employees. “With at least 80 new cases arriving each day, the situation has become increasingly difficult,” he said.
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