Day 1
30 SEPTEMBER, 2025
Opening Session (30 mins)
10:00 - 10:30
- Welcome address and adoption of the draft agenda
- Keynote address – Sultanate of Oman
- Introduction of Research Programme and thematic areas by ADD Secretariat
Theme 1: Climate Change and Labour Mobility in the Asia-GCC corridor
10:35 - 11:05
- 10:35 - 11:05 IOM – Gendered Impacts of Climate Change on Employment: Focus on Women in Labour Sending and Receiving Countries of the Abu Dhabi Dialogue
- Speaker: Tanja Dedovic, Regional Thematic Specialist on Labour Mobility
- Duration: 30 mins
Break (15 mins)
11:05 - 11:20
Theme 2: Labour Mobility and Skills for a Just Transition to Green Economy
11:20 - 12:20
- 11:20 - 11:50 IOM - Skills-based Labour mobility as a strategy for climate change adaptation - potential of Skills Mobility Partnerships through two case studies on Controlled Environment Agriculture and Waste Management
- Speaker: Henry Gordon Smith, CEO Agritecture
- Duration: 30 mins
- 11:50 - 12:20 ILO - Labour Mobility, Skills, and Social Protection for a Just Transition in the Asia-GCC migration corridor
- Speaker: Mette Grangaard Lund, Just Transition Specialist, ILO Office for Arab States, ILO
- Duration: 30 mins
Break (15 mins)
12:20 - 12:35
Theme 3: Expatriate Gig Workers in the ADD Member States: Addressing Legal, Social, and Career Implications
12:35 -13:05
- 12:35 - 13:05 World Bank - Bringing Opportunities Home for Virtual Workers
- Speaker: Rada Naji, Social Protection Specialist, Middle East and North Africa, World Bank Time allocated for each presentation includes Q&A from the floor.
- Duration: 30 mins
DAY 02
01 OCTOBER, 2025
Recap Agenda for Day 2 (5 mins)
10:00 - 10:05
Theme 3: Expatriate Gig Workers in the ADD Member States: Addressing Legal, Social, and Career Implications
- 10:05 - 10:35 City University Ajman - Navigating the Gig Economy: Evolution, Economic Impact, and Future Trends
- Speaker: Dr. Marwan Yousef, Associate Professor, College of Business, City University Ajman
- Duration: 30 mins
- 10:35 - 11:05 IOE - On Understanding Expatriate Gig Workers in ADD Member States: Addressing Legal, Social and Career Implications
- Speaker: Stephanie Winet, Head of Stakeholder Engagement, IOE
- Duration: 30 mins
Break (10 mins)
11:05 - 11:15
Theme 4: Role of Skills and Diversity for Labour Productivity in ADD Member States
11:15 - 12:15
- 11:15 - 11:45 World Bank - The Promise of Global Skill Partnerships and the Need for Investment in Skills and International Labour Mobility Systems
- Speaker: Pablo A. Acosta, Lead Economist and Global Lead for Migration, Social Protection and Labour Global Unit, World Bank
- Duration: 30 mins
- 11:45 - 12:15 IOE - On Unlocking the Role of Skills and Diversity for Labour Productivity in ADD Member States
- Speaker: Murtaza Khan, Partner at Fragomen
- Duration: 30 mins
Break (10 mins)
12:15 - 12:25
GCM Briefing Session (40 mins)
12:25 - 13:05
This session is intended to support Member States in preparing for the 2nd International Migration Review Forum (IMRF) in 2026. It will build on lessons learnt from the 1st IMRF and the regional reviews conducted to date, provide an overview of these reviews, and identify practical steps ADD Member States can take to further strengthen GCM implementation. The insights generated will also contribute to an ADD regional report highlighting Member States’ progress ahead of the 2026 IMRF. The discussion will continue at the Ministerial Meeting in February 2026, where an overview of the 2nd IMRF format and reporting requirements is expected to be presented, along with preliminary guidance on structuring national contributions.
- ESCWA and IOM Regional Office for Middle East and North Africa
- Speakers:
- Sara Salman, Ph.D, Population Affairs Officer, Gender, Justice, Population, and Inclusive Development Cluster, United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia
- Phumza Manqindi, Senior Regional Liaison and Policy Officer, IOM Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific Sophie Nonnenmacher, Senior Regional Liaison and Policy Advisor, IOM – UN Migration
- ESCAP and IOM Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific
- Speakers:
- Sabine Henning, Ph.D, Chief, Sustainable Demographic Transition Section, Social Development Division, United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific
- Phumza Manqindi, Senior Regional Liaison and Policy Officer, IOM Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific
Closing Session (30 mins)
13:05-13:35
- 13:05 - 13:25 Next Steps and 8th Ministerial Consultation
- 13:25 - 13:35 Closing Remarks by Chair in Office
