IOM and Germany Mark 10 Years of Supporting Family Reunification through the Family Assistance Programme

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia – The International Organization for Migration (IOM), together with the German Federal Foreign Office, marks today the 10th anniversary of the Family Assistance Programme (FAP), facilitating the family reunification of vulnerable migrants who are compelled to leave their country, with a person with protection status in Germany. 

Established in 2016, FAP operates in ten countries and supports applicants of family reunification visas in understanding complex procedures, preparing required documentation, and navigating administrative steps. The Programme provides services in multiple languages to ensure accessibility for diverse communities. 
Since its inception, FAP has supported over 700,000 individuals worldwide with processing, offering structured guidance, reliable information, and practical assistance to families separated by migration, conflict, and displacement. 

In Ethiopia, where the programme has been operational for eight years, FAP has supported around 6,500 people, many of whom originate from Eritrea, Somalia, and Sudan — communities that have experienced prolonged displacement related to conflict and family separation. 

“We as Germany together with our partners support safe, orderly, and regular migration in the Horn of Africa as well as towards Europe. The Family Assistance Programme is an important contribution in this regard,” said Christoph Anton, Counsellor Regional Officer for Displacement and Migration. “I am therefore very grateful that IOM and Germany today mark the 10th anniversary of this very successful FAP, facilitating the family reunification of vulnerable migrants who are compelled to leave their country, with a person with protection status in Germany.” 

“As the programme enters its second decade, we reaffirm our commitment to ensuring that family reunification processes remain accessible, structured, and humane, while continuing to support families seeking to reunite in safety and dignity,” said Abibatou Wane-Fall, IOM Ethiopia Chief of Mission. 

FAP is implemented by IOM in close cooperation with the German Embassy in Addis Ababa and relevant Ethiopian government partners. This collaboration reflects a shared commitment to strengthening safe, orderly, and regular migration pathways.