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In recent years, the divide between policy-making and implementation has become a glaring concern, especially in developing countries. Governments and stakeholders invest significant time and resources in conferences and workshops aimed at addressing pressing challenges—poverty, unemployment, migration, climate change—but these gatherings often produce little more than beautifully crafted resolutions and empty promises.

The promise of action is tangible during these events, with passionate speeches, detailed roadmaps, and robust discussions. However, as the curtains fall and participants return to their respective corners, the enthusiasm dissipates. Policies remain ink on paper, and the people they are meant to uplift see no difference in their lives. For internally displaced persons (IDPs), asylum seekers, refugees, survivors of trafficking, and migrants, these unfulfilled promises are not just abstract failures; they are life-altering setbacks.

For the displaced mother in a crumbling shelter, the refugee longing for a safe home, the trafficking survivor struggling to rebuild, and the migrant facing barriers to integration, every unimplemented policy is a missed opportunity for hope. These vulnerable populations often bear the brunt of the widening chasm between what is said and what is done. The bridges meant to connect policy to action often collapse under the weight of bureaucracy, corruption, or a lack of accountability.

This gap is not just a failure of governance; it is a betrayal of hope. It sends a disheartening message to those in the margins that their voices are heard only in forums, not in deeds. For every displaced child waiting for access to education, every refugee seeking a chance at dignity, every survivor of trafficking needing rehabilitation, and every migrant striving for inclusion, these conferences become mere echoes of unfulfilled promises.

It is time to close this gap—not with more words but with deliberate, measurable action. Policies should be backed by frameworks that enforce accountability, empower local actors, and allow vulnerable populations to witness real change. Let the workshops and summits not end at declarations but extend into sustainable solutions.

As we strive to bridge the gap, let us remember that the measure of any policy lies not in its formulation but in its ability to transform lives. And until this becomes the norm, the gap will remain a wound, deepening the scars of inequity, displacement, and lost potential. The time to act is now, not tomorrow.

Aihawu Victor
Director, Centre for Youths Integrated Development (CYID)

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7 thoughts on “Bridging the Gap”

  1. This is a most sensitive topic hinged on, especially for the survivors in Africa.

    We need action to be matched with words, and not just events held to mark the work plan and timelines of a given project, as done.

    The “target audience” for every project or campaign need to be directly impacted, from the grassroots upward.

    Implementation is key, involve the local actors like Victor said and it will make a whole lot of different. Let’s get started.

    Thank you Victor 👍

  2. Great point here elucidated by Victor and I’d like to say that it is a much needed action for most Africans that implementation, effected after great events.

    That being said, it would be very beautiful to have the impartation of survivors of irregular migration, human trafficking, marginalization and all forms of dehumanizing actions, to be able to have first hand impartations after most of these events and promise after promise.

    Engaging and activating local actors is a very profound point raised here which would help in practical implementation of the ideals often exchanged during most of these big events.

    I opine that for people who have had the experiences of being trafficked or irregular migration, they should feel the direct impact of the talks within boardrooms, the talks within event ground, the talks within closed spaces where the air-conditioning is on, the lights are on, while the people involved do not even have electricity, they don’t have clothes to wear, they don’t even have food, they don’t have shelter, they do not have access to the basics like no medication and sometimes they often die in the quest for greener pastures.

    Going forward let our coming together, let our gatherings, let our talks about experiences of irregular migrants, experiences of trafficked persons, experiences of smuggling and all forms of modern-day slavery not just be a mark✅ on the work plans and timeline of organizations or projects put together.

    If we can follow through with the suggestions, we would be able to show a readiness to practically implement ( not just verbose talk) and impact, just as Victor has advised.

    Thank you so much Victor for this beautiful piece keep winning

    Let’s get started 👍.

  3. Thanks Boss Victor for this thought provoking appraisal. It is a known fact that there are huge gaps between policies formulation and implementation. Time is of the essence that policies should not just be formulated but implemented with focus on the objectives for which they are formed. There is a clarion call for the inclusion of The Migrants, Refugees, Victims of Trafficking and other vulnerable persons in the formulation of policies and frameworks that affect them. The aftermath of meetings, workshops and trainings must bear tags of successful execution resultant in the transformation of the persons of concern. State and non- state actors should not just participate but be engaged in the monitoring and evaluation of these processes. This will minimise corruption and non- achievements and excessive bureaucracies. We must advance into an era of grassroot involvement in migration management, Encouraging collaborative efforts between CSOs and grassroot leaders to ensure return, readmission and reintegration is dignified and sustainable. Survivors are not bruised before being blessed. An era where no one lacks shelter or basic living. An era where resources are appropriated with moral and just dispositions. The list is endless. Let’s light up the touch and run with it not losing sight of those whose path need to be lite and satisfied.

    1. Great contribution @Bose Aggrey, vulnerable persons must not be bruised before been blessed that is if they are blessed at all. the collaboration with local authority is key.
      Thank you

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