OUR STRUCTURES

Our paramount decision-making body is the IFM-SEI Congress, convened every three years. Every member organisation dispatches delegates to the Congress, creating a platform to share our accomplishments, deliberate on our priorities, make decisions regarding policies, programmes, finances, and elect the leadership of IFM-SEI. Additionally, the Congress adopts the strategic work plan, outlining our priorities and initiatives for the subsequent three-year cycle.

While the XXVII Ordinary Congress of IFM-SEI took place in Tbilisi, Georgia, in June 2019, we convened an extraordinary Congress in February and May 2023. During this extraordinary Congress, a new Presidium was elected, marking a significant milestone in the evolution and governance of IFM-SEI. Following this cicle, we will hold the XXIX Ordinary Congress in Austria in 2025, in alignment with the IFM-SEI camp.

In the years without a Congress, the focus shifts to our International Committee meetings. These are essential smaller international assemblies designed to discuss the progress of our movement, conduct any necessary by-elections, and provide a conducive environment for mutual learning and decisive political actions. Typically, within each three-year cycle, one International Committee meeting is held inside Europe, and another takes place outside the European region.

While our International Committee meetings are traditionally held in person, circumstances have required a shift to virtual formats. Given these adjustments, recent meetings included an online session in 2024, an in-person gathering in Vienna, Austria, in 2023, and another virtual meeting in 2022.

Regional networks are the lifeblood of our movement, offering spaces for close collaboration within each region and allowing members to support one another. From 2020, each region began holding its annual regional network meeting, rotating every three years between the regions of Asia, Africa, and Latin America. Currently, we have four active regional networks:

• The European Falcon Network (EFN) organises an annual regional seminar and holds smaller gatherings alongside other events. EFN members meet every three months to update one another on their activities and offering support when needed. In October 2024, a new Regional Coordinator was appointed to support and guide these efforts.
• Our Middle East Cooperation brings together many of our affiliated organisations in the Middle East. It’s a symbolic cooperation, especially given the collaboration between its Palestinian and Israeli members.
• The Latin American Falcon Network is in a phase of strategic development, focused on unifying the region and defining its future direction and commitments. In 2023, the network appointed a new Regional Coordinator to lead these efforts. The last major gathering took place in Lima in early 2018.
  
• Lastly, the African Falcon Network convened in November 2017 for its last face-to-face meeting. This gathering saw the establishment of a steering committee. The primary focus for this region is on the critical and contemporary subject of migration.

Through these networks, our commitment to regional cooperation is evident, ensuring that members remain interconnected and driven by shared experiences and objectives.

The Presidium and the Control Commission are the main elected bodies that govern IFM-SEI. These bodies are responsible for the strategic and political direction of the organisation. The IFM-SEI secretariat supports their work and is responsible for the day-to-day running of the organisation. You can find more information about all of our governance bodies and secretariat in Our People page of our website.