Election at UN migration agency pits its European chief against his American deputy

He’s European. She’s American. He manages UN migration. She wants his job.

On Monday, member countries of the Geneva-based International Organization for Migration will elect a new director-general for five years. Antonio Vitorino of Portugal faces a close battle against Amy Pope, a Biden administration appointee.

Conflict, economic hardship, and climate change have prompted migrants to leave their homes in record numbers before the election.

The U.S. and EU, big IOM funders, have migratory issues. Critics blame the EU for failing to stop migrants’ dangerous boat voyages from north Africa to Europe. The U.N. refugee agency and others worry about how U.S. migration law changes would effect Mexican border crossers.

IOM, with 175 member nations, also faces large migration problems in Bangladesh, Ukraine, Sudan, and Venezuela’s neighbors in Latin America.

Nearly 19,000 employees in 171 countries encourage “humane and orderly” migration.

Its 560 field offices globally aid migrants with food, drink, shelter, and official documentation. The institution advises governments on policy and shares massive volumes of data on people flows.

Under IOM regulations, a candidate must receive votes from two-thirds of closed-door countries to win. Vitorino has not secured backing from all 27 EU members for a second term, despite tradition.

In 2018, IOM member countries rejected the Trump administration’s candidate, which pulled the U.S. out of the U.N.’s major human rights agency, shunned globalism, and advocated a “America First” strategy that angered many. Vitorino was appointed.

Vitorino, like U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, started his political career as a Portuguese Socialist.

Supporters credit Vitorino with helping IOM hire and promote women, improve dialogue with African countries, and draw contributions that helped its budget grow nearly 20% to $2.5 billion between 2019 and 2021 and staffing levels grow nearly 40% from 2019 to last year.

Pope, President Joe Biden’s former migration adviser, has the U.S. administration’s support. The U.S. wants the job back: Eight of the 10 IOM directors-general since its founding 72 years ago are Americans.

Pope, IOM’s deputy director for reform and management, wants to be its first female director. She was a U.S. federal prosecutor.

She credited her budget overhaul for securing $75 million from governments to boost field delivery and risk management. Her supporters argue IOM needs greater transformation to respond to migration concerns and diversify funding.

Under Biden, the US has sought stronger UN engagement and is aiming to place Americans in prominent UN jobs.

Doreen Bogdan-Martin defeated a Russian opponent to become the Chinese chief of the International Telecommunications Union last fall. Cindy McCain, the widow of Republican presidential candidate John McCain, took over the World Food Program this year.

In recent months, both IOM candidates have increased travel, media appearances, and social media posts. Pope entered the contest months before Vitorino, who waited until late last year to declare his re-election.