**5. Intra-African migration, trade, and economic development**

The United Nations argues that intra-African migration has grown in recent years, from 15 million in 2000 to 25 million in 2017 [11]. Migration generates significant economic benefits for countries. Specific sector demands in destination countries create economic opportunities for men and women. Intra-African migration stimulates productivity in agriculture, construction, information technology and services sectors. This has contributed to destination countries' GDP, particularly countries such as Cote d'Ivoire, Ghana and South Africa.

Countries of origin benefit from increased intra-African trade. Migrants demand food products from their home countries, stimulating food export. Migrants' remittances and other contributions from Africa's diaspora also boost economic development in countries of origin. In 2016, total remittances accounted for 51% of private capital flow to Africa [11]. Indeed, women contribute as much as men with respect to remittances.

Ethiopian international migrants' remittances are largely used for productive investments rather than consumption. About 40% of remittances are used for productive enterprise while about 33% are used for everyday consumption [11]. If better managed, intra-African migration could yield further benefits for migrants and countries since there is a huge potential contribution of migration to GDP per capita in Africa.

To better harness the opportunities that migration provides within the African continent, it is important for African governments to align migration, trade and investment policies to development objectives. It is also crucial to leverage remittances and harness diaspora for productive investments in countries of origin. It is also important to adopt flexible labor policies to ease migrants' mobility and integrate migrants to the labor markets while also allocating resources to address structural determinants of Africa's socio-economic development.
