The political instability in the West African region, the humanitarian crisis and the lack of human rights based systems of migration governance have made populations more vulnerable and pushed people to embark on precarious journeys. This has also made them more vulnerable to falling prey to organized criminal groups, including but not limited to smugglers. All of these factors have led to greater risks for migrants in transit, such as death, injuries and human rights violations.

UNODC derives its mandate from the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime (UNTOC) and its supplementing Protocols, namely, the Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children and the Protocol against the Smuggling of Migrants by Land, Sea and Air. UNODC's actions are implemented in the framework of its Regional Strategy for Combatting Trafficking in Persons and Smuggling of Migrants in West and Central Africa. OHCHR's mandate is to promote and protect human rights, including the human rights of all migrants, regardless of their status, with a particular focus on women, men and children who are in vulnerable situations and at risk of human rights violations.