Migration, Integration, and Development in Secondary Cities
This webinar examined challenges refugees and other migrants face in—and place on—secondary cities, municipal responses, the types of support required at national and other levels, and how development actors can improve partnerships with cities and local actors.
In 2023, secondary cities increasingly gained attention as homes to refugees and other migrants and, as result, they are targets of development programming and international support. In Africa, these secondary cities saw their overall populations swell even as migrant numbers also increase, placing pressure on services such as education, health care, and sanitation. At the same time, refugees and other migrants often found it difficult to access jobs and build livelihoods, preventing them from achieving self-reliance.
In order to surmount these challenges and achieve long-term socioeconomic inclusion, public policy changes and support are needed, along with partnerships that could facilitate the path to inclusion. Marking the release of the report, Migration and Displacement in Secondary Cities: Insights from Côte d’Ivoire and Uganda, this webinar examined the challenges that refugees and other migrants face in—and place on—secondary cities, and the capacity of these municipalities to respond to these needs. Speakers explored possible strategies that local governments and partners can take to address socioeconomic and inclusion challenges while being sensitive to gender dynamics. The webinar asked what types of support are needed at national, regional, and international levels, and how development actors can better partner with secondary cities and local communities in their programming.
Speakers:
Renate Bucher, Program Manager, Migration and Forced Displacement, Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation
Samuel Mabala, Senior Urban Advisor for Uganda, Cities Alliance
Barnabas Samuel, Development Programs Manager, Community Development Center - Uganda
Moderators:
Samuel Davidoff-Gore, Associate Policy Analyst, MPI
About the Global Program
The Global Program bridges policy advice, research, and candid dialogue to design effective migration policies, drawing on global evidence and anticipating the forces reshaping how people move.
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Renate Bucher
Samuel Mabala
Barnabas Samuel
