Engaging Local Voices: Letting cities inform national refugee resettlement goals

Held in the lead up to the Global Refugee Forum (GRF), this event noted that most of the planning for the forum has been focused on resettlement and complementary pathways pledges that would be announced at the December gathering and the number of refugees that states were committing to admit. Far less attention was being given to the crucial issues of how countries will reach their goals, whether the necessary capacity and infrastructure exist, and if there is effective coordination between the state and nonstate actors involved at different levels.

Effective communication and collaboration between local and national authorities are essential to ensure that resettlement and complementary pathways pledges are grounded in the realistic capacity and goodwill of local governments. Engaging with these local authorities, who often oversee reception and integration processes, can also enhance post-arrival planning and, therefore, refugees' integration prospects. Responses to the displacement of Ukrainians underscored the benefits of involving local authorities, as they have played a crucial role in identifying housing solutions and providing informal integration support through innovative local-national coordination and communication. 

This MPI Europe discussion considered how municipalities and other key stakeholders could be engaged in informing and delivering on the 2024 resettlement and complementary pathways pledges. Featuring findings from the publication Improving Stakeholder Coordination in Refugee Resettlement: A path to more effective, inclusive programs, this webinar explored opportunities for effective multi-level engagement ahead of the GRF.

Speakers:

Nathalie Jaifar, Team Leader, Independence Team, Refugee Resettlement, Bristol City Council, and Trustee, Bristol City of Sanctuary 

Tapiwa Nkhoma, Resettlement and Complementary Pathways Officer, Resettlement and Complementary Pathways Service, Division of International Protection, UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)

Maria Belen Zanzuchi, Associate Policy Analyst, MPI Europe

Moderator:

Susan Fratzke, Senior Policy Analyst, Migration Policy Institute