Webinar – Engaging local voices: letting cities inform national refugee resettlement goals

Organizer: Migration Policy Institute (MPI Europe)

Date: 14 November 2023

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, Policy and Engagement, Resettlement and Complementary Pathways Service, Division of International Protection, UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)

Maria Belen Zanzuchi, Associate Policy Analyst, Migration Policy Institute Europ

Moderator: 

Susan Fratzke, Senior Policy Analyst, Migration Policy Institute

Description: With the Global Refugee Forum (GRF) approaching, most of the planning focus has been on resettlement and complementary pathways pledges that will be announced at the December gathering and the number of refugees that states are committing to admit. Far less attention is 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. Recent 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. 

Join this MPI Europe discussion on how municipalities and other key stakeholders can be engaged in informing and delivering on the 2024 resettlement and complementary pathways pledges. Featuring findings from the recent publication Improving Stakeholder Coordination in Refugee Resettlement: A Path to More Effective, Inclusive Programmes, this webinar will explore opportunities for effective multi-level engagement ahead of the GRF.