Urban Migration
While migration is a global phenomenon. It's effects are particularly tangible at the local level where city actors are at the forefront of managing the challenges and opportunities of human mobility.
Migrants increasingly live in urban areas. Cities can offer opportunities, as well as protection, and attract people for many different reasons. Anticipating population growth in urban planning and in the organisation of public services is crucial for the long-term viability and economic productivity of many cities.
In order to effectively leverage the potential of migration for sustainable development, successful socio-economic inclusion of migrants with the host communities is key. City leaders have therefore important insights for global dialogues on migration.
SDC's Engagement
The SDC supports initiatives at the local level for the inclusion of migrants into the economic, social and cultural life of cities. It enhances city actors’ capacities by equipping them with the required competencies and instruments to receive, manage and locally integrate migrants and forcibly displaced persons. This also includes forecasting and adaptation plans in case of climate change and conflict related mobility.
The SDC also supports the advocacy role and participation of cities in global, regional and national policy dialogues. Cities’ insights, as well as their needs and challenges, can thus be heard and inform policy discourse and action.
Links
- Cities and Migration at Cities Alliance
- GFMD Mayors Mechanism - Localizing the Global Compacts (2022)
- Cities Alliance - Urban Expansion Planning for Cities Hosting IDPs and Migrants (2022)
- World Bank - Migrants, Markets, and Mayors: Rising above the Employment Challenge in Africa's Secondary Cities (2022)
- IIED - Why the International Community is Failing Urban Refugees (2023)
- SDC - Capitalization on Urbanisation - Urban Sensitive Programming Tool
Flagship Programmes
Cities Alliance - Resilient Systems of Secondary Cities and Migration Dynamics
This partnership initiative between Cities Alliance and the SDC is empowering secondary cities to become central actors and leaders in unlocking the development potential of migration.
Mayors Migration Council - City Diplomacy
The City Diplomacy programs support mayors to influence policy decisions at the national and international level.
IIED - Protracted Displacement in an Urban World
A comparative research project on the wellbeing, self-reliance and livelihoods of displaced people in urban areas and camps in Afghanistan, Ethiopia, Kenya and Jordan.
Contact us
Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA)
Eichenweg 5
Switzerland - 3003 Bern