Attachments
executive summary
In recent years, local authorities have played a crucial role in the inclusion and integration of forcibly displaced and stateless people in Europe and continue to lead short- and long-term responses to large-scale refugee influxes.
The report examines the policy reforms and new institutional practices needed to make integration efforts more sustainable and to increase capacity for inclusive local development. It focuses on five persistent challenges that UNHCR has repeatedly faced at the municipal level in its daily interactions on the ground with local authorities, other frontline local actors and refugees across Europe. These challenges include access to affordable housing, sustaining comprehensive integration and inclusion policies over time, and access to finance. Furthermore, it highlights clear practical aspects and the business case for more sustained and effective support to municipalities on socio-economic inclusion, given refugees’ interest in contributing to their host communities and economies in the face of Europe’s shrinking workforce and ageing population.
Much has been written about the role of local governments in the integration of new migrants, but much of it has been limited in geographic scope or has not focused on forcibly displaced or stateless people. As it is often difficult for local actors to have a complete picture of relevant publications on refugee inclusion at the local level, this policy brief synthesizes relevant research and the latest policy guidance from experts in the field, and refers to relevant resources for local actors to further explore and engage depending on priority areas, as well as practical tools and methodologies to ensure the meaningful participation and effective inclusion of refugee communities. It also offers a selection of viable solutions, especially regarding housing, based on concrete experiences and recommendations, which may inspire authorities from across the continent looking for innovative approaches that they can consider implementing or scaling up as appropriate.
While this brief focuses on municipalities, the refugee situation they face is situated within complex structural challenges, including a cost of living crisis and an asymmetric distribution of population and opportunities within countries. These require coordination between government levels and support from supranational and development actors, including the private sector. This policy brief therefore contains general information, guidance and recommendations for a wide range of actors needed to maximise the potential for refugee reception and the overall development of cities and towns across Europe.
