Informal Settlements and Migration in Latin America

INFORMAL SETTLEMENTS AND MIGRATION IN LATIN AMERICA

How can migration dynamics be better incorporated into local urban and housing policies?

Housing Laboratory on Wednesday 13 May 2020 - 5 pm CET

Live streaming on Facebook

In recent years, Latin America and the Caribbean have been significantly affected by migratory flows triggered among others by economic factors, political crises, violence, and natural disasters. Such movements have severely impacted urban areas, which are absorbing most of the newcomers and that are often already facing poverty and informality, lack of access to basic services, and unemployment. Social and cultural dynamics in the different countries, together with ongoing political and social changes are also generating tensions between the local and the migrant populations.

But migration is also a major opportunity for those hosting cities, where the arrival of human capital can extensively contribute to boosting the local labour markets, as well as the economies through an increased flow of remittances. 

During this Housing Lab, speakers will share different approaches to housing policies against the background of migration management and informal settlements in the LAC region, from countries such as Brazil, Colombia, Chile, Mexico, and Guatemala. The World Bank and UN-Habitat will bring an international perspective to the debate.

This event is co-organized by Cities Alliance, UHPH Platform, and the Assembly of Housing and Urban Authorities in LAC - MINURVI, at the initiative of the Housing Ministry of Colombia.   

The discussion will focus on the following questions:

1. What are the main migration trends in Latin America and the Caribbean and what impacts do these recent flows have on the municipalities of departure, transit, and reception?

2. What are the implications of migration in terms of informal settlements and the homeless population?

3. How can migration dynamics be better incorporated into local urban and housing policies?

4. What are the existing regulatory frameworks in terms of rights? Do they need to be adapted - and how - to the current migration reality?

5. What are the roles of national urban policy, housing policy, and national government?

6. Are there -and what are- concrete incentives for the adequate reception, management, and integration of migrants at the local level? 

Learn more about Cities Alliance project in Guatemala, Amatitlán Includes You, in partnership with AVINA Foundation.