Secondary Cities Providing Solutions to Migration and Forced Displacement

Cities around the world are experiencing an unprecedented refugee situation. Over 70 million people worldwide are fleeing their homes as a result of persecution, conflict, generalized violence, or human rights violations. Most refugees and Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) are now living in urban or semi-urban areas.

This shift has put considerable pressure on cities, especially fast-growing secondary cities in developing countries that are already struggling to meet the needs of their populations. Simultaneously, cities are central actors in the delivery of key compacts and instruments including the Global Compact on Migration, the Global Compact on Refugees and the Comprehensive Refugee Response Framework (CRRF).

The IGAD Support Platform for the Global Compact on Refugees was launched in December 2019 during the first Global Refugee Forum. The Platform aims to sustain the momentum and galvanize additional support for the implementation of the CRRF in the IGAD region.

IGAD and Cities Alliance are partnering to support the delivery of the CRRF and international agendas in the Horn of Africa. A regional network of secondary cities was launched in 2020 to promote dialogue between representatives from different secondary cities and engage with the local population and key national authorities. This network aims to foster knowledge exchanges on the challenges and opportunities resulting from urban displacement in the context of urbanization.

The event's objective will be to highlight the needs and gaps that secondary cities face and how they can promote the inclusion of migrants and displaced populations to support the delivery of the CRRF and international agendas in the Horn of Africa.