Inclusive Cities promoting effective integration of migrants through public spaces in humanitarian and development contexts

Urban migration is an ongoing worldwide trend, where 60% of refugees and 80% of internally displaced people move to cities to escape conflicts and political crises and to seek better employment and livelihood opportunities. Under-resourced small and intermediate cities near international borders are often the most impacted, with a subsequent increase in informal settlements, reduction of public spaces, enhanced spatial inequality and stronger competition for jobs. These may generate tensions between host and migrant communities and limit the long-term positive impact of migration on the social, economic and cultural development of cities.
Experiences in Latin America, Africa and the Arab States have proven that public space is a key enabler in promoting the inclusion of migrants in humanitarian and development contexts. Public spaces can generate social interactions, build social cohesion, and create equal societies. They also provide a platform to tackle emergencies, boost the local economy and establish new businesses and livelihood opportunities.
This event intends to showcase the lessons learnt from various initiatives that promote the social inclusion and integration of migrants through public space development. Urban Connections has implemented a participatory process to assess and design public spaces in border cities of Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay and Lebanon, comparing the implications of the humanitarian and development contexts. Inclusive Cities, Communities of Solidarity seeks tangible solutions to tackle the influx of Venezuelan migrants and refugees in ten cities in Latin America. The Urban Planning and Infrastructure in Migration Context Programme (UPIMC) has partnered with the Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO) to improve access to reliable services and socio-economic opportunities for migrants and host communities in Amman, Jordan. Kounkuey Design Initiative is working with UN-Habitat to design inclusive public spaces in Kalobeyei Settlement in northern Kenya. Finally, together with the Swedish International Cooperation and Development Agency (SIDA), UN-habitat put together a few recommendations on Mainstreaming Urban Planning and Public Spaces for Migrants and Displaced Persons.