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Issue #2 - December 19, 2022

Welcome to the second issue of the Mayors Migration Council’s quarterly newsletter, where we share the latest news about mayoral leadership on global migration and displacement and upcoming opportunities for action.

This quarter, we exceeded our goal to drive direct funding to 22 cities by 2022 with the Global Cities Fund for Migrants and Refugees, elevated our agenda on climate migration at the C40 Summit and COP27, and convened mayors and refugee leaders during the UN High Commissioner’s Dialogue. Stay tuned next year for a new round of Global Cities Fund grantees and diplomatic opportunities at the Cities Summit of the Americas and Global Refugee Forum.

Vittoria Zanuso, Executive Director

Global Cities Fund Exceeds Goal of Funding 22 Cities by 2022

Our Global Cities Fund secured a new $3M commitment from the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation and the Bernard van Leer Foundation to launch a new chapter focused on children and caregivers. This brings the fund to $8M and 28 city grantees worldwide, exceeding our goal to fund 22 cities by the end of 2022.

Learn About the New Chapter

MMC Leadership Board Mayors Convene Refugee-Led Organizations

Our Leadership Board Mayors Marvin Rees (Bristol) and Erias Lukwago (Kampala) met with refugee leaders on the sidelines of the UN High Commissioner’s Dialogue on Protection Challenges. Together, they showcased the impact of partnerships between cities and refugees and called for more resources to expand collaborations.

Watch the Event

Mayors Bring Climate Migration to COP27

We delivered on climate migration at COP27, in partnership with C40 Cities. Leadership Board Mayors Md. Atiqul Islam (Dhaka North) and Yvonne Aki-Sawyerr (Freetown) called for urgent investment in climate migration in events with UNFCCC, France, Bangladesh, and more. The MMC also announced 6 new GCF grantees delivering solutions on climate migration in Africa.

Read About Climate Migration at COP27

C40-MMC Task Force Welcomes New Members

The C40-MMC Task Force on Climate and Migration convened during the C40 World Mayors Summit in Buenos Aires. At this first-ever in person meeting, the mayors set key common messages to bring to COP27 and welcomed three new members, the Mayors of Amman, London, and São Paulo.

Hear from New C40-MMC Task Force Members

MMC in the Media

Freetown Mayor Yvonne Aki-Sawyerr and MMC Head of Practice Samer Saliba discuss barriers to city access to climate finance (Bloomberg).
Global Cities Fund grantee Barranquilla, Colombia, catalyzes $1,000,000 from the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation to expand the Opportunities Center project (Voces365).
MMC Executive Director Vittoria Zanuso shares how European mayors like Giuseppe Sala of Milan are addressing the needs of migrants at home and abroad (Politico).
Freetown Mayor Yvonne Aki-Sawyerr and Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja discuss climate migration in Africa and how they're addressing it (Devex).
Samer Saliba and Helen Yu from the MMC Practice team share how Medellín is adapting existing housing programs to support Venezuelan migrants and refugees (NewCities).
MMC Executive Director Vittoria Zanuso urges investment in African city-led solutions to climate migration following the lead of the IKEA Foundation and the Robert Bosch Stiftung (CNBC).
Dhaka North Mayor Md. Atiqul Islam and eThekwini Mayor Mxolisi Kaunda argue that with more funding, cities can leverage migration as an opportunity to build resilience (G rid).
The cities of Zürich, Switzerland, and Tyre, Lebanon, are partnering on a bike-sharing program for refugees and city residents (UNHCR).

Local Leadership in Action: Kampala, Uganda

With support from the MMC's Global Cities Fund for Migrants and Refugees, the City of Kampala, Uganda, is partnering directly with a refugee-led organization to address the needs of people whose livelihoods have been affected by the Covid-19 pandemic.

Working together, the Kampala Capital City Authority and the Makasi Rescue Foundation have delivered cash assistance to 400 refugees and people in need, covered school fees for 50 refugee students, and directly supported refugee entrepreneurs to start businesses in the city.

“The Makasi Rescue Foundation’s partnership with Kampala’s city government promotes an inclusive, safe, and equitable society for all residents in our city,” said Gloria Asiimwe, Executive Director of the Makasi Rescue Foundation and a Congolese refugee living in Kampala.

Learn More About the Project

Looking Ahead

In February 2023, we will launch a call for proposals for the Global Cities Fund for Migrants and Refugees: Children and Caregivers. We are inviting cities to express their interest here by January 10, 2023. This is the first time the GCF will be open to cities of all income levels and from all regions of the world.
The U.S. State Department will host the first-ever Cities Summit of the Americas on April 26-28, 2023 in Denver, Colorado. The MMC and the C40-MMC Task Force are working to include migration, climate, and municipal finance in the agenda and will reach out with engagement opportunities for mayors.
UNHCR will host the second UN Global Refugee Forum on December 12-15, 2023 in Geneva, Switzerland. The MMC Leadership Board will meet on the sidelines and the MMC will announce new city pledges to the Call to Local Action for Migrants and Refugees along with Mayors Mechanism partners. Add your city’s pledge!

Learn more about the Mayors Migration Council

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