Re:Match is an innovative matching project which rethinks solidarity in the European Union (EU) and the distribution of protection seekers in a new and participatory way: in contrast to conventional processes, it takes into account the individual profiles and preferences of protection seekers and matches them with the infrastructural framework conditions and capacities of the municipalities. As a result, Re:Match opens up better future prospects for people seeking protection and offers local authorities better planning options.
Matching is carried out using a preference-based algorithm to bring both sides together in the best possible way. In the 2023 pilot phase, Pilot phase 2023 were 78 Ukrainian asylum seekerswho were present in Poland were successfully prevented by the data- and preference-driven procedure. matched with six German municipalities and supported them in their relocation . A second matching and relocation phase was carried out in summer 2024 with the aim of applying the refined Re:Match processes and gaining new insights and data. As a result, the total number of asylum seekers relocated to 8 German municipalities via Re:Match rose to 137.
Re:Match is created in close cooperation with international partners, municipalities and people seeking protection and shows how Participatory and solidarity-based approaches for local and customised reception of people seeking protection in Germany and other EU member states can be developed. The project thus presents a innovative contribution to fair and effective distribution, efficient reception and successful integration. The aim is to relieve the burden on external EU border states and support local authorities as well as protection seekers themselves in their reception and integration at the same time.
Pilot phase
09/2022 – 10/2023
Follow-up project since
11/2023
In the 2023 pilot phase, the Berlin Governance Platform and its project partner Pairity conducted a participatory process with municipalities to develop the criteria and processes for matching with people seeking protection, which was based on the results of international research. These criteria include municipal infrastructure and current capacities as well as needs on the local labour market.
Participatory workshops based on international research to develop relevant criteria for matching with municipalities were also conducted with people seeking protection. The criteria include both individual needs and preferences.
Our partner NGOs in Poland, Salam Lab (2023) and Right2Protection (2024), informed people seeking protection from Ukraine about the possibility of relocating to a German municipality and the details of participating in Re:Match.
The needs and preferences of those seeking protection were surveyed in interviews. The data from the municipalities was submitted by the municipal employees in a questionnaire. The data of participating asylum seekers and the municipalities were recorded in accordance with data protection regulations and fed into the algorithm.
People seeking protection were individualised using the algorithm and matched with the participating municipalities according to their needs.
The protection seekers were informed in detail about the match and decided whether to accept or reject the match. Enabled by the European Directive on Temporary Protection for Ukrainian Refugees, the Berlin Governance Platform team supported the preparation of asylum seekers for relocation from Poland, an external EU border state, to German municipalities.
In summer 2023, Re:Match piloted the previously developed matching process for the first time together with Pairity and Salam Lab. In three cohorts, 78 Ukrainian asylum seekers were matched with 6 German municipalities and supported in their relocation. The data and results served as the basis for two reports (see below) and the further development of the process, the algorithm and the matching criteria.
In summer 2024, Re:Match worked with Pairity and Right2Protection to put the findings from the pilot phase directly into practice. In a second matching and relocation phase, consisting of two cohorts, 59 Ukrainian asylum seekers were finally matched with 7 German municipalities and supported in their relocation. The project is thus gathering further valuable experience and data in order to further develop the process for possible scaling. This additional data is currently being comprehensively analysed and the results will be published towards the end of 2024.
The project is continuously evaluated and closely accompanied by advocacy work at local, national and European level. Initial findings and recommendations for decision-makers from politics, municipalities and civil society are presented in the report "Re:Match as an innovative tool for the relocation of protection seekers." .
Two evaluation reports have already been published on the basis of initial project results. The Interim Evaluation Report provides detailed technical and content-related insights into the Re:Match processes until January 2024. The latest publication "From Arrival to Belonging: Six Months Results" complements the conclusions of this previous evaluation by providing insights into the integration successes of the participating protection seekers six months after their relocation.
Re:Match sets a strong Focus on relevant partnerships and targeted collaboration with people seeking protection and local authorities as well as stakeholders from politics and administration, academia and other civil society organisations. Sharing knowledge and working together on a improvement of the matching criteria, the algorithm and the relocation and admission processes. The aim is to consolidate the positive impact of Re:Match in the long term. We are also examining how the processes need to be adapted in order to be able to use the matching system for different groups of people seeking protection.
Through a Close dialogue with political decision-makers at European, national and municipal level should identify potential scalabillites for further application and generate support for the idea.
The Re:Match project is currently being implemented.
