Re:Match - needs-based and individualised relocation of protection seekers via algorithm-based matching

Europe faces the challenge of a fair and effective distribution and reception of people seeking protection. We want to offer a participatory contribution to a human rights-based European migration policy. This is why Re:Match is piloting an innovative algorithm-based matching and relocation procedure.

 

During the pilot phase (10/2022 - 10/2023), we matched and relocated 78 Ukrainian asylum seekers who were staying in Poland, an external EU border state, to six welcoming German municipalities. Through the implementation and subsequent evaluation, we have proven that relocation via matching is possible: Relocation via matching is possible and successful!

Since February 2022, around 8 million people have fled to other European countries as a result of the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine. This migratory movement is not an isolated event, but is part of a decade-long increase in the number of people seeking protection from conflict, persecution, discrimination, hunger, poverty and natural disasters in the EU. This is a major challenge for the European migration system and for the many European municipalities hosting protection seekers.

The distribution and reception of people seeking protection is rarely based on their personal needs or the capacities of the host municipalities. Re:Match is an innovative matching project which addresses precisely this problem: It takes into account the individual profiles and preferences of those seeking protection and matches them with the infrastructural framework conditions and capacities of the municipalities. The needs of local labour markets are also taken into account. Matching is carried out using an algorithm to bring the two parties together in the best possible way.

The aim of Re:Match is to facilitate the reception and integration process for both sides from day one. By way of this matching and relocation process, Re:Match aims to open up better future prospects for people seeking protection and to offer municipalities better planning opportunities. The project also sends out a strong political signal of solidarity between the municipalities and tests how voluntary, needs-orientated municipal admission can work at European level.

The project will be evaluated in detail. In January 2024, we will publish an Evaluation report, in which the results of the evaluation are presented in detail and a report summarising the findings and recommendations relevant to decision-makers from politics, municipalities and civil society.

 

The second project phase (from 11/2023) for Re:Match is characterised by further technical development and strategic networking.

Re:Match will place a stronger focus on relevant partnerships. Targeted cooperation with people seeking protection, local authorities, politicians and administrators, academia and other civil society organisations is particularly important here. Sharing findings and working together to improve the matching criteria, the algorithm and the relocation and admission processes will consolidate the positive impact of Re:Match in the long term. We will also examine how the processes need to be adapted if the matching system is to be used for people seeking protection who have a different legal status than people fleeing the war of aggression in Ukraine.

Close dialogue with policymakers at European, national and local level is intended to identify potential applications and generate support for the idea. This dialogue will also be vital when examining how the matching procedure can be applied to other groups of people outside of the Temporary Protection Directive. Through a second matching and relocation phase with other groups of people, we want to gain new data and insights that are valuable for further development.

 

The Re:Match project is currently being implemented. You can find more detailed information on the implementation on the multilingual project website. For the latest updates, you can also subscribe to our newsletter.

The 2023 pilot phase

This graphic on the migration project Re:Match - Relocation via Matching of the Berlin Governance Platform presents the key data in brief. In terms of content, it states: 1. OBJECTIVE A matching pilot project that enables individualised & needs-based admission of protection seekers to European municipalities and tests the scalability of algorithm-based relocation 2. WHO Approximately 100 protection seekers who are currently in Poland or Ukraine 3. WHERE 6 municipalities in Germany that are willing to accept them 4. WHEN September 2022 - October 2023

Project schedule 2023

This graphic on the process of the migration project Re:Match - Relocation via Matching of the Berlin Governance Platform presents the key data of the planning and implementation. The content is as follows: 1. WORKSHOPS WITH COMMUNITIES (symbol: houses & trees of a municipality) Together with municipalities, relevant criteria for matching between them and people seeking protection are defined. This includes municipal infrastructure & current capacities as well as needs. 2. WORKSHOPS WITH SEEKERS OF PROTECTION (symbol: a small group of people) The relevant criteria for matching between municipalities and seekers of protection are developed in close cooperation with seekers of protection. 3. OUTREACH REFUGEES (symbol: many people) Salam Lab, our partner NGO in Poland, informs people seeking protection from Ukraine about the possibility of relocating to a German municipality. Needs and capacities are assessed in interviews. 4. DATA COLLECTION (symbol: files and papers) The data of participating protection seekers and the municipalities are recorded and transmitted in accordance with data protection regulations. 5. MATCHING (symbol: puzzle pieces) Protection seekers are matched with the cities on an individualised and needs-oriented basis using an algorithm. 6. RELOCATION (symbol: points move from one centre to several locations, are redistributed) The people seeking protection are informed and confirm the match, transfer and reception are organised.
Logo of the Berlin Governance Platform's Re:Match pilot project in four colours. The individual pieces of the symbol match with the others to create a matching whole.
DURATION

Pilot phase
09/2022 – 10/2023

Follow-up project since
11/2023

PROJECT WEBSITE

https://rematch-eu.org/

NEWSLETTER

Registration here

TEAM
FUNDERS

Open Society Foundation

German Postcode Lottery

German Foundation for Commitment and Volunteering

News about the project

The first successes of the project have already been highlighted by the press. Here you will find blog updates, open job advertisements and our press review
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