Our new project Re:Match aims to pilot an innovative model for a better, human rights-based and more sustainable distribution of protection seekers in Europe, thus providing a solution contribution to the current challenges in the reception and (European) redistribution of refugees from Ukraine.
Since February 2022, more than 6 million people have fled Ukraine for neighboring European countries as a result of the Russian war of aggression. Flight from the war in Ukraine remains a major challenge, especially for local politics in Europe. This winter, in addition to other escape routes, a further influx of people seeking protection from Ukraine is expected. But there are still serious gaps in the German distribution and reception system. In order to close these in the best possible way, the exact capacities, needs and individual profiles of municipalities and protection seekers should be taken into account in further reception and distribution. What might this look like in practice?
We would like to build on international experience and develop an algorithm-supported matching mechanism for this in a participatory manner with different stakeholders as part of the Re:Match pilot project. In the first phase, criteria such as municipal infrastructure, housing and labor market, and language offerings will be developed together with municipalities. For those seeking protection, criteria such as family ties, work experience and other special needs will be relevant. In the second phase of the project, protection seekers from Ukraine will be paired with German municipalities using this matching mechanism.
This matching is intended to enable both an individualized and needs-oriented reception of protection seekers and scope for German municipalities to shape their own policies. In recent years, municipalities in Europe have become important actors in migration policy and have repeatedly shown their solidarity with refugees and their willingness to receive them. Re:Match wants to test for the first time how voluntary municipal reception could work on a European level.
We are looking for willing to experiment communities!
The Berlin Governance Platform aims to work closely with 10 to 15 German municipalities, international matching experts, and refugees themselves to develop relevant criteria for matching and to match 100 to 150 individuals with partner municipalities in the best possible way.
Are you a municipality interested in participating in the pilot project and want to learn more about the goals and implementation steps? At our digital project kick-off on October 20, we will present the pilot project, our approach and our implementation partners in detail and engage in an exchange with you!
You can learn more about the project on this page.