Our Aspirations and Strategic Approaches
The following sections lay out the aspirations cities that participated in the Exchange hold for the future as they tackle interconnected challenges associated with increasing migration. To achieve each of these aims, Chief Resilience Officers recommend a series of strategic approaches or actions. Rather than a comprehensive list, they have formulated a blueprint that combines the ambitious and pragmatic, and short-term and long-term approaches, to achieve immediate results without undermining generational change. Some actions are new, while others are already being pioneered in cities and have the potential to take root and becoming common practice across the 100RC Network and beyond. Some can be implemented immediately, while others require further study.
- Aspirations are the visions Chief Resilience Officers hold for the future to guide the way they plan for and manage urban migration.
- Strategic Approaches are actions Chief Resilience Officers recommend for achieving their visions.
We recognize that achieving these aspirations requires investment in time and resources. This compendium is a call to action, a living document that raises awareness, catalyzes concrete initiatives in other cities, and influences the market and key institutional and financial players as new resilience tools are developed — furthering our collective goal of creating a global practice of urban resilience.
Plan for a Dynamic Future
By embracing global migration and incorporating human flows into urban planning, adaptive cities prepare, transform, and thrive in the face of a dynamic future.
- Incorporate migration considerations into the design of key services and infrastructure.
- Establish a city-level office dedicated to the successful integration of newcomers.
- Apply migration considerations to city-wide plans and Resilience Strategies.
- Develop more granular and coordinated data collection to improve integration initiatives.
Thrive Together
By valuing and leveraging the talent of migrants, equitable cities create opportunities for all residents and vulnerable populations.
- Improve access to financial services for migrants and other vulnerable groups.
- Create opportunities for migrants to generate income despite rigid labor markets and legal restrictions, through cash-for-work programs and paid training schemes.
- Support immigrant-owned businesses and incorporate the needs of immigrant entrepreneurs into traditional economic development priorities and strategies.
Embrace Newcomers
By welcoming and integrating migrants, inclusive and cohesive cities become better places for all residents.
- Promote migration through a narrative that emphasizes common goals, values, and opportunities.
- Promote initiatives that foster regular interactions between new and existing populations to strengthen communal bonds and mitigate the effects of false stereotypes.
- Address migrants’ fundamental needs while promoting initiatives that reduce real or perceived competition among newcomers and native residents.
Lead for Change
By partnering with local, national, and international actors, leading cities create an environment for the successful reception and integration of newcomers.
- Actively campaign to receive policy and funding support for managing migrant reception and integration in urban areas.
- Fill in policy and funding gaps through local mandates and public-private partnerships.
- Leverage and improve coordination with humanitarian aid agencies, NGOs, businesses and local organizations, to avoid duplication and maximize collective impact.
