Local Dialogue for Migration Coordination

In response to the migrant problem in Türkiye, local actors such as municipalities, district governorships and non-governmental organizations play a key role in providing basic services equally to foreigners. However, the lack of coordination between these actors needs to be overcome in order to provide a coherent response to the problems faced by migrants and refugees. In this context, the World Academy of Local Government and Democracy (WALD) organized the "Local Dialogue Workshop for Migration Coordination" between 26-27 October 2022 in cooperation with the German International Cooperation Agency (GIZ) and Küçükçekmece Municipality within the scope of the Qudra 2 program.

In the two-day workshop, which started with the speeches of GIZ Qudra 2 Program Türkiye Director Dagmar Blickwede and Küçükçekmece Municipality Strategy Development Manager Mehmet Erdönmez, three panels on different topics and two roundtable meetings were held. 

In the sessions moderated by WALD Project Coordinator Dr. Nuriye Niğdelioğlu Happani the issues of "Legal and Psychosocial Support to Migrants", "Schooling and Social Cohesion Studies", "Public and Civil Society Relations / Strengthening Inter-Agency Coordination", "Employment Strategies for Migrants and Refugees / New Urban Economy Model Cooperative Activities" and the difficulties encountered in practice and solution suggestions were discussed.

One of the most important outcomes of the Workshop, where representatives of local governments, non-governmental organizations, international organizations and public institutions and organizations came together, was the meeting of institutions working in the same field on a common platform and sharing examples of good practices. The participants underlined that the “Cooperation Model”, as an example of good practice, initiated by WALD and Küçükçekmece Municipality is a model that will affect the smoothness and success of the works carried out in the field.