May 23, 2025, (Addis Ababa, Ethiopia): Mayors and Urban Authorities from key cities in the IGAD Region have agreed to promote comprehensive and inclusive policies in order to provide durable solutions to the increasing number of displaced persons settling in cities and urban centres in the region.
This and other recommendations were made during the ‘Thematic Roundtable on Urban Dimensions of Forced Displacement in the IGAD Region,’ which took place 22 to 23 May, 2025 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, organised under the auspices of the IGAD Support Platform on Forced Displacement.
The dialogue gathered mayors and leaders of urban authorities from key cities from IGAD Member States, directors of refugee agencies, humanitarian and development partners, to highlight the unique challenges and opportunities cities encounter in providing durable solutions and deepen the regional understanding of fostering the inclusion of Refugees, Returnees, Asylum Seekers and Host Communities in local development planning.
Delegates explored several themes including: urbanization and displacement, access to services and livelihoods, protection and safety, host community-displaced person relations, and Innovative solutions and partnerships. The dialogue was convened in collaboration with UNHCR, Cities Alliance, UN-Habitat and other members of the core group of the IGAD Support Platform.
In his opening remarks, H.E Mohamed Abdi Ware, the Deputy Executive Secretary at the IGAD Secretariat, said that a significant number of refugees, asylum seekers and internally displaced people reside in or migrate to urban or peri-urban areas, seeking not only safety, but improved livelihoods and job opportunities, access to education and health and better living conditions. He acknowledged that local authorities play a critical and transformative role in promoting reception, protection and local inclusion.
“Cities are symbols of hope for the displaced persons and I commended the resilience and dedication of city authorities to manage the challenges that come with the influx of displaced persons amidst limited resources and pressure on infrastructure.”
Greg Munro, the Director at Cities Alliance urged City authorities to consider the benefits of supporting displaced persons in social-economic inclusion programmes. He said that migrants and forcibly displaced people are people often with skills, entrepreneurship potential and energy that can contribute to the growth of economies, if they are included in the city planning process.
David Karp, the Assistant Representative Protection, at UNHCR Ethiopia stated that current evidence demonstrates that when refugees participate in local economies, they stimulate markets, create employment, generate tax revenues and significantly reduce humanitarian expenditure creating a virtuous cycle of economic growth which benefits both displaced and host populations
Representing the IGAD Chair, Government of Djibouti, the Executive Secretary of the National Office for Assistance to Refugees and Disaster Victims of Djibouti (ONARS), Mr. Mohamed Ali Kamil, emphasised the challenges that local governments are facing in delivering services and interventions for displaced persons, calling for a regional approach to finding solutions.
“Together, we can develop concrete recommendations and actions that will promote greater inclusion of displaced populations in our urban societies,” said Kamil.
The dialogue also presented an opportunity to take stock of the of advancements made in implementing the Human Settlements pledges across the IGAD region. During the 2023 Global Refugee Forum, the Multistakeholder Pledge on Climate Resilient, Sustainable Human Settlements for Refugees and their Hosting Communities was launched, co-led by the Government of Ethiopia and UN-Habitat. Five IGAD countries; Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, South Sudan, and Uganda, made policy pledges among other pledging entities.
Key policy recommendations were proposed including a call for urban and city authorities to develop comprehensive and integrated urban displacement strategies, recognizing and protecting the rights of displaced children in urban areas and enhancing data collection and utilization for evidence-based policy making, among others.
Represented were the cities of Addis Ababa, Assossa and Jigjiga in Ethiopia, Ali Sabieh and Obock from Djibouti, Nairobi, Garrisa and Turkana from Kenya and Mogadishu, Baidoa and Bosaso from Somalia. Also present were mayors and from Juba, Bor administrators from Juba, Bor, Renk and Bentiu in South Sudan, Kampala, Arua, Mbarara and Koboko in Uganda, among others.
Dr. Wilson Sanya, the Mayor of Koboko Municipality in Uganda called for an IGAD led process to review and harmonise the incoherencies in the policies, legal frameworks and data management systems for Municipalities and Cities in the IGAD Region. Sharing the experience of Koboko Municipality, Dr. Sanya said that providing legal recognition for urban refugees and the utilising data enables city authorities develop inclusive and integral policies.
On behalf of refugees, Sybile Anny Izere, a Burundian refugee in Uganda called upon Governments in the region to invest in long-term, community-led solutions such as access to education, mental health support, digital skills, and economic empowerment to enhance self-reliance of displaced persons.
“Refugees are not only beneficiaries but also active contributors to development, and their lived experiences and insights must be central to shaping policies that are sustainable, inclusive, and resilient,” said Sybile.
This was reiterated by Elizabeth Biunjwe Ebila, a Congolese refugee from Kakuma Refugee Camp in Kenya who appealed to City authorities to ensure refugees and host communities have equal access to services, jobs and safe public spaces while promoting dialogue, inclusion and anti-discrimination efforts to build social cohesion.
This inaugural roundtable dialogue was organised with financial support from the European Union’s International Partnerships Directorate (INTPA) in collaboration with core group of the IGAD Support Platform on Forced Displacement.
