Kampala, (UG):- Kampala City Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago will next week join mayors from across the globe at the 79th United Nations General Assembly in New York City to push for urgent, coordinated action on migration and displacement.
Organized by the Mayors Migration Council (MMC), the coalition is calling for a comprehensive international response that puts cities at the center of global migration solutions.
With cities acting as points of origin, transit, and destination for millions of migrants and displaced individuals, the world city leaders will engage in high-stakes discussions on the sidelines of UNGA 79 to champion policies and practices that allow urban migrants, displaced people, and their receiving communities not just to survive, but to thrive in a world where human mobility is the new normal.
Today, 70 percent of the world’s displaced population lives in urban areas, and one in five international migrants resides in just 20 cities. With the World Bank projecting over 200 million people displaced by climate change by 2050, Lord Mayor Lukwago says this trend is only going to increase.
“While national governments deal with borders and visa regimes, it is at the city level that the most important needs of migrants and refugees are met, from housing to healthcare to employment.”
“Cities are where migration happens. Mayors are the ones managing these realities daily, yet we are too often sidelined in global policy discussions. That needs to change,” he added.
Mayors at the UN Summit of the Future
The mayors’ advocacy will center on the UN Summit of the Future, where global leaders are set to adopt the Pact of the Future, a roadmap for future multilateral efforts. Mayors will push for migration and displacement to be recognized as key priorities in this pact, emphasizing the crucial role cities play in addressing these issues. They will also call for humanitarian and development investments to be localized to cities, which are essential in managing migration on a daily basis.
As part of the UN’s efforts to amplify the voices of local leaders, founding MMC members Valérie Plante, Mayor of Montreal, and Yousef Shawarbeh, Mayor of Amman, will participate in a meeting of the UN Secretary-General’s Advisory Group of Local and Regional Governments on September 19, where they will present recommendations.
“Our cities are where the impact of migration is most deeply felt—and where innovative solutions are being developed,” said Plante. “I joined this Advisory Group to ensure our collective experience on this and other critical issues of our time helps shape the Pact of the Future and beyond.”
A Call for Direct Funding to Cities
While political commitment from local governments is clear, research shows most cities face significant financial barriers when it comes to managing migration and displacement. In 2022, only 1.2 percent of global humanitarian assistance went to local actors, including cities, despite a global target of 25 percent.
This funding shortfall is especially critical in low- and middle-income countries, where 90 percent of the world’s forcibly displaced people live. “Amman has consistently been a sanctuary for those fleeing conflict,” stated Shawarbeh. “Yet, our resources are now severely strained. We call upon the UN and its Member States to recognize the crucial role that cities play and to allocate the necessary resources to sustain this vital work.”
To lead by example and inspire others to help close this funding gap, the MMC has committed to expanding the Global Cities Fund for Migrants and Refugees to $50 million, with an initial goal of $25 million by 2025.
“Cities are doing the heavy lifting, but they aren’t receiving the resources they need—not just in terms of funding amounts, but also the flexible, unrestricted support necessary to keep innovating and responding creatively over the long term,” said Vittoria Zanuso, Executive Director of the MMC. “We’re setting the example with the Global Cities Fund, and we’re calling on international actors, philanthropies, and investors to follow suit.”
A United Front
Lukwago will at UNGA 79 join mayors representing cities from across the globe, united in their call for a more inclusive, city-focused approach to migration management. Below is the list of Mayors expected to attend the assembly:
- Yousef Shawarbeh, Mayor of Amman, Jordan
- Carlos Fernando Galán, Mayor of Bogotá, Colombia
- Brandon Johnson, Mayor of Chicago, United States
- Yvonne Aki-Sawyerr, Mayor of Freetown, Sierra Leone
- Erias Lukwago, Mayor of Kampala, Uganda
- Talib Ahmed Bensouda, Mayor of Kanifing, Gambia
- Sadiq Khan, Mayor of London, England
- Mauricio Zunino, Mayor of Montevideo, Uruguay
- Valérie Plante, Mayor of Montreal, Canada
- Anne Hidalgo, Mayor of Paris, France
About Mayors Migration Council
The Mayors Migration Council (MMC) is a mayor-led coalition that accelerates ambitious global action on migration and displacement to create a world where urban migrants, displaced people, and receiving communities can thrive. Created by mayors for mayors, the coalition boasts of 200+ city leaders from all over the world guided by a Leadership Board of global city leaders and supported by a nimble team of political advisors and urban practitioners.
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