Between 15 and 18 June 2020, the Mediterranean City-to-City Migration project (MC2CM) hosted a 4-day peer-learning event titled” Communication on Migration: Rebalancing the Narrative to Strengthen Local Governance” with over 50 participants from 22 local administrations across the Euromediterranean region and beyond.

The event aimed to explore the ways local governments and authorities can rebalance the migration narrative via the analysis and implementation of solid and professional communication practices. In particular, the participants could take part in dedicated breakout sessions with renowned migration and communication experts in campaigning, public narratives and attitudes to migration, curbing disinformation and press relations.

The main recommendations shared include the training of communication staff, the implementation of more frequent local campaigns or the involvement of the communities in building and sharing messages on migration. Cities also underlined the need for more coordination and awareness raising at national level, the will to receive training, share peers’ practices and their lack of resources and expertise. Therefore, they call on the involvement and support of national authorities and international organisations to support them to improve urban migration.

The Mediterranean City-to-City Migration (MC2CM) project brings together experts and cities to contribute to improved migration governance at city level, including migrants’ access to basic services and human rights through its three components: Dialogue, Knowledge and Action. The project is working with the cities of Amman, Beirut, Lisbon, Lyon, Madrid, Tangiers, Tunis, Turin and Vienna. It is funded by the European Union and implemented since 2015 by ICMPD, United Cities and Local Governments (UCLG) and UN-Habitat. It will run until 31 March 2021.

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MC2CM

International Centre for Migration Policy Development (ICMPD)

ICMPD – Factsheet