Our core idea – Innovative approaches to solidarity
Re:Match is an innovative matching project that rethinks solidarity in the EU and the distribution of people seeking protection in a new and participatory way – because we believe that the participation of cities and protection seekers is the key to equitable and effective migration management.
In contrast to conventional processes, Re:Match takes the individual profiles and preferences of people seeking protection into account and matches them with the infrastructural conditions and capacities of cities. The needs of local labour markets are also considered.
Matching is carried out using a preference-based algorithm to bring both sides together in the best possible way. Through this approach, Re:Match provides protection seekers and cities with opportunities for participation and thus fosters their agency in the relocation process, ultimately paving the way for successful integration.
With its pilot phase 2023, Re:Match already provided proof of feasibility and showed how sustainable paths for solidarity in Germany and with other EU member states can be created in close cooperation with welcoming cities. A second matching and relocation phase was implemented in the summer of 2024 and enabled us to further develop the Re:Match processes and strengthen the results obtained to date.
All data is being comprehensively evaluated and the results are published in our reports and guides. The findings are also being used to further develop the matching criteria, the questionnaires, the algorithm and the associated processes. The team is happy to answer your questions at any time and looks forward to any exchange on the subject of matching!
How it works:
What we’ve achieved
Re:Match looks back on a fascinating and fruitful pilot phase – because this project by the Berlin Governance Platform has achieved something truly unique so far!
Together with our partners Pairity (Canada), Salam Lab and Right to Protection (Poland), we were able to match 137 Ukrainian protection seekers with eight German municipalities using our self-developed algorithm-based mechanism and to support them in their relocation from Poland to Germany. In this matching, the individual needs and profiles of the protection seekers and the municipalities were taken into account in order to strengthen their right to have a say and facilitate the reception and integration process from day one.
With the pilot phase, Re:Match has demonstrated how such an approach can, for example, achieve efficient allocation of personnel resources or more precisely tailored accommodation. By strengthening participation, the project fosters a sense of commitment and readiness while ensuring a suitable fit for protection seekers and cities alike. Surveys with protection seekers and local authorities which participated in the 2023 relocation phase clearly support the assumption that co-determinationand matching-based distribution pave the way for successful integration – learn more about our findings in our reports!