We empower cities for refugee reception

The Re:Match project matches welcoming cities with protection seekers based on the profiles, needs and capacities of both sides. With this approach, Re:Match enables better planning opportunities for cities and protection seekers alike and paves the way for successful integration. On this page, city representatives can find out more about our project and how it works.

How it works step-by-step

1. BECOME A PARTNER

Your city decides to participate by offering to receive a self-determined number of Ukrainian refugees. We will collect data on your city profile, including local reception capacities and labour market needs, through a survey and current public labour market data, which will be included in the algorithm’s data pool. Meanwhile, the needs and priorities of the participating refugees are vetted in an interview.

2. MATCHING VIA ALGORITHM

Based on the information provided by you and the refugees, the Re:Match algorithm computes the best matches for you. We will inform you about the result and provide you with further relevant information on the matched refugees, including their needs, skills and work profiles, so that your city has the time to prepare all the necessary steps, before their arrival.

3. RELOCATION

Once the participating refugees accept the match with your city, the Re:Match team will begin coordinating the next steps of the relocation and reception process with you.

Upon the refugees’ arrival, they shall be registered in your city and apply for temporary protection. We will closely support your city during the entire process of relocation.

4. EVALUATION

We rely on your feedback to evaluate and learn from the project. For this purpose, we will reach out and conduct meetings with all the partner cities a few months after the relocation, in order to evaluate the project and discuss the scalability of the matching model.

Become a partner city!

If you work for a German city and are interested in shaping a better relocation and reception policy, get in touch! We are happy to share more information and assist you in becoming a project partner!

The opportunity offered by Re:Match to have a say and the conscious decision to accept the match in a city creates a noticeably increased commitment and readiness to integrate among those seeking protection. We really appreciate that.

Frauke Rassmann, Coordination of the Accommodation of War-Displaced Persons from Ukraine in the Department of Social Affairs and Health, Braunschweig
The state capital Düsseldorf was happy to participate in Re:Match because we are convinced of the idea and see the opportunity for integration and participation. 

 

Miriam Koch, Deputy for Culture and Integration of the state capital Düsseldorf
The Re:Match process has made us more aware locally of what is important for people seeking protection – and of who all needs to be brought to the table to make reception and integration a success.

Rabeja Walte, Social Services and Senior Citizens, Team Leader for Refugee Social Work / Account Coordination, Salzgitter
We took part in the Re:Match pilot project to work towards creating a better distribution and reception process for protection seekers. Re:Match takes into account what we consider to be particularly important from a municipal perspective: a well-tailored distribution process that is geared both towards the cities’ capacities and the needs and preferences of those seeking protection.

Britta Bauer, Assistant to the Head of the Department for Social Affairs, Health, Housing and Sport, City of Kiel
In more rural towns like ours, it sometimes happens that buses arrive with people seeking protection and they almost want to turn around because they don’t know the town and think there are few opportunities here. That didn’t happen with Re:Match because they already knew what to expect. There is a clearer idea of our city and people know that they will also find a good infrastructure here and that they can quickly get their own apartment, for example. It is also very important that the people seeking protection were involved themselves, were asked and made a conscious decision to do so – that is a completely different attitude.

Christiane Johner, Head of Department, Immigration Office / Accommodation, Rottenburg am Neckar

Which cities participated in Re:Match? Who was matched and relocated to Germany ?

Welcoming cities did not only participate by receiving protection seekers via the Re:Match project but were also involved in programme co-design, motivated by the desire for a system that considers dynamic service availability and complementarity with refugees’ needs, backgrounds, and preferences. Together with the Re:Match team, they keep illustrating how city-level governments can provide sustainable pathways for solidarity in Germany and Europe.

23x single mothers with child(ren) 10x more than two adults 9x single persons 4x single mothers with child(ren) and grandmother 9x mobility restrictions 6x couples with child(ren)