Our new project Re:Match aims to pilot an innovative relocation model to offer a solution to the current challenges in the reception and redistribution of refugees from Ukraine and thus provide a blueprint for a better, human rights-based and more sustainable distribution of protection seekers in Europe.

Since February 2022, over 6 million people have fled Ukraine to neighboring European countries as a result of Russia’s war of aggression. In addition to other refugee routes, a further influx of people seeking protection from Ukraine is expected this winter. However, there are still serious gaps in the German distribution and reception system. Absorbing the numbers of people fleeing the war in Ukraine remains a major challenge and within Europe this has been especially true for local politics and municipalities. Therefore, it is all the more important to close these gaps in the best possible way by taking into account the exact capacities, needs and individual profiles of municipalities and refugees for further reception and relocation. How could this look like in practice?

We would like to build on international expertise and develop an algorithm-based matching mechanism with different stakeholders in a participatory manner as part of the Re:Match pilot project. In the first pilot phase, we will cooperate with municipalities to jointly develop matching criteria such as municipal infrastructure, language course availibility and the housing and labor markets. For those seeking protection, criteria such as family ties, work experience and other special needs will be relevant. In the second phase of the project, refugees from Ukraine will be paired with German municipalities using this matching mechanism.

This matching is intended to enable both an individualized and needs-oriented reception of refugees as well as a greater say for German municipalities. In recent years, municipalities in Europe have become important migration policy actors and have repeatedly demonstrated their solidarity with people seeking protection as well as their willingness to receive them. Re:Match would like to create a blueprint by exploring how voluntary municipal reception could work on a European level.