Context:

To support local governments dealing with a high influx of forcibly displaced, the Center for Mediterranean Integration (CMI) periodically organizes knowledge exchange, capacity building and learning activities for municipal representatives who are members of the Host Municipalities Learning Network (HMLN).

During the 3^rd Annual Event of the HMLN “Local Economic Development in Host Communities” which took place in Gaziantep, Turkey, November 19-22^nd, 2018, municipal representatives from Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Palestine, and Turkey gathered together and set their learning priorities drawing from HMLN exchanges over past year and the Competitive Cities’ “mayor’s wedge”. At the same time, a delegation of representatives from Afghanistan, Ethiopia, Kenya and Uganda was also present as observer to share similar challenges in a forced displacement context.

After three days of exchanges, HMLN members validated the theme of Local Economic Development (LED) and strategic planning for the year 2019 and expressed the need for sub-sectorial deep-dives on stakeholder mobilization and participatory approaches, socio-economic inclusion, skills and innovation, data gathering and analysis, and enterprise support and private sector mobilization.

Since June 2016 the Mediterranean Host Municipalities Learning Network aims to support host local governments with evidence-based knowledge and Capacity Building to improve their response capacity for forced displacement. The Network benefitted from several face-to-face workshops and webinars on priority themes, surveys, as well as online discussions in the ad-hoc Collaboration4Development (C4D) online collaborative platform. The Host Municipalities Network is moderated by the Center for Mediterranean Integration, as part of the Mediterranean Refugees and Host Communities Program.

Objectives:

This Webinar aims to:

• Reconnect HMLN members and follow up on the agreements and priorities taken during the 3^rd Annual Event;
• Prepare for next steps in learning and exchange among HMLN members;
• Continue the exchange with deep-dive presentations on the Competitive Cities’ “Mayors’ Wedge” approach and the World Bank Mashreq Forced Displacement Strategy.

Participation in the Webinar:

This webinar targets HMLN members. Given its scope, participation will be upon invitation only. The Webinar will consist of a virtual exchange allowing participants to interact by connecting directly from their computer or smartphone with internet connection. Arabic-English simultaneous interpretation will be provided.

Resources

Concept Note and Agenda