Purpose: The purpose of the Urban Working Group (UWG) is to facilitate effective coordination and collaboration among various stakeholders involved in refugee management in the Epirus region of Greece. By bringing together public authorities, UN agencies, non-governmental organisations, and volunteer organisations, the UWG seeks to create a platform where these entities can align their efforts, and work towards comprehensive solutions for refugee-related issues.
Stimulus/Rationale: The rationale for creating the Urban Working Group (UWG) was the pressing need for a coordinated approach to manage refugee issues in the Epirus region of Greece. The increasing number of refugees required a collaborative effort among various stakeholders, including public authorities, UN agencies, non-governmental organisations, and volunteers. By forming the UWG, the Municipality of Ioannina and UNHCR aimed to achieve better outcomes by coordinating actions and resources effectively.
Process: The process of forming and operating the Urban Working Group (UWG) in the Epirus region of Greece was driven by the necessity for a cohesive response to the challenges posed by the growing refugee population. The Municipality of Ioannina, in partnership with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), took the initiative to create the UWG. Interested parties were required to register their participation, with each organisation allowed up to two representatives. However, the Urban Working Group (UWG) established in Ioannina, Greece, as well as several other working groups formed in the country, were project-based, relying on coordination and administration from UN agencies, and not integrated into any local authorities' structure. Additionally, there was no attempt to connect them with the migrants' integration councils, as stipulated in the legal and institutional framework on migration, and their top-down approach made them vulnerable to sudden dissolution.
Impact: The Urban Working Group (UWG) in the Epirus region of Greece made notable efforts to address the challenges of the growing refugee population, but its project-based approach limited integration with local authorities. Consequently, effective connections with migrants' integration councils were hindered, raising concerns about its long-term sustainability and impact.
Key reference documents: Municipality Announcement
