Mayors, Local and Regional Governments

The Emigrant Support Programme is a tangible expression of the Irish Government's support of, commitment to, and interest in the global Irish community. It aims to strengthen the international Irish community and its bond with Ireland. Through this programme, the Government wants to fund projects that will have a clear and identifiable impact on supporting and building global Irish communities.

The Government, through the Emigrant Support Programme, is committed to prioritising the following:

PEOPLE

On 26 September 2023, the US President Biden announced the inaugural members of the President’s Advisory Council on African Diaspora Engagement in the United States. The establishment of this Council was a significant commitment announced by Vice President Harris on behalf of the Biden-Harris Administration during the 2022 U.S.-Africa Leaders Summit, aimed at enhancing dialogue between United States officials and the African Diaspora.

France has adopted a Migration and Development Action Plan for the period 2018-2022, which recognises the role of diasporas in France and undertakes to support initiatives aimed at developing cooperation and solidarity between territories of origin and destination.
While the numerous studies on the financial transfers of migrants to Southern countries and the dynamism of diasporas in Northern countries confirm the importance of these issues, they still need to be better documented with regard to young people and women.

United Cities and Local Governments (UCLG), commits to bring the protection and inclusion of refugees and migrants at the heart of all global development agendas. At the SDG Summit, UCLG recognized the Call to Local Action for Migrants and Refugees as one of the UCLG transformative coalitions localizing the 2030 Agenda and serving as a blueprint to rescue the SDGs as called by the UN Secretary-General. Furthermore, under UCLG proposal, the UN included the Call to Local Action as part of one of the 12 High-Impact Initiatives accelerating progress towards the 2030 Agenda.

The City of Tyre commits to partner with the City of Zürich to improve services for migrants, refugees and locals in Tyre.
This partnership aims to increase municipal staffing and expertise, conduct technical knowledge and best practices exchanges, while jointly implementing inclusive projects for Tyre’s inhabitants, including Syrian and Palestinian refugees.

Initiated by the city of Zürich, in collaboration with the Swiss Government, and supported by Swiss cities, the Swiss Association of Cities, the Swiss Association of Municipalities, and cantonal representations, this pledge commits to enhance the cooperation of all state levels in Swiss refugee policy.

Rennes commits to initiate a consultative process to contribute to a pan-European citizen proposal to the European Commission, with the aim to ensure dignified reception for refugees and migrants in Europe.
Rennes is a European city, and its citizens mobilize every day to bring the European project to life and to make it accessible for all its residents, especially those that are at risk of being left behind.

The Municipality of Ramallah commits to upgrading Qaddura Refugee Camp’s solid waste management system, rehabilitating its public park, and launching an awareness campaign about environmental stewardship for families living in the camp.

The Municipality of Quilmes commits to implementing its Second Municipal Migration Governance Plan (2023 – 2027).

Quilmes is the first municipality in Argentina to be declared "plurinational and intercultural" due to its significant migrant and refugee population, constituting 8% of the total inhabitants, with around 54,000 people of foreign origin.

In 2019, the first Municipal Migration Governance Plan was launched offering an overarching strategy for policy planning. The municipality is now implementing the second iteration of the Municipal Plan.

Nyamagabe District commits to build community resilience and adaptive capacity for people living in Nyamagabe and the nearby Kigeme refugee camp whose lives and livelihoods are severely impacted by floods, landslides, and droughts.

In collaboration with UNHCR Rwanda, Nyamagabe is terracing hillsides prone to landslides into viable agricultural areas, converting waste into renewable energy, and providing basic infrastructure and utilities for additional residential plots.