SUIDAC First Regional Dialogue Report

Secondary cities in Sub-Saharan Africa are under mounting pressure from rising urban displacement. Already stretched by limited resources, fragile infrastructure, and growing social tensions, many are on the frontlines responding daily to the demands for housing, jobs, and basic services from both newcomers and resident communities.

In response, the Sustainable Urban Integration of Displacement-Affected Communities (SUIDAC) Programme, funded by the EU and implemented by Cities Alliance, supports nine municipalities across five countries – the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, Somalia, Sudan, and Uganda – to develop localised, city-led solutions to displacement.

This publication captures the discussions and outcomes of the first SUIDAC regional dialogue, held in Jigjiga, Ethiopia from 17–19 February 2025. Hosted by the Jigjiga City Administration in collaboration with the Organisation for Welfare and Development in Action (OWDA), the dialogue brought together municipal leaders, refugee-led organisations, technical experts, and development partners to address shared challenges.

Participating municipalities presented findings from their feasibility studies, conducted over a six-month analytical phase, and engaged in peer learning and discussions on best practices for urban displacement management. The event also served as a validation workshop for the feasibility study findings and provided participating cities with the opportunity to play a leading role in an international discussion on urban displacement in Sub-Saharan Africa. 

The cities and their stakeholders began working together to shape solutions and craft sustainable, inclusive strategies that address their unique needs, while ensuring that their voices are heard and their challenges recognised at the global level.

Across all nine municipalities, the studies revealed the following shared and context-specific challenges:

• Severe service gaps
• Limited livelihood opportunities
• Weak urban planning systems
• Limited access to legal identity and documentation
• Land and tenure insecurity
• Environmental pressures in urban settings
• Gender and protection gaps
• Capacity gaps in municipal governance
• Social cohesion challenges

The findings from the feasibility studies enabled municipalities and their respective technical implementing partners to exchange and design targeted interventions that address their most pressing challenges.

Based on the discussions held and evidence presented, this event report offers a detailed account of city-led strategies, shared challenges, and collaborative solutions to address urban displacement across Sub-Saharan Africa. It presents a detailed summary of the nine feasibility studies conducted across SUIDAC cities, examines major displacement-related challenges, and outlines a roadmap of localised solutions developed by municipalities in partnership with refugee-led organisations and host communities.

Key Takeaways from the First Regional Dialogue

Local solutions work: Cities need tailored support. One-size-fits-all approaches don’t always reflect local realities.

City leadership is key: Municipalities are on the frontlines and need funding, capacity, and legal frameworks to act.

Communities must lead: Displaced and host communities, especially women, youth, and persons with disabilities must shape solutions.

Data drives results: Disaggregated, reliable data is vital for effective planning, service delivery, and accountability.

Feasibility studies are crucial: They help identify gaps, assess local capacities, and guide implementation.

Urban displacement needs sustainable financing: Cities require support in designing equitable, long-term fiscal strategies.

SUIDAC is a model to build on: It offers an innovative, city-led approach to integrating DACs into urban systems.

Through its regional dialogues, the SUIDAC Programme elevates cities’ priorities on national and international platforms, advocating for stronger policies and sustained support. Building on lessons from the EU-funded Comprehensive Refugee Response Framework (CRRF): Inclusive Urban Development and Mobility Action (2019–2023), SUIDAC fosters a collaborative network that promotes the active engagement of DACs in local planning and facilitates peer-to-peer learning among municipalities.

The second Regional Dialogue of the SUIDAC Programme will be held in Arua City, Uganda, from 22 to 25 September 2025.