Insight-driven response to homeless migrant and displaced populations in eThekwini

South Africa

Jan 12

Written By Sophie van Haasen

eThekwini Metropolitan Municipality

Mayor

Cyril Xaba

Start of Project

01/07/2022

End of Project

30/06/2023

Website

© Mayors Migration Council (MMC). Future site of the Karibu CARE drop-in center in eThekwini.

Overview

The eThekwini Metropolitan Municipality will implement an insight-driven response to the unmet social and economic needs of undocumented migrant and displaced populations living in situations of homelessness.

Focused on improving documentation and access to social services, the project follows a three-phased approach:

Phase One will focus on a comprehensive point-in-time survey to gauge current needs and numbers of the target population.
Phase Two will include the development of eThekwini’s ‘CARE’ database – a self-registration platform that will be connected to existing local drop-in centers distributed across the city. This development phase will also include trust-building activities run in partnership with local civil society organizations to ensure the buy-in of the target population.
Finally, Phase Three will comprise the roll-out of the CARE program, which will facilitate the registration of refugees and asylum-seekers at the city-level, providing them with unique identification codes they can use to access critical city services, such as access to healthcare, education, food and non-food items, temporary shelter, and livelihoods programs.

This project is in line with eThekwini’s proposed project for the MMC's Global Cities Fund for Migrants and Refugees.

Expected Impact

The eThekwini Metropolitan Municipality anticipates three key impacts of this action:

The eThekwini Metropolitan Municipality relies on a comprehensive database of migrants, refugees, and IDPs to better understand the magnitude and character of migration and homelessness in eThekwini and improve its municipal service delivery systems.
Undocumented migrants and refugees, especially women and children, have improved access to social services, including shelter, healthcare, and livelihoods programs, while gaining trust in the municipality’s ability to meet their needs.
The eThekwini Metropolitan Municipality’s CARE program provides a model registration platform for other metropolitan areas in South Africa to replicate, helping all residents access basic services regardless of legal status.