Global Cities Fund Launches New $3M Investment to Advance Economic Inclusion for Migrants and Refugees

Six inaugural grantees selected to receive catalytic investment and support: Boston (United States), Kanifing (The Gambia), Koboko (Uganda), Manta (Ecuador), Quezon City (Philippines), Turin (Italy)

New York City, September 25, 2025 — The Mayors Migration Council (MMC) today announced a new $3 million investment through its Global Cities Fund for Migrants and Refugees (GCF) to help cities implement bold, city-led solutions that drive economic inclusion for migrants, refugees, and receiving communities.

Six inaugural city grantees—Boston (United States), Kanifing (The Gambia), Koboko (Uganda), Manta (Ecuador), Quezon City (Philippines), and Turin (Italy) — will receive catalytic financial and technical support to launch innovative programs that expand access to dignified work, financial services, and entrepreneurial opportunities for migrants and refugees, ensuring they can fully contribute to and benefit from their local economies.

Why Economic Inclusion

Cities generate over 80% of global GDP, offering unmatched opportunities for newcomers compared to rural areas or refugee camps—from diverse labor markets to entrepreneurial prospects. In turn, urban migrants and refugees power local economies: they fill labor shortages, sustain essential services, and drive innovation in sectors like healthcare, climate resilience, and caregiving.

Yet too often, migrants and refugees face barriers that restrict their economic potential, including limited access to work authorization and financial systems, vulnerability in the informal or gig economy, and systemic discrimination, undermining prosperity for both newcomers and longtime residents.

“Mayors continue to deliver solutions that include in their local economies those who are often overlooked. We’re proud to help cities turn migration into a competitive advantage—unlocking prosperity not just for newcomers, but for all,” said Vittoria Zanuso, Executive Director of the Mayors Migration Council.

Our Inaugural Grantees

From women-led cooperatives and green job creation programs to labor mobility pathways and migrant business accelerators, the selected cities are pioneering new models for economic inclusion:

Boston, USA – Cooperating Care Boston
Launching the city’s first immigrant-led homecare cooperative to serve Boston’s aging population. The cooperative will create dignified jobs and business ownership pathways for immigrant workers while addressing a critical gap in the healthcare system.

“This new initiative will better support our older residents who are strong anchors in our communities while expanding pathways to economic mobility for our immigrant caregivers who play a critical role in keeping them connected to the community.” — Michelle Wu, Mayor of Boston

Kanifing, The Gambia – Migrant Resilience Hub
Establishing a business incubator for women and migrant entrepreneurs in high-growth sectors like tourism. The Hub will offer training, startup capital, and wraparound social services—including childcare and psychological support—to foster long-term economic participation.

“We are investing in the talent of our young people to transform migration into a choice, not a necessity.” — Talib Ahmed Bensouda, Mayor of Kanifing

Koboko, Uganda – From Waste to Wealth
Creating green jobs for women and youth to produce and sell alternative energy and recycled products, through briquette making, composting, and clean energy kiosks. The project powers a circular economy, reduces pollution, and expands access to sustainable livelihoods in displacement-affected communities.

“We will turn environmental challenges into livelihoods for young people, women, and displacement-affected communities.” — Wilson Sanya, Mayor of Koboko

Manta, Ecuador – Inclusive Manta for Women Entrepreneurs
Supporting migrant and displaced women in the food and textile sectors to organize into business associations, enabling them to access higher incomes and formal protections. The city will provide women with business training, startup capital, and access to local and digital markets.

“We are turning survival strategies into sustainable economic engines and investing in women- and immigrant-led innovation that benefits the entire city.” — Marciana Valdivieso, Mayor of Manta

Quezon City, Philippines – QC Cares
Establishing the city’s first member-owned, city-supported cooperative for domestic workers—both local and returning from abroad. Through savings and credit schemes, members will gain access to training and job-matching services, expand their social protections, and transition into secure, self-directed livelihoods—helping to break generational cycles of poverty.

“This project will impact generations—uplifting families, strengthening our workforce, and promoting dignity and equity within and beyond our borders.” — Josefina ‘Joy’ Belmonte, Mayor of Quezon City

Turin, Italy – City-Led Labor Pathways
Piloting a city-to-city labor mobility program that connects refugees in Uganda with critical job opportunities in Italy. In partnership with the private sector, Turin will provide job matching, pre-departure training, language support, and wraparound services—testing an innovative model for ethical, sustainable migration pathways.

“We can build ethical, sustainable migration corridors that serve both cities of origin and destination.” — Stefano Lo Russo, Mayor of Turin

A Growing Global Platform

Today’s announcement builds on the MMC’s 2024 Clinton Global Initiative Commitment to Action, which pledged to invest in economic inclusion solutions for migrants and refugees in cities.

Since its launch, the Global Cities Fund has:

• Mobilized $28 million, exceeding its goal to raise $25 million by 2025
• Supported city-led migration solutions in 26 cities
• Improved the lives of 100,000+ migrants, refugees, and local community members
• Seen 90% of grantees unlock additional resources to continue and expand their projects

With growing demand and demonstrated success, the MMC has set a new goal: $50 million by 2030 to expand the Fund’s reach and deliver deeper impact.

Our Partners Driving Collective Impact

Grantees were selected by an independent Steering Committee of global experts based on anticipated impact, community engagement, leadership commitment, and potential for replication. Drawing on expertise across local government, humanitarian response, finance, and migration, the Committee includes:

• Serena Guarnaschelli, Partner at KOIS, former Partner at Dalberg Development Advisors
• Nasra Ismail, Founder of Generative Connections, former Executive Director at Alight US
• Annemieke de Jong, Manager Sustainability & Corporate Communication at Stichting Kandidatennetwerk, former Head of Refugee Livelihoods at IKEA Foundation
• Sana Mustafa, Associate Vice President of Philanthropy at Equality Fund, former CEO of Asylum Access
• Fatima Shama, Government Innovation, Bloomberg Philanthropies, former Commissioner at the NYC Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs

Each city will receive up to $500,000 USD over two years, alongside tailored technical assistance from the MMC and its Strategic Partners: C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group (C40 Cities), Metropolis, United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat), International Organization for Migration (IOM), United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), and United Cities and Local Governments (UCLG).

The GCF’s newest window is made possible thanks to the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation, the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation, and the IKEA Foundation, with support from the MMC’s Strategic Partners in outreach, application review, and ongoing technical guidance.

About the Mayors Migration Council

The Mayors Migration Council is a mayor-led coalition that accelerates ambitious global action on migration and displacement to create a world where urban migrants, displaced people, and receiving communities can thrive.

Learn more: www.mayorsmigrationcouncil.org 

Appendix: Mayoral Quotes

Michelle Wu, Mayor of Boston, United States

“The City of Boston  is thrilled to launch our new Cooperating Care initiative with support from the Global Cities Fund for Migrants and Refugees. This new initiative will better support our older residents who are strong anchors in our communities while expanding pathways to economic mobility for our immigrant caregivers who play a critical role in keeping them connected to the community. I’m grateful to the Mayors Migration Council for their leadership and look forward to this project bolstering our work to make Boston a home for everyone.”  

Talib Ahmed Bensouda, Mayor of Kanifing, The Gambia

“Kanifing is a youthful, dynamic city. With the Global Cities Fund for Migrants and Refugees, we are investing in the talent of our young people to transform migration into a choice, not a necessity. The Migrant Resilience Hub will harness their entrepreneurial potential, empowering them to launch sustainable businesses, build skills, and access wraparound social services that help them thrive. This is more than an economic project—it is a long-term strategy to expand our city’s marketplace and unlock inclusive growth for the next generation.”

Wilson Sanya, Mayor of Koboko, Uganda

“Thanks to the support of the Global Cities Fund for Migrants and Refugees, Koboko Municipality will accelerate climate resilience while opening new economic opportunities. Through our Waste to Wealth project, we will turn environmental challenges into livelihoods for young people, women, and displacement-affected communities—powering a green, circular economy with briquette making, composting, and clean-energy kiosks. This initiative shows that mayors and cities must be at the center of solutions to both migration and climate crises—not on the sidelines.”

Marciana Valdivieso, Mayor of Manta, Ecuador

“In Manta, 93% of employed migrants work in the informal economy without protections, opportunities for advancement, or access to markets. With support from the Global Cities Fund for Migrants and Refugees, we are changing that. By formalizing small businesses, connecting women entrepreneurs to capital and training, and expanding access to local and digital markets, we are turning survival strategies into sustainable economic engines and investing in women- and immigrant-led innovation that benefits the entire city.”

Josefina “Joy” Belmonte, Mayor of Quezon City, Philippines

“Domestic workers are the backbone of our care economy, yet too often, they are excluded from the protections they deserve—especially migrant women returning from jobs abroad. Through QC Cares, Quezon City will provide these workers with business ownership, access to credit, training, and employment pathways. With support from the Global Cities Fund for Migrants and Refugees, this project will impact generations—uplifting families, strengthening our workforce, and promoting dignity and equity within and beyond our borders.”

Stefano Lo Russo, Mayor of Turin, Italy

“Throughout its history, Turin has welcomed people seeking a better life, and we’ve made hospitality a defining feature of our identity. The Global Cities Fund for Migrants and Refugees allows us to go even further by piloting a city-led labor mobility pathway that matches job seekers in Uganda with critical workforce needs in Italy. With the right wraparound support and partnerships, we can build ethical, sustainable migration corridors that serve both cities of origin and destination. This is the future of global solidarity—from city to city.”