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The Mayors Migration Council at the Global Refugee Forum Progress Review 2025
Geneva, Switzerland (December, 2025) – Mayors and city leaders from across the globe will convene in Geneva, Switzerland, for the United Nations 2025 Global Refugee Forum Progress Review, taking place December 15-17 at the International Conference Center (CICG) in Geneva.
Seven years from the adoption of the Global Compact on Refugees (GCR), UN Member States, local governments, refugee leaders, and other stakeholders will meet to assess the progress towards the GCR. The event will push for renewed collective action and political commitment for refugee protection and inclusion at a time of growing financial crisis for humanitarian aid. Cities will have a key opportunity to showcase their leadership in welcoming and including refugees and displaced populations, provide recommendations for more efficient solutions, and gain visibility by meeting with high-level UN, government, and donor representatives.
The Mayors Migration Council (MMC), as a partner within the Local Coalition for Migrants and Refugees, is mobilizing a delegation of city officials to the stage. Leaders from Koboko, Mexico City, Milan, and Nairobi will join to drive learning and wider adoption of best practices drawn from more than 100 pledges under the Call to Local Action for Migrants and Refugees. The MMC will also announce an update to its own commitment—expanding the Global Cities Fund for Migrants and Refugees to $50 million.
More details on the GRF Progress Review program are available here. Plenary discussions are livestreamed here.
Session Details:
WHAT: Hosted by the Local Coalition of Migrants and Refugees, comprising city networks and UN agencies, the session will showcase how cities are embedding refugee support into local systems and driving economic inclusion through jobs, entrepreneurship, and green transition initiatives. It will also launch a new phase of the Call to Local Action campaign, spotlighting new commitments and offering concrete ideas to strengthen partnerships and mobilize resources for refugee-hosting cities amid shrinking humanitarian access and funding.
WHERE: CICG – Room 6
WHEN: Tuesday, December 16, 2023, 9:30-11:00am CET
WHO:
Safak Pavey, Senior Policy Officer, UNHCR
Emilia Saiz, Secretary General, United Cities and Local Governments (UCLG)
Jamal Haddad, Council Member, Ramallah Municipality, State of Palestine
Abdoulaye Garba Maïga, President de l’Association des Régions du Mali
Maggie Powers, Director of Advocacy and Policy, Mayors Migration Council
Temístocles Villanueva Ramos, Coordinator General for Human Mobility, Mexico City, Mexico
Jean Paul B. Kasik, Executive Director of RELON-Kenya
Susan Kimani of Youth Affairs, Assistant Director, Nairobi City County
WHAT: This side event will highlight meaningful refugee participation (MRP) as a rights-based imperative and strategic approach that strengthens the effectiveness, legitimacy and sustainability of refugee responses. It will showcase progress since the GRF 2019 and the MSP launched in 2023, while acknowledging that implementation remains uneven and requires further engagement. The session will present concrete examples of participation in practice, identify existing barriers and outline what is needed to reinforce MRP with approaching GRF in 2027. The event aims to renew commitment and broaden refugee leadership as a core element of global refugee governance.
WHERE: CICG – Room E + F
WHEN: Tuesday, December 16, 2023, 3:15pm – 4:45pm
WHO:
Ruvendrini Menikdiwela, Assistant High Commissioner (Protection), UNHCR
Xadeni Méndez Márquez, Coordinator General, COMAR, Government of Mexico
Moussa Ali Meigague, Director of Health and Social Development, Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD)
Gisela Esperanza Serrano Barco, Vice President, Fundación Mahuampi Venezuela, and Member, Grupo Articulador de Organizaciones Lideradas por Personas Refugiadas y Desplazadas a la Fuerza para Latinoamérica y el Caribe (GARLOS)
Anila Noor, Managing Director, New Women Connectors
Liliane Mukidi, Director, Umoja Skills Development, and Member, African Women’s Refugee-Led Network
Murtaza Sarem, Capacity Development Officer and Coordinator of the Migration Research Committee, Afghanistan Hazaras Culture and Solidarity Association (AHCSA)
Najeeba Wazefadost, Executive Director, Asia Pacific Network of Refugees (APNOR), and Working Group Member, Independent Declaration on the Right to Participate
Muranga Kandanda, Managing Director, Youth Initiative for Development
WHAT: This event aims to spotlight the critical role of refugee, women, and youth-led organizations, as well as other local actors, including local and regional governments, religious leaders, civil society, the private sector and academics, in advancing peacebuilding, reconciliation, and social cohesion.
WHERE: Room VIII, Palais des Nations, Avenue de la Paix 14, 1202 Genève (register here)
WHEN: Tuesday, December 16, 2023, 3:00pm – 6:00pm
WHO:
Temístocles Villanueva Ramos, Coordinator General for Human Mobility, Mexico City, Mexico
Emilia Saiz, Secretary General, United Cities and Local Governments (UCLG)
Jamal Haddad, Council Member, Ramallah Municipality, State of Palestine
WHAT: Established in 1954, the UNHCR Nansen Refugee Award honors individuals, groups and organizations who go above and beyond the call of duty to protect refugees, as well as internally displaced and stateless people.
WHAT: Hosted by the International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED) in partnership with the Global Cities Hub and Swiss Development Cooperation, this event will showcase innovations from two refugee-hosting cities – Nairobi and Milan, and include presentations by refugee champions working within their local authorities. The conversation will be framed by broader discussion on how cities around the world can respond effectively to the growing presence of refugees and displaced populations living within their jurisdictions, and the support that they require from the international community.
WHERE: Villa Rigot, Av. de la Paix 9, 1202 Genève, Switzerland
WHEN: Wednesday, December 17, 2025, 8am – 9:30am.
WHO:
Isabel Riboldi, City of Milan
Susan Kimani, Nairobi City County
WHAT: UN High Commissioner for Refugees, Filippo Grandi, will close the event with a discussion with refugee leaders, mayors, and special guests.
