Bogotá Mayor Carlos Galán Joins Mayors Migration Council Leadership Board
Bogotá, Colombia — Carlos Fernando Galán, Mayor of Bogotá, has been appointed to the Mayors Migration Council (MMC)’s Leadership Board, the organization announced today. The governing body provides strategic direction to the Mayors Migration Council, 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.
Elected as Mayor of Bogotá in 2023, Galán leads a city that has become a primary destination for Venezuelan migrants, with approximately 600,000 now residing in the capital. Upon taking office in 2024, he prioritized bold migration solutions, building on existing policies to make Bogotá a leader in supporting Venezuelan migrants. This includes Centros Intégrate, launched in collaboration with the United States Agency for International Development and the UN Migration Agency, which provides essential services—legal aid, healthcare, education, and employment support—while helping migrants apply for Temporary Protection Permits and access psychosocial support. His administration also extended the Centro de Apoyo Nutricional, Bogotá’s first nutrition center for migrant children and their caretakers, originally launched with seed funding from the MMC’s Global Cities Fund for Migrants and Refugees.
“Colombia has earned international recognition for welcoming over two million migrants with dignity and opportunity. Cities like Bogotá have been at the forefront of this response, providing new arrivals with housing, jobs, healthcare, and, most importantly, a sense of belonging,” Mayor Galán said. “As a member of the Mayors Migration Council’s Leadership Board, I am eager to share our experiences, amplify the voices of Latin American mayors in global discussions, and champion bold, coordinated action to ensure that migrant and displaced communities are supported across the world.”
Mayor Galán is also actively serving in leadership positions of several city alliances, including the C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group, a coalition to further climate action in more than 100 cities across the world.
In his new leadership role, Mayor Galán will ensure that the MMC’s mission and mandate are driven by and responsive to the needs of cities across the globe. He joins an esteemed group of visionary mayors on MMC’s Leadership Board:
- Yousef Al Shawarbeh, Mayor of Amman, Jordan
- Yvonne Aki-Sawyerr, Mayor of Freetown, Sierra Leone
- Erias Lukwago, Mayor of Kampala, Uganda
- Giuseppe Sala, Mayor of Milan, Italy
- Valérie Plante, Mayor of Montréal, Canada
- Ron Nirenberg, Mayor of Mayor of San Antonio, United States
- Corine Mauch, Mayor of Zürich, Switzerland
“We’re thrilled to welcome Mayor Galán to our Leadership Board,” said Vittoria Zanuso, Executive Director of the MMC. “His innovative approach in Bogotá redefines how cities can turn migration into opportunity. His leadership will be crucial as we push for cities to take a more inclusive role in shaping global migration policy amid today’s polarized and turbulent political landscape.”
Mayor Galán will begin his appointment by joining the MMC’s Leadership Board at its Annual Meeting on September 23 to shape the MMC’s future vision and 2025-2030 Business Plan. Additionally, the MMC will convene mayors and partners on the sidelines of the United Nations Summit of the Future in New York City. Held during the 79th General Assembly, the Summit seeks to restore trust in the international system, tackling key issues like financing for development and reforming global governance. Next week, Mayor Galán and fellow MMC Leadership Board members will contribute their expertise to these high-level discussions, engaging with world leaders, donors, and experts to advocate for bold action on climate migration, regional migration pathways, migrant reception, and more.
For more information about the Mayors Migration Council, visit www.mayorsmigrationcouncil.org. For press inquiries, including to connect with Mayor Galán about his appointment, contact Cynthia Nahhas, Communications Associate, at the Mayors Migration Council, at cnahhas@mayorsmigrationcouncil.org.
