Local Migration Governance Indicators Odesa City Territorial Community (Ukraine) (2025)-HC=1.pdf

LOCAL

MIGRATION

GOVERNANCE

INDICATORS Odesa City Territorial Community (Ukraine) | PROFILE 2025The opinions expressed in this publication are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the International Organization for Migration (IOM). The designations employed and the presentation of material throughout the report do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of IOM concerning the legal status of any country, territory, city or area, or of its authorities, or concerning its frontiers or boundaries. IOM is committed to the principle that humane and orderly migration benefits migrants and society. As an intergovernmental organization, IOM acts with its partners in the international community to: assist in meeting the operational challenges of migration; advance understanding of migration issues; encourage social and economic development through migration; and uphold the human dignity and well-being of migrants. _______________ While efforts have been taken to verify the accuracy of this information, neither Economist Impact nor its affiliates can accept any responsibility or liability for reliance by any person on this information.

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– Odesa City Territorial Community (Ukraine). IOM, Geneva. _______________

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PUB2025/025/ELLOCAL

MIGRATION

GOVERNANCE

INDICATORS Odesa City Territorial Community (Ukraine) | PROFILE 2025LOCAL MIGR ATION GOVERNANCE INDICATORS: ODESA CIT Y TERRITORIAL COMMUNIT Y 2025 /// iii CONTENTS OBJECTIVES  //   iv INTRODUCTION  //  1

CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK  //  4

SUMMARY  //  6

CONTEXT  //  10

KEY FINDINGS  //  18

ANNEX  //  31

KEY SOURCES  //  33LOCAL MIGR ATION GOVERNANCE INDICATORS: ODESA CIT Y TERRITORIAL COMMUNIT Y 2025 /// iv

OBJECTIVES

1 2 3 Help local authorities take stock of the migration initiatives they have in place. Foster dialogue on migration between national governments and local authorities. Enable local authorities to learn from one another by sharing common challenges and identifying potential solutions.

OBJECTIVESINTRODUCTION LOCAL MIGR ATION GOVERNANCE INDICATORS: ODESA CIT Y TERRITORIAL COMMUNIT Y 2025 ///

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INTRODUCTIONLOCAL MIGR ATION GOVERNANCE INDICATORS: ODESA CIT Y TERRITORIAL COMMUNIT Y 2025 ///

2

INTRODUCTION

The Migration Governance Indicators1 The need to maximize the opportunities and to face the challenges that mobility brings has been recognized with the inclusion of migration in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, and with the adoption

2

INTRODUCTION

The Migration Governance Indicators1 The need to maximize the opportunities and to face the challenges that mobility brings has been recognized with the inclusion of migration in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, and with the adoption of the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration.2 The incorporation of target 10.7 into the 2030 Agenda created the need to define “planned and well‐managed migration policies”. This is why, in 2015, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) developed the Migration Governance Framework (MiGOF). This Framework offers a concise view of an ideal approach that allows a State to determine what it might need to govern migration well and in a way that suits its circumstances. That same year, IOM, in collaboration with Economist Impact, developed the Migration Governance Indicators (MGIs), a set of almost 100 indicators that help States assess the comprehensiveness of their migration governance structures. The indicators constitute a starting point to engage governments in a consultative process that allows them to identify areas that are well developed and others that would benefit from further development, and most importantly, priorities that are in line with the specific challenges and opportunities that a given country is facing. The MGIs are characterized by three main fundamental attributes:

1. The MGI process is a voluntary exercise: The MGIs are conducted in countries that have requested to be part of the process.

2. The MGIs are sensitive to national specificities: The MGIs recognize the different challenges and opportunities of each context, and therefore, do not propose a one-size-fits-all solution, but rather aim to spark a discussion on what well-governed migration can mean.

3. The MGIs constitute a process: The MGI process is not a static tool to collect data on countries’ migration frameworks. It is rather the first step of a dynamic exercise that can enable governments to identify areas of their migration policy in need of further development, or that could benefit from capacity-building.

Migration Governance Indicators: from national to local The role of cities and municipalities in migration governance3 has grown significantly in recent decades,

migration frameworks. It is rather the first step of a dynamic exercise that can enable governments to identify areas of their migration policy in need of further development, or that could benefit from capacity-building.

Migration Governance Indicators: from national to local The role of cities and municipalities in migration governance3 has grown significantly in recent decades, given the rapid pace of urbanization and the importance of cities as destinations for all forms of migration and displacement. Researchers, policymakers and international development agencies have all highlighted the crucial role of cities and municipalities in both accommodating migrants and formulating sustainable responses to migration-related matters.

The role of local governments, not only in the management of migration at the local level, but also in realizing the urban dimensions of the 2030 Agenda, has been recognized in the New Urban Agenda at the Habitat III Conference in Quito (Ecuador), the Global Compact for Migration and the Call to Local Action, to mention a few. 1 All terms used in the report are defined in the IOM Glossary on Migration (2019). 2 “The Global Compact is the first inter-governmentally negotiated agreement, prepared under the auspices of the United Nations, covering all dimensions of international migration in a holistic and comprehensive manner. It is a non-binding document that respects States’ sovereign right to determine who enters and stays in their territory and demonstrates commitment to international cooperation on migration. It presents a significant opportunity to improve the governance of migration, to address the challenges associated with today’s migration, and to strengthen the contribution of migrants and migration to sustainable development.” 3 “Migration governance” refers to the system of institutions, legal frameworks, mechanisms and practices aimed at regulating migration and protecting migrants. It is used almost synonymously with the term “migration management”, although the latter is also sometimes used to refer to the narrow act of regulating cross-border movement at the State level.LOCAL MIGR ATION GOVERNANCE INDICATORS: ODESA CIT Y TERRITORIAL COMMUNIT Y 2025 /// 3 INTRODUCTION To support the discussion between levels of governments on migration governance, IOM has adapted the MGIs4 to the local level. The local MGIs seek to offer a more comprehensive picture of a country’s migration

3 INTRODUCTION To support the discussion between levels of governments on migration governance, IOM has adapted the MGIs4 to the local level. The local MGIs seek to offer a more comprehensive picture of a country’s migration governance landscape by juxtaposing a local dimension to MGI national assessments. The local MGIs are based on a set of about 80 indicators helping local authorities take stock of local migration strategies or initiatives in place and identify good practices as well as areas with potential for further development. The aim of the exercise is to foster dialogue on migration between national governments and local authorities and enable the latter to learn from one another by discussing common challenges and identifying potential solutions. While the local MGIs retain the attributes of the national MGIs, they are also anchored in the notion that cities and local authorities have different capacities, competencies and added value when it comes to governing migration. Therefore, the methodology has been adapted to reflect the fact that the degree of fiscal and political autonomy of participating cities influences the kind of migration governance they can practically and legally engage in. Furthermore, new indicators of the level of autonomy and capacities have been added to give some context to the results of the assessment. Given the differences outlined between the MGIs at the national and local levels, the purpose of the local MGIs is to be a tool for government authorities to use in taking an introspective look at the measures they have in place to manage migration, as well as sharing their experiences. Furthermore, the local MGIs recognize that good practices can take different forms depending on the division of competencies between local and national authorities. Therefore, the local MGI analysis should not be interpreted as an invitation to change the division of competencies, but rather be understood as a catalyst to open dialogues on what cities can do with regard to migration within the scope of their mandate. A comprehensive picture of migration governance can be captured only by looking at the different levels of government. This report is the result of the implementation of the local MGIs in Odesa City Territorial Community, referred to hereafter as City of Odesa (Ukraine). This profile summarizes key examples of well-developed

governance can be captured only by looking at the different levels of government. This report is the result of the implementation of the local MGIs in Odesa City Territorial Community, referred to hereafter as City of Odesa (Ukraine). This profile summarizes key examples of well-developed areas, as well as areas with potential for further development of local migration governance for the longterm recovery period. This report is complemented by the first and second national Migration Governance Profiles (2019 and 2021) and the additional three local MGIs implemented in Lviv Oblast, Kharkiv and Stryi Territorial Community.5 4 The Migration Governance Indicators were developed in 2015 by IOM in collaboration with Economist Impact. 5 See the published MGI local reports for Kharkiv, Lviv and Stryi.LOCAL MIGR ATION GOVERNANCE INDICATORS: ODESA CIT Y TERRITORIAL COMMUNIT Y 2025 /// 4

CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK

Conceptual Framework Not a ranking of countries Not an assessment of policy impacts Not prescriptive MGIs PRINCIPLES Which support the measurement of At the basis of MiGOF

OBJECTIVES

WHAT THEY ARE WHAT THEY ARE NOT IOM’s MiGOF sets out the essenƟal elements to support planned and well-managed migraƟon. It seeks to present, in a consolidated, coherent and comprehensive way, a set of three principles and three objecƟves which, if respected and fulfilled, would ensure that migraƟon is humane and orderly, and benefits migrants and society.

1. Adhere to international standards and fulfil migrants’ rights.

2. Formulate policy using evidence and a whole-of-government approach.

3. Engage with partners to address migration and related issues.

1. Advance the socioeconomic well-being of migrants and society.

2. Effectively address the mobility dimensions of crises.

3. Ensure that migration takes place in a safe,

objectives, as well as institutional transparency and coherence in migration management. Indicators in this category focus on cities’, municipalities’ or states’ efforts to cooperate on migration issues with the national government as well as other cities and relevant non-governmental actors, including civil society organizations and the private sector. Indicators in this category assess cities’, municipalities’ or states’ initiatives in terms of international student mobility, access to the labour market and decent working conditions for migrant workers. Aspects related to diaspora engagement and migrant remittances are also included in this domain. Indicators in this category examine the type and level of readiness of cities, municipalities or states to deal with aspects of mobility crises. The questions focus on the processes in place for citizens and non-citizens in relation to disasters and climate change, especially if humanitarian assistance is available for migrants and citizens. Indicators in this category look at the cities’, municipalities’ or states’ approaches to migrant safety as well as return and reintegration policies and the fight against trafficking in persons. 6 IOM Council, Migration Governance Framework, 106th Session, C/106/40 (4 November 2015).

MIGRANTS’

RIGHTS

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WHOLE-OF-GOVERNMENT

APPROACH

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PARTNERSHIPS

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WELL-BEING

OF MIGRANTS

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MOBILITY DIMENSION

OF CRISES

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SAFE, ORDERLY AND REGULAR MIGRATION PAGE 29LOCAL MIGR ATION GOVERNANCE INDICATORS: ODESA CIT Y TERRITORIAL COMMUNIT Y 2025 ///

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SUMMARY SUMMARYLOCAL MIGR ATION GOVERNANCE INDICATORS: ODESA CIT Y TERRITORIAL COMMUNIT Y 2025 ///

7 SUMMARY SUMMARY OF FINDINGS Migrants’ rights As in other cities in Ukraine, regular migrants in Odesa have access to Government-funded health services, free primary and secondary education, and legal assistance based on national legislation. Health services

7 SUMMARY SUMMARY OF FINDINGS Migrants’ rights As in other cities in Ukraine, regular migrants in Odesa have access to Government-funded health services, free primary and secondary education, and legal assistance based on national legislation. Health services are administrated by the Department of Health Care of the Odesa City Council and education services by the Department of Education and Science, which also offers extracurricular integration and psychosocial support for children. Legal assistance is provided by the Odesa City Centre for Free Secondary Legal Aid, which operates multiple bureaux and hotlines and offers services through a mobile app. Areas with potential for future development include establishing a dedicated policy on combatting hate crime, discrimination, violence and expressions of xenophobia against migrants; providing cultural mediation services to help resolve possible disputes between migrant populations or between local residents and migrant populations; providing welcome or orientation programmes for newly arrived migrants. Whole-of-government approach The Odesa City Council, in coordination with the Executive Committee and the Mayor, develops local-level plans, strategies and policies through various departments. The Department of Interior Policy monitors the social and political landscape and implements the City Target Programme for Promoting the Development of Civil Society in Odesa for 2024–2026, which aims to support national minorities and foster cooperation between the local government and civil society. The City Council on Internally Displaced Persons was established in January 2024 as an advisory and coordination body to ensure and protect the rights and interests of internally displaced persons (IDPs). In addition, The Odesa City Council provides comprehensive information to IDPs on accessing public services, legal aid, psychological support and medical assistance, and lists organizations offering humanitarian aid and emergency shelter. Areas with potential for future development include establishing a local migration strategy in Odesa; establishing a formal coordination mechanism on migration, with regular meetings and participants from different departments and various levels of government; providing specific, targeted information for migrants through a centralized website; and collecting and publishing migration data at the local level. Partnerships The City Target Programme for the Development of International Cooperation, Tourism and Marketing

establishing a formal coordination mechanism on migration, with regular meetings and participants from different departments and various levels of government; providing specific, targeted information for migrants through a centralized website; and collecting and publishing migration data at the local level. Partnerships The City Target Programme for the Development of International Cooperation, Tourism and Marketing of the City of Odesa for 2024–2026 aims to strengthen international cooperation by promoting Odesa’s socioeconomic and cultural potential, maintaining ties with sister and partner cities, and establishing new agreements and cooperation mechanisms. The Odesa City Council is part of international networks like Eurocities and the Council of Europe’s Intercultural Cities Programme, which advocate for various policy issues. The Council also collaborates with international organizations to enhance emergency response efforts, such as launching a psychosocial assistance hotline with the International Organization for Migration (IOM). Additionally, the local government enhances coordination with civil society through the Coordination Council on the Development of Civil Society, established in 2024 by Order No. 451 of the Mayor of Odesa City. Chaired by the Deputy Mayor of Odesa, the Council includes representatives from various civil society organizations (CSOs) and works to improve conditions for CSOs and participates in drafting city policies and programmes.LOCAL MIGR ATION GOVERNANCE INDICATORS: ODESA CIT Y TERRITORIAL COMMUNIT Y 2025 /// 8 SUMMARY Areas with potential for future development include formally engaging members of the Ukrainian diaspora on agenda-setting and implementing migration-related programmes; and fostering engagement with the private sector in the design and implementation of migration-related programmes. Well-being of migrants The Department of Labour and Social Policy of the Odesa City Council publishes labour market data, including unemployment rates, qualifications, vacancies and salaries. The Odesa Oblast Employment Centre provides monthly data and a dashboard with district-level hiring plans and challenges. To support IDPs, the Odesa Municipal Centre offers counselling, vocational training and job placement assistance, working in coordination with the Odesa Oblast Employment Centre. At the national level, the Ministry of Digital

provides monthly data and a dashboard with district-level hiring plans and challenges. To support IDPs, the Odesa Municipal Centre offers counselling, vocational training and job placement assistance, working in coordination with the Odesa Oblast Employment Centre. At the national level, the Ministry of Digital Transformation of Ukraine launched the e-residence programme in 2023, allowing foreign information technology freelancers to register small businesses in Ukraine with favourable tax rates. Areas with potential for future development include establishing local programmes to attract migrant workers and facilitate their inclusion; implementing measures to support employers in hiring migrant workers; expanding existing entrepreneurship programmes to include migrants; and developing programmes to promote the financial inclusion of migrants and their families. Mobility dimension of crises The Department of Municipal Security of the Odesa City Council is responsible for implementing civil protection measures, including the City Target Programme for Civil Protection for 2022–2026, which aims to prevent emergencies, ensure public safety and minimize losses. Communication systems are in place for sharing information during crises, with the State Emergency Service of Ukraine informing authorities about emergencies and providing guidance on civil protection notification systems. The Odesa City Council website offers information on emergency services and contacts. The Department of Municipal Security shares recommendations on responding to crises and is involved in the Safe City of Odesa Programme for 2020–2024, which include actions to modernize the centralized notification system. Areas with potential for future development include including provisions in the emergency management frameworks to address the specific needs of migrants during emergencies; establishing coordination agreements with key actors, including consulates and non-governmental and international organizations, to assist migrants at the local level in the event of emergencies; and mainstreaming displacement prevention and management, including the development of specific disaster risk reduction strategies, and aligning such measures in local development strategies. Safe, orderly and regular migration The city of Odesa has established an institutional framework to combat human trafficking, domestic violence and gender-based violence through the Department of Labour and Social Policy, which developed the City Target Programme for the Implementation of Family and Gender Policy, Prevention of Domestic Violence

measures in local development strategies. Safe, orderly and regular migration The city of Odesa has established an institutional framework to combat human trafficking, domestic violence and gender-based violence through the Department of Labour and Social Policy, which developed the City Target Programme for the Implementation of Family and Gender Policy, Prevention of Domestic Violence and Combating Human Trafficking for 2022–2024. The Programme aims to raise public awareness about human trafficking risks and provide support services to victims. The city also participates in the Coordination Council on Issues of Family Policy, Gender Equality, Demographic Development, Prevention of Domestic Violence and Combating Human Trafficking to coordinate actions among various bodies. Additionally, local initiatives support the reintegration of IDPs through the City Target Programme for Providing Social Services and Other Types of Assistance to Vulnerable Sections of the Population of the City of Odesa for 2024–2026 (2023), offering psychosocial counselling, free legal aid, temporary housing and financial assistance to encourage formal employment.LOCAL MIGR ATION GOVERNANCE INDICATORS: ODESA CIT Y TERRITORIAL COMMUNIT Y 2025 /// 9 SUMMARY Areas with potential for future development include implementing regular training programmes for locallevel public servants and police officers on migration rules and migrants’ rights; developing a programme to facilitate the reintegration of migrants in Odesa; and developing a local-level policy or protocol to address cases of disappearance or death during migration.CONTEXTLOCAL MIGR ATION GOVERNANCE INDICATORS: ODESA CIT Y TERRITORIAL COMMUNIT Y 2025 /// 11 CONTEXT Migration trends The most recent data from the State Migration Service (SMS) show that in 2023, Ukraine was host to 305,744 registered immigrants with permanent residence and 62,092 migrants with temporary residence.7 In comparison to 2020, there has been an increase in the number of foreigners residing permanently in the country and a decrease in the number of those temporarily staying in Ukraine, who are mainly students and family members8 (Figure 1). Figure 1. Number of foreigners residing in Ukraine, 2014–2023 252,974

in arrivals compared to 2019 (Figure 2).11 7 The SMS differs from the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA), as the former keeps data on non-nationals with residence permits, while the latter keeps data according to country of birth. According to DESA, as of mid-2020, an estimated 5 million international migrants lived in Ukraine, making up 11.4 per cent of the national population, while an estimated 6.1 million Ukrainians resided abroad, representing 13.9 per cent of the total population (data from the Migration Data Portal). 8 Data from the SMS website. 9 Unpublished data provided by the SMS. 10 The population of Odesa Oblast was estimated at 2,351,392 as of January 2022 (State Statistics Service of Ukraine, 2022). 11 Data from the “Population and migration – Migratory movement of population: Numbers of interstate migrants by country of citizenship (2019–2021)” data sets.LOCAL MIGR ATION GOVERNANCE INDICATORS: ODESA CIT Y TERRITORIAL COMMUNIT Y 2025 /// 12 CONTEXT Figure 2. Migration flows in Odesa Oblast, 2019–2021 a. Arrivals and departrues 5,862 1,807 2,471 694 187 284 0 1,000 2,000 3,000 4,000 5,000 6,000 7,000 2019 2020 2021 Arrivals of migrants Departures of Ukrainian citizens b. Percentage of arrivals, by citizenship, 2021 26% 2% 57% 15% 0% 0% Europe Americas Asia Africa Australia and Oceania Without citizenship (stateless)

Sources: Odesa Oblast Main Directorate of Statistics, 2019, 2020 and 2021.

The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) estimates that there were 6.7 million refugees from Ukraine globally as of October 2024, 6 million of whom were in Europe.12

The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) estimates that there were 6.7 million refugees from Ukraine globally as of October 2024, 6 million of whom were in Europe.12 The number of persons recognized as refugees in Ukraine decreased between 2014 and 2020 but saw a slight increase from 2020 to 2023. Meanwhile, the number of individuals with subsidiary protection has increased by 120 per cent since 2014 (Figure 3).13 12 Data from the Operational Data Portal of the UNHCR. 13 Data from the SMS website.LOCAL MIGR ATION GOVERNANCE INDICATORS: ODESA CIT Y TERRITORIAL COMMUNIT Y 2025 /// 13 CONTEXT Figure 3. Number of foreigners recognized as refugees and as persons in need of subsidiary protection, 2014–2023 2,534 2,382 1,273 1,464 479 709 887 1,056 0 500 1,000 1,500 2,000 2,500 3,000 2014 2017 2020 2023 Recognized as refugees Recognized as persons in need of subsidiary protection

Source: SMS, 2014, 2017, 2020 and 2023.

The Displacement Tracking Matrix (DTM) estimated that as of April 2024, 3.5 million people were internally displaced within Ukraine, representing 10.7 per cent of the resident population that year. Among internally displaced persons (IDPs), 82 per cent had been displaced for more than a year. On the other hand, an estimated 4.7 million people had returned to their habitual places of residence.14,15 According to estimates from DTM, 20 per cent of Odesa Oblast’s population as of July 2024 were IDPs or returnees: 235,000 IDPs (11% of the oblast’s population) and 196,000 returnees (9% of the oblast’s population).16 The majority of hosted IDPs (92%) in Odesa Oblast were displaced from another oblast in

or returnees: 235,000 IDPs (11% of the oblast’s population) and 196,000 returnees (9% of the oblast’s population).16 The majority of hosted IDPs (92%) in Odesa Oblast were displaced from another oblast in Ukraine. Administrative structure The 1996 Constitution of Ukraine defines the country’s administrative and territorial structure as comprising the Autonomous Republic of Crimea, regions (oblasts), districts, cities, city districts, settlements and villages. The cities of Sevastopol and Kyiv have special status determined by the laws of Ukraine (Article 133). In 2020, the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine established the basic level of administrative division in the country (i.e. the hromada or “territorial community”), approving the establishment of administrative centres and territorial communities in each oblast. In the same year, the Government called for local elections for the village, settlement and city councils of territorial communities.17 Odesa Territorial Community serves as the administrative centre of both Odesa District and Odesa Oblast. It is divided into four city districts: Kyivskyi, Hajibeiski, Primorskyi and Peresypskyi.18 14 IOM, 2024a. 15 According to IOM, IDPs are “[p]eople who have been forced to flee or to leave their homes or who are staying outside their habitual residence due to the full-scale invasion in February 2022, regardless of whether they hold registered IDP status”, and returnees are “[p]eople who have returned to their habitual residence after a significant period of displacement (minimum of two weeks since February 2022), whether from abroad or from internal displacement within Ukraine” (IOM, 2024b). 16 IOM, 2024b. 17 Refer to this article on the UA Reforms website. 18 Information from the Odesa City Charter.LOCAL MIGR ATION GOVERNANCE INDICATORS: ODESA CIT Y TERRITORIAL COMMUNIT Y 2025 /// 14 CONTEXT According to latest data from the Common Operational Dataset (COD-PS) of the United Nations Population

18 Information from the Odesa City Charter.LOCAL MIGR ATION GOVERNANCE INDICATORS: ODESA CIT Y TERRITORIAL COMMUNIT Y 2025 /// 14 CONTEXT Accordin