Local Cooperation for a Coordinated Refugee Response in Cahul

The first meeting this year of the Cahul Local Refugee Coordination Forum (LRCF) brought together public institutions, local authorities, civil society organizations and representatives of the refugee community to discuss common priorities and current challenges in the region.

A.O. Centrul Regional de Dezvoltare Comunitară continues its role as co-chair of the Forum, alongside UNHCR Moldova and Cahul Municipality, contributing to cooperation among local actors involved in the protection, integration and support of refugees.

Local coordination forums provide an important framework for information exchange, needs assessment and coordination of interventions, so that services and resources available at local level can respond more effectively to situations arising in the community.

Priorities and challenges discussed during the meeting

The meeting included updates on refugee protection and the latest developments relevant to the work of local actors.

Participants discussed the review of referral pathways and updates to the Service Advisor platform, as well as ongoing initiatives and common priorities for the coming period.

Another important topic was the current challenges faced by refugees and host communities. The discussions provided an opportunity to compare the experiences of different institutions and organizations, identify common difficulties and explore solutions that can contribute to a better coordinated local response.

Cooperation among local actors

The meeting brought together representatives of Cahul Municipality, UNHCR Moldova, Norwegian Refugee Council, Cahul Community Center, the Law Center of Advocates, A.O. „Pas cu Pas Regiunea Sud”, the Employment Directorate, Diaconia, the Cahul Refugee Council, the General Inspectorate for Migration – Southern Directorate, the Border Police, A.O. „Clubul Vreau să Știu”, UN Human Rights, as well as other partners involved in supporting refugees.

The diversity of actors involved allows challenges to be analysed from different perspectives and contributes to stronger connections between public services, civil society interventions and the needs expressed directly by the refugee community.

For CRDC, one of the important elements of this mechanism is precisely the opportunity to maintain an ongoing dialogue between institutions and the community, so that solutions are built on realities on the ground rather than through isolated interventions.

A local mechanism that needs to be strengthened over time

The experience accumulated within the Cahul LRCF demonstrates the importance of stable local coordination mechanisms, where information can circulate quickly, responsibilities can be clarified and the actors involved can jointly identify responses to emerging challenges.

CRDC will continue to support the development of the Forum as a space for cooperation, consultation and coordination among authorities, organizations and representatives of refugee communities.

For us, an effective local response means continuous cooperation, access to information and services, direct community involvement and the capacity of local actors to jointly develop solutions adapted to the realities of Cahul.