The Match’In pilot project focuses on the allocation of asylum seekers from the federal states to the municipalities: How can the distribution process be organized in such a way that both the needs of asylum seekers and the conditions in the municipalities are taken into account?
When assigning refugees, personal needs or existing resources of those seeking protection have hardly been systematically recorded to date.
The conditions prevailing in the host communities are also not systematically taken into account in the assignment process.
Whether those seeking protection find good opportunities for successful participation locally is currently largely left to chance.
As part of the Match’In project, the universities of Hildesheim and Erlangen-Nuremberg, together with four federal states, have developed an algorithm-based procedure that systematically identifies the individual needs and requirements of those seeking protection as well as the conditions in the receiving municipalities. Based on this information, proposals are made for the distribution of refugees.
A total of over 60 criteria are included in the allocation process. These were determined based on findings from migration research as well as an exchange with various experts, including asylum seekers as experts in their own right, experts for special protection needs, and representatives of allocation authorities and local communities.
By systematically taking into account the needs of those seeking protection and the host communities, the allocation process becomes more precise, efficient, and better tailored to actual requirements.
Informed administrative decisions facilitate the exercise of discretionary powers and increase legal and technical certainty in administrative actions.
Needs-based allocation improves the integration and participation opportunities of those seeking protection and supports their sustainable arrival in the communities.
A comprehensible procedure and freely accessible software and materials make processes transparent, understandable, and verifiable for all involved.
The early and continuous involvement of those seeking protection, experts, and local actors promotes acceptance, trust, and shared responsibility.
From 2021 to 2025, in the first funding phase (Match’In 1.0), the universities of Hildesheim and Erlangen-Nuremberg, along with four selected federal states, developed the algorithm-based procedure with funding from the Mercator Foundation. The procedure was then tested in real conditions in over 20 municipalities involving adult asylum seekers travelling alone, and this was accompanied by scientific research.
The current funding phase, Match’In 2.0 (2025–2027), builds on the results of the first funding period. It comprises two sub-projects funded by the Rhineland-Palatinate Ministry for Family, Women, Culture and Integration and the Hesse Ministry of Labour, Integration, Youth and Social Affairs. This phase has two core objectives: expanding the algorithm-based procedure for family networks (Rhineland-Palatinate sub-project) and programming of an app accompanying the procedure (Hesse sub-project).
