Conference “Multilocality in the Global South and North: Factors, features and policy implications” September 18 & 19, 2014 – TU Dortmund University

Holzchalet Les Haudères. Photo taken by Gabriele Delhey, wikipedia

Along with an increase of temporary forms of migration, multilocational livelihoods and household arrangements are on the rise in many countries and world regions. Although the academic literature – and much more the policy and planning discourse – about multilocality has evolved separately in the Global South and North, we argue that the phenomenon should be looked at in a more integrated way. This is since important background factors prompting new (often temporary) forms of migration and multilocational households are relevant in both contexts: The globalization and flexibilisation of labour markets, changing political geographies and urbanization dynamics, the development of rapid communication and transport technologies and the modification of family patterns and gender relations.
During the conference we want to focus on the following key questions:
• What are the decisive background factors of temporary migration and multilocality?
• Which are salient features and strategies of multilocational households?
• What are the spatial impacts of multilocality e.g. on housing and local and regional infrastructure?
• Which are current policy responses towards multilocality, what other governance actors and arrangements play a role?
• Which consequences of multilocality are to be addressed by public authorities at the local and regional level?
• What is the role of civil society in the light of multilocality?
• What are consequences of multilocality for international development cooperation?
The conference takes place on the 18th and 19th of September 2014 at TU Dortmund University. Its target groups are planning and development scholars, policy makers and practitioners from the Global South and North. Applied work methods are key-note presentations, workshops, panel and plenary discussions.

Boulevard De Gaulle – AbidjanCC BY-SA 2.0
fr.zil — http://www.flickr.com/photos/fr_zil/3915581420/

Organisers:
Department of Spatial Planning in Developing Countries (REL) of the Faculty of Spatial Planning of TU Dortmund University, in cooperation with the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), TRIALOG and the Research Committee “Multilocal
living in Switzerland” (ETH Zurich, University of Basel and University of Applied Sciences Lucerne).
Contact:
Dr. Eva Dick: eva.dick@tu-dortmund.de, Phone +49(0)231-7552369
Ariana Fürst: ariana.fuerst@tu-dortmund.de, Phone +49(0)231-7552369

Here Link to the programme of the conference “Multilocality in the Global South and North”