Non-state regulators? Civil Society as extension of the State in a context of cross-sectoral policy coordination

"Opération Papyrus" was implemented in the Swiss Canton of Geneva between 2017 and 2018 with the aim of granting residence permits to undocumented migrants who had been residing in Geneva for a decade (five years with children) and met additional criteria. This special program's configuration serves as an exemplary case of involving non-governmental actors to facilitate state-controlled procedures. Civil society organizations played a pivotal role in negotiating the program's design and acted as gatekeepers, ensuring that mostly eligible individuals applied, thereby reducing the administrative workload. Our paper primarily focuses on this unique role played by civil society organizations, effectively extending the reach of the state, where they act as regulators and maintain proximity to the individuals involved, enhancing the program's effectiveness. Furthermore, our contribution delves into the roles of various administrative levels, emphasizing the necessity for monitoring, conflict resolution, and program evaluation. Given that regularization of undocumented migrants who have already been part of the population for several years may emerge on the agenda in other cantons, our paper holds importance as it serves as a reference point for contemplating future configurations of regularization programs.