Intercultural cities: good practice examples - Intercultural cities programme

Together in the same direction (Juntas en la misma dirección)

Spain Tenerife 2012 - ongoing

Purpose: ‘Together in the same direction’ is a strategy for managing diversity that brings rigour and clarity to the actions to be implemented. This Strategic Plan also defines three main lines of...

Diverse Tenerife – Intercultural Strategy

Spain Tenerife 2016 - ongoing

Purpose: ‘Tenerife Lives Diversity’ is a strategic framework aimed at serving as a reference point for public administrations, associations and the citizens of the island of Tenerife, assisting...

OBITen - The Immigration Observatory of Tenerife

Spain Tenerife 2001 - ongoing

Purpose: The OBITen promoting scientific research into migratory movements on the island of Tenerife. It prioritises the need to apply theoretical knowledge to the planning and management of...

Grupo de Diálogo Interreligioso (Group of Interfaith dialogue)

Spain Tenerife 2017 - ongoing

Purpose: The group of interfaith dialogue promotes spirituality through knowledge and understanding of different beliefs and religious or spiritual developments with a learning attitude. The...

Maribyrnong - Regeneration with a Focus on the Holistic Community

Australia Maribyrnong 2020

Stimulus/Rationale: The City of Maribyrnong is within the municipality of Melbourne, Australia, and is one of the most multicultural municipalities in Victoria. It aims to be an ‘Intercultural...

Intercultural Interaction: collective healing and memory of this time

Australia Ballarat Maribyrnong Melton 2020

Purpose: Using storytelling to build connections, address fears and ease anxiety. Stimulus/Rationale: In 2020 the Cities of Ballarat, Melton and Maribyrnong launched a Storytelling project...

Statistics in help of city’s policy formulation

Australia Salisbury Ongoing

Purpose: The City of Salisbury’s Council policy formulation is heavily informed by demographic statistics from the Australian Bureau of Statistics. Stimulus/Rationale: Quantitative and qualitative...

Sister and Friendship City Policy

Australia Salisbury Ongoing

Purpose: The Australian City of Salisbury has an explicit policy to encourage international cooperation in the economic, scientific, cultural and other areas. Process: The “Sister City and...

Salisbury develops inclusive welcoming and participation actions

Australia Salisbury 2020

Purpose: The “Welcome to Salisbury Information Booklet” and the “Community Engagement Framework” improves the intercultural profile of the Australian city. Process: The comprehensive city-specific...

Public Participation Networks (PPN)

Ireland Dublin 2020

Purpose: A Network to enhance community participation in local government - Promotes social inclusion - Links citizens with local authorities Stimulus/Rationale: Public Participation Networks (PPN)...

Community Grants

Ireland Dublin Ongoing

Purpose: Encourage citizens’ participation and involvement in the city through access to public grants for community projects Process: Community Development is a process where community members...

Residents’ participation shows meaningful community engagement

Australia Salisbury 2020

Purpose: Salisbury seeks the participation of all residents through community workshops and surveys Process: The adoption of the Intercultural Strategic Plan 2017-2027 of the City of Salisbury was...

Auckland’s Research and Monitoring Unit

New Zealand Auckland 2018 onwards

Purpose: Assisting policy development in Auckland through environmental, social, economic and cultural research. Stimulus/Rationale: The Research and Evaluation Unit, RIMU part of Auckland...

An ‘Integrated Area Plan’

New Zealand Auckland 2017 onwards

Purpose: Auckland Council engages with South Auckland’s communities to prepare for future developments in their area. Stimulus/Rationale: When proposing a change, Auckland Council partners with...

The Champions for Change Network

New Zealand Auckland 2018 on

A network of committed senior leaders across New Zealand, advocating and promoting the diversity advantage in the wider business community. Many of Auckland’s senior leaders are part of the...

The Leeds City Region Diversity Dashboard

United Kingdom Leeds 2022

The Leeds City Region Diversity Dashboard is a project by the Leeds Inclusive Anchors Network. Leeds Inclusive Anchors Network is a group of the city’s largest (mainly) public sector employers....

Intercultural mediation to promote living together

Spain Valladolid 2019 - ongoing

Purpose: The overall objective is the promotion of mediation as a mechanism of alternative conflict resolution that will help to foster peaceful and inclusive cohabitation in the municipality of...

Capacity building on diversity: City staff and Police

Spain Valladolid 2019 - ongoing

Purpose: The training of the staff of this City Council is seen as a tool for raising awareness, as it contributes to broadening knowledge, tools and resources aimed at effectively managing...

Welcoming and social inclusion of newcomers in the city

Spain Valladolid 2019-ongoing

Purpose: Valladolid promotes social inclusion and respect of the human rights of asylum-seekers and migrant people living in the city. Besides guaranteeing the reception of newcomers, the Council...

Gender-responsive budgeting to improve the impact of public policies on gender equality

France Strasbourg Since 2022

Purpose: Gender-responsive budgeting allows for better consideration of the impact of public policies on gender equality. In the long run, it will allow for a sustainable and transversal...

Art-therapy in Lutsk

Ukraine Lutsk 2022

Purpose: Providing psychological relief to internally displaced children and helping them coping with the stress and challenges derived from Russia’s military aggression against Ukraine....

Generational Dialog

Norway Bergen 2022 -

Purpose: The project aims to create a better basis for communication between generations (i.e., between “second-generation” children born and living in a foreign country and parents that migrated...

Botkyrka: Anti-Rumour Cafés – Stop the Rumour

Sweden Botkyrka 2016-

Purpose: The Anti-Rumours Cafés, now called Stop The Rumour (Stop Ryktet) and are carried out for the municipality of Botkyrka by the environmental and social impact agency The Good Tribe that set...

Salisbury’s strong effort in the educational sphere

Australia Salisbury 2020 onwards

Purpose: The regular intercultural projects carried out by Salisbury’s schools highlight the intercultural nature of the City. Process: Great examples of this effort are the programmes “Community...

Salisbury shows its intercultural commitment with a public declaration and a Strategic Plan

Australia Salisbury 2017 onwards

Purpose: The Australian City of Salisbury has shown its intercultural commitment through a public declaration and the adoption of an Intercultural Strategic Plan for the period 2017 -2027. Process:...

Salisbury’s Intercultural Strategic Plan 2017-2027 encourages the intercultural exchanges

Australia Salisbury 2017 onwards

Purpose: The Intercultural Strategic Plan includes the idea to: “encourage intercultural exchanges”. This idea is supported via actions in the Implementation Plan and is manifested through the...

Ciga Giro Project

Portugal Vila Verde Since 2021 - ongoing

The Ciga Giro Project – People and Identities, Answers and Options is a social intervention, in the municipality of Vila Verde, focusing on the fight against the social segregation of the Roma...

Welcoming guides

Portugal Vila Verde 9 months – April to November 2022

Purpose: This activity had the purpose of improving the welcoming of people with an international protection status coming from Ukraine. The city wanted to ensure access to information for everyone...

Castelló Intercultural City Plan

Spain Castellón de la Plana 2019 - ongoing

Purpose: As part of the actions of the Council of Social Welfare – Social Mediation and Intercultural Department, the city of Castelló de la Plana launched the “III Castelló Intercultural City Plan...

Office for Non-Discrimination (OND)

Spain Barcelona Since 1998

Purpose: The Office for Non-Discrimination is accordingly designed as the municipal service for dealing with, advising on, mediating over and penalising (where legally possible) discriminatory...

Knowledge Cartography

Spain Barcelona Since 2012

Purpose: The project ‘Cartografía de Conocimientos’ (Knowledge Cartography) was born in 2012 aimed at approaching health and education from an intercultural perspective. It is a project that works...

Bilbao, City of Values

Spain Bilbao From 2016 - ongoing

Purpose: Bilbao, City of Values is a project that aims to generate a space for analysis, dialogue, reflection, and collaborative work among institutions, social entities, companies, media, schools,...

Inclusive Housing in Bergen

Norway Bergen ongoing

Purpose: This overall intention by the city and municipality of Bergen is to provide residences for migrants and refugees by ensuring access to both social housing and private sector housing....

Women participation and interaction

Spain Sabadell Since 2008

Purpose: To empower women from all origins and socio-cultural backgrounds by creating relational spaces where women meet and learn and supporting them in the acquisition of skills....

Small Theater – Great Place for Inspiration

Ukraine Pavlograd 2015-2020

Purpose: The “small theatre -a great place for inspiration” improves community engagement through arts and culture as well as leisure and heritage. Process: The social and cultural atmosphere...

Anissa programme

Spain Barcelona Since 2014

Purpose: The Annisa programme is a project focused on the participation and interaction of Pakistani communities and the Besós neighbourhood in the district of Sant Martí. The programme is funded...

#BCNvsODI

Spain Barcelona Since 2017

Purpose: #BCNvsODI is nowadays a platform for dissemination and awareness-raising in the fight against hate speech, both online and offline, with information, materials and pedagogical, informative...

Local Forum for religious diversity

Spain Bilbao ongoing

Since 2012, the Local forum for religious diversity promotes the exercise of freedom of conscience and religion in a context of citizens’ coexistence in diversity and in human rights’ promotion....

BragaIncoming Programme

Portugal Braga 2018

Purpose: In 2018 the city of Braga launched the “Bragalncoming Programme”, a digital tool that aims to help newcomers (those that come either to live, to visit or invest) with much-needed...

Table on Interreligious dialogue

Spain Salt Since 2009

Purpose: The main focus of the Interreligious Table is to improve the knowledge and recognition of the city’s religious plurality. In addition, the Table organises events and initiatives to promote...

An international policy in Leeds

United Kingdom Leeds 2020

Leeds have a policy to encourage international cooperation in economic, scientific, cultural, or other areas. The policy further has a specific financial provision and the city actively takes...

Intercultural Mediation in Leeds

United Kingdom Leeds 2020

Leeds provides intercultural mediation in a number of ways: Equalities Assembly: forum up of Equality Hubs, helping ensure the council engages/involves diverse communities. Public Sector Equality...

Housing policy in Leeds

United Kingdom Leeds 2020

Creating sustainable communities is one of the six Leeds Housing Strategy themes. Housing Leeds officers have worked with community based Housing Advisory Panels to support a number of...

A Strategic, Coordinated and Inclusive Approach to Migration

United Kingdom Leeds 2020

The development of the city’s Strategic, Coordinated and Inclusive Approach to Migration was the result of a year’s consultation and research over 2016 - 2017. The process included focus groups...

The Leeds Citizens Panel

United Kingdom Leeds 2020

Leeds has implemented the Leeds Citizens Panel[1], to ensure broad consultation and engagement in co-design involving people with diverse backgrounds in policy formulation. The panel enables the...

Anti-discrimination tools

Spain Sabadell 2020

Purpose: To offer support to victims of discrimination, to monitor and intervene in cases of assault or discrimination, to raise awareness and build capacity on topics related to discrimination....

Ensuring political and public participation in Sabadell

Spain Sabadell 2020

Purpose: The City Council deploys different Initiatives to encourage people with migrant/minority backgrounds to engage in political and public life. Stimulus/Rationale: The Sabadell Intercultural...

Promoting multilingualism in a multicultural city

South Korea Ansan 2020

Ansan City offers Korean language education for non-nationals. The city itself runs Korean language education programmes while commissioning private organisations to complete the offer. There is a...

Anti-Racism as an Urban Common

Italy Turin 2016

Purpose: The concept of “the commons” draws from the English legal term for common land and traditionally refers to shared resources held in common. The commons tend to be understood as material...

Listening Circles on ‘Race’, Racism, and Inequalities

United Kingdom Kirklees 2020

Purpose: Kirklees Council has identified and pursued the potential in Listening Circles to contribute to addressing systemic discrimination. Listening Circles are to provide time and a safe space...

An Equality Infrastructure

Mexico Mexico

Concept Mexico City has established an internal infrastructure to express and sustain its commitment to equality and non-discrimination. This encompasses a Constitution for the City of Mexico...

Complaints of Discrimination

Switzerland Geneva

Concept The City of Geneva funds and works with the Centre – Écoute contre le Racisme (C-ECR), which defends, advises and assists people affected by racism. The Center-Écoute contre le Racisme is...

The Intercultural acceptance survey to build intercultural competence skills

South Korea Ansan 2020

The Republic of Korea conducts a triannual survey of locals on their intercultural acceptance. The findings from the survey serve as reference data for policy development. To ensure even more...

The anti-radicalisation programme

Norway Bergen 2015-2020 / 2021-25

Purpose: The aim of the programme is to prevent radicalisation, hate crimes and violent extremism. Through providing correct information, the municipality endeavours to avoid religious...

Inclusive Public services

United Kingdom Bradford 2022

Purpose: Ensuring inclusive public services for newcomers Stimulus/Rationale: The Bradford for Everyone strategy is based on everyone in Bradford being valuable and that everyone is enriched and...

Reinvigorating Employee Networks

United Kingdom Kirklees

Purpose: Kirklees Council has identified that equality related employee networks play an important role in informing decision-making and enabling innovation. In doing so, they contribute to...

Planned and Systematic Approach to Equality

Ireland Galway 2019 onwards

Purpose: Galway City Council (GCC) is progressing a planned and systematic approach to equality and human rights. This is based on developing an internal infrastructure to drive its implementation...

Conscious Inclusion

United Kingdom Camden

Concept Camden Council has adopted a process of ‘Conscious Inclusion’ to ensure all staff ‘can be their best self at work’. The approach taken involves a focus on leadership, staff, and systems in...

Research Circles

Sweden Botkyrka

Concept A research circle is a methodology to enable in-depth, participative, and longer-term examination of an issue. It was piloted in Botkyrka to examine issues of racism and discrimination, in...

Limassol’s Intercultural Council helps the city to handle challenges with an Intercultural Strategy

Cyprus Limassol 2023 – 2025

Purpose: The purpose of the intercultural integration strategy in Limassol is to foster diversity as a source of strength and prosperity by promoting inclusive interactions, empowering all...

Diverse interaction on display in Cascais

Portugal Cascais 2021

Purpose: This initiative aims to celebrate the local diversity by showcasing the diverse interactions in the City. Stimulus/Rationale: Cascais is now a municipality of the world, with according to...

Akadimia - an Intercultural Centre for Social Integration

Greece Ioannina 2021 - Ongoing

Purpose: The purpose of the Intercultural Centre for Social Integration in Ioannina is to provide support and assistance primarily to refugees and migrants residing in the area. It aims to improve...

Human Libraries

Portugal Braga ongoing

Purpose: Within the project "Braga: an Intercultural Journey", Human Library sessions are promoted in the schools of the municipality, until December 2021. The Human Library is a strategy of social...

Community action plan — community development (CAP-CD 2022-2023) of the city of Sherbrooke

In the interest of the residents’ quality of life, Sherbrooke wants to support community organisations in delivering projects related to the fields of activity identified in the Community and...

Integrating and supporting the ethnic minorities in Camden’s businesses

United Kingdom Camden

Camden takes action to encourage businesses from ethnic minorities to move beyond the ethnic economy and enter the mainstream economy and higher value-added sectors. Good Work Camden has partnered...

Cultural projects reflecting and promoting the diversity of Camden’s communities

United Kingdom Camden

Culture is at the centre of Camden Council’s work. It aims to deliver inspiring arts projects on Camden’s estates and neighbourhoods that are co-created, engage with the most disadvantaged...

"Citizen Coin Bradford"

United Kingdom Bradford 2020

Purpose: The city of Bradford (United Kingdom) has developed a project called “Citizen Coin Bradford” as part of the “Stronger Communities Partnership’s Strategy and Delivery plan” as one of its...

Involvement of Camden’s communities in its urban planning

United Kingdom Camden 2022

Camden always takes into account the diversity of the population in the design, renovation and management of new public buildings or spaces. The Camden Local Plan (2017) is the key strategic...

Information sharing with civil society and grassroots organisations on intercultural inclusion goals

United Kingdom Camden

Camden collaborates with civil society and grassroots organisations that are active in the various fields concerned by intercultural inclusion, through regular meetings but also information sharing...

Initiatives of hospitality in Camden

United Kingdom Camden

Camden is currently welcoming a number of Afghan evacuees for support from the Council, such as housing, health care, food and education (see Asylum Seekers and Refugees - Camden Council). The...

School Participatory Budgeting - Vinnytsia

Ukraine Vinnitsya 2021

Purpose: School participatory budgeting for community participation Stimulus/Rationale: Citizen participation in government decision-making is one of the common democratic principles of the Council...

Employment opportunities as a factor of cohesion

United Kingdom Manchester Ongoing

Purpose: Employment supporting cohesion Stimulus/Rationale: Process: In Manchester (United Kingdom), the Manchester International Festival’s Factory Academy partnered with the construction firm...

The Inclusive Anchors Network

United Kingdom Leeds 2022

In Leeds (United Kingdom), a group of the thirteen largest (primarily) public sector employers, including the city council, local universities and Yorkshire Water, have formed the Inclusive Anchors...

III Bilbao Intercultural City Plan

Spain Bilbao From 2021 to 2027

Purpose: The III Bilbao Intercultural City Plan aims to guide public policies, from an intercultural perspective, in order to strengthen social cohesion and urban development in the city. To this...

Collaborating to change local food systems

Italy Milan 2019- ongoing

Purpose: Milan is combating food waste by making the most of its food resources while supporting the regeneration of natural systems and the inclusion of migrants. The city has developed circular...