Avenue de l'Europe
F-67075 Strasbourg Cedex
Tel. +33 (0)3 88 41 20 00
www.coe.int

Intercultural cities: good practice examples

The Intercultural city aims at building its policies and identity on the explicit acknowledgement that diversity can be a resource for the development of the society.

The first step is the adoption (and implementation) of strategies that facilitate positive intercultural encounters and exchanges, and promote equal and active participation of residents and communities in the development of the city, thus responding to the needs of a diverse population. The Intercultural integration policy model is based on extensive research evidence, on a range of international legal instruments, and on the collective input of the cities member of the Intercultural Cities programme that share their good practice examples on how to better manage diversity, address possible conflicts, and benefit from the diversity advantage.

This section offers examples of intercultural approaches that facilitate the development and implementation of intercultural strategies.

Template for collection of Good practices >>

Il Centro per i giovani – an intercultural, educational project

Italy Turin 2009-ongoing

Purpose: Working with and for new generations is a priority for the Intercultural Centre of the City of Turin. That is why – back in 2009 - the city has launched “Il centro per i giovani” (the...

Read More

The public library: a place for social dialogue

Norway Bergen Ongoing

Purpose: The Public Library of Bergen aims to facilitate a learning hub centred around language and intercultural meetings between Norwegian residents and new-comers. Stimulus/Rationale: The...

Read More

Political Literacy Sessions

Australia Maribyrnong 2020

The City of Maribyrnong hosted sessions by the Victorian Electoral Commission about the three levels that of government in Australia and addressed: keywords and concepts associated with the...

Read More

Employment and skills - Adult Learning Programme, BUILD programme, Leeds Anchors Network

United Kingdom Leeds 2020

In Leeds 24% of the working age population do not have a Level 2 Qualification. The city therefore runs an Adult Learning Programme which is targeted at residents with low-level skills and...

Read More

Community Connector Project

United Kingdom Leeds 2020

In July 2019, Leeds started the 15-month Community Connector project[1] which aims to support new migrants to connect with local services and existing community networks through building bridges...

Read More

Fresh start – Learning English

United Kingdom Leeds 2020

As part of ‘Child Friendly Leeds’[1], the city recognises that starting school in a new location is daunting. The city has therefore established a weekly session for children aged 9-16 called...

Read More

The Leeds Migration Map

United Kingdom Leeds 2020

Leeds has mainstreamed statistical and qualitative information about diversity and intercultural relations to inform the local/municipal council’s process of policy formulation. This is done...

Read More

Migrant Community Networkers – Creating links in the neighbourhood

United Kingdom Leeds 2020

Leeds has a Migrant Access Programme (MAP) which aims to promote community cohesion and enhance resilience and sustainability of local communities in Leeds. The Programme uses asset-based...

Read More

The Language Hub Programme

United Kingdom Leeds 2020

Based on the Culture Strategy 2017-2030[1] the city aims to change perceptions and attitudes towards culture and the arts, moving the focus from what they cost to what they create. All...

Read More

Bradford for Everyone or how to create a more inclusive city for all

United Kingdom Bradford 2020

Purpose: To create an inclusive city for all Stimulus/Rationale: Bradford Council is pioneering new ways to end segregation by bringing together people of different ethnic and religious backgrounds...

Read More

Mainstreaming the intercultural perspective in Barcelona districts

Spain Barcelona Since 2018

Purpose: Mainstreaming the intercultural perspective into the work of all the districts. Stimulus/Rationale: The Barcelona Interculturality Plan (2021-2030) states that Barcelona can only progress...

Read More

SCOUT: aSsessing Competences fOr fUTure

Greece Patras 1.10.2017-30.9.2029

Purpose: The integration into the labor market is an essential prerequisite for migrants and refugees so that to be capable of building up a new life in their host countries. Within this process,...

Read More

Rights Respecting Schools Award

United Kingdom Swansea 2014 onwards

Purpose: Rights Respecting schools are safe and inspiring places to learn, where all children’s talents are nurtured and they are able to thrive. Stimulus/Rationale: UNICEF UKs Rights Respecting...

Read More

PROUD OSLO – Action Plan for Equality and Freedom regardless of Gender Expression, Gender Identity and Sexual Orientation

Norway Oslo 2015–2023

Purpose: PROUD OSLO – Action Plan for Equality and Freedom regardless of Gender Expression, Gender Identity and Sexual Orientation is an action plan launched in 2015 to increase respect for gender...

Read More

Guide on Equal Services: preventing discrimination through intersectionality

Norway Oslo 2018-

Purpose: The OXLO guide for equal services is a manual on the city’s internet and intranet webpages, with guidelines for the city’s agencies, districts and services on how to make Oslo a city for...

Read More

City of Sanctuary – welcome and settlement

United Kingdom Swansea 2016

Purpose: Welcome and Settlement Stimulus/Rationale: Swansea Council has pledged its commitment to supporting its status as a City of Sanctuary – welcoming those fleeing from war/persecution....

Read More

The Ubuntu Bridges Programme in Lisbon (“Programa Pontes Ubuntu”)

Portugal Lisbon 2010-ongoing

Purpose: Tackling social exclusion and restoring human dignity, empowering young people to make a change and to fulfil their potential, building bridges and promoting a culture of care, respect,...

Read More

The Fusion Market (“Mercado de Fusão”)

Portugal Lisbon 2012 - ongoing

Purpose: In one of the areas of Lisbon with most foreign communities, the Fusion Market brings people from diverse origins closer together via a journey through its typical flavours....

Read More

International Migrants Day in the Lisbon City Hall

Portugal Lisbon 2017-2021

Purpose: Show political commitment towards interculturalism Stimulus/Rationale: It is important to show political commitment to Diversity and Migration, and a positive image of migrants as an asset...

Read More

Multilingual initiatives improve the intercultural dialogue and the inclusive integration

Cyprus Limassol Ongoing

Purpose: The purpose of the activity is to foster intercultural dialogue and inclusive integration through multilingual initiatives. The city of Limassol, Cyprus, takes significant steps to...

Read More

Boosting the citizens’ social life with art and festivities

Cyprus Limassol

The City Council of Limassol promotes access to culture for the whole population with a broad programme of free events and activities. The City Council uses interculturalism as a criterion when...

Read More

DiverCidade Braga - An Intercultural Journey

Portugal Braga ongoing

Purpose: The City of Braga, Portugal, has created a specific website to present the city’s intercultural strategy and activities. The DiverCidade Braga Project - An Intercultural Journey aims to...

Read More

Bergen Inclusion Center

Norway Bergen 2024

Purpose: To create a new Inclusion Centre, bringing all essential activities under one roof at an attractive location. Stimulus/Rationale: To co-locate inclusion services, which have previously...

Read More

Refugee reception and integration policies- pilot project

Sweden Botkyrka 2020

Purpose: The purpose of the pilot project for Refugee reception was to offer answers to questions about how intercultural integration and reception should be handled in the city in order to promote...

Read More

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...

Read More

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...

Read More

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...

Read More

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...

Read More

The Diversity Lab

Italy Reggio Emilia 2022

Purpose: The municipality launched the Diversity Lab programme to explore the advantages of cultural diversity, with reference to new plural economies and open innovation processes. An...

Read More

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...

Read More

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...

Read More

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...

Read More

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...

Read More

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...

Read More

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...

Read More

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...

Read More

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)...

Read More

Intercultural Map of Melitopol

Ukraine Melitopol 2017

Process: One out of five main dimensions of the ICC Strategy of Melitopol is intercultural tourism and hospitality. It is along the lines of this dimension that the local ICC coordinator launched...

Read More

Educa programme

Portugal Cascais 2011 - ongoing

Purpose: To create a group of immigrant or immigrant descendent mediators (giving them training and support) in order to develop activities of animation and mediation in contexts signalled by the...

Read More

A pioneer plan to combat Islamophobia

Spain Barcelona Since 2017

Purpose: The City Council of Barcelona adopted a plan to prevent hate crimes, raise awareness and provide victim support services. The Plan aims at raising awareness on Islamophobia as a serious...

Read More

Peer-to-Peer Project Addiction Aid for Refugees

Germany Berlin-Neukölln 2017 onwards

Purpose: Drug prevention for refugees Stimulus/Rationale: Process: The project targets refugees and provides training in drug prevention and addiction aid. The training programme is elaborated...

Read More

Career counselling for SPRAR beneficiaries

Italy Ravenna 2017

  Purpose: The action aims to analyse the working background of refugees and asylum seekers taken in charge by the SPRAR programme and to give them useful information and advice for the job search....

Read More

Intercultural Education as a part of a School Curriculum

Ukraine Sumy 2017

Purpose: To teach school kids values of tolerance, respect to different cultures, and ethnic conflicts prevention Process: In 2017, Sumy school #18 officially established intercultural education as...

Read More

The Successful Roma of Pavlohrad

Ukraine Pavlograd 2012-2018

Purpose: Integration of Roma population into the city's social life; encouraging Roma community, fighting negative stereotypes. Stimulus/Rationale: Pavlohrad has a large community of Roma people,...

Read More

Participation Scheme

United Kingdom Swansea

Purpose: Working in partnership and residents’ consultations are at the core of Swansea’s way of planning and evaluating policies. Process: In Swansea priorities, plans, budget, social services,...

Read More

Supporting Culturally Diverse NGOs

Spain Donostia-San Sebastian 2010

Purpose: Support culturally diverse NGO to enhance participation of migrants, ethnic minorities and local citizens in the life of the city and to mainstream the intercultural approach. Process: The...

Read More

Households welcome migrants!

Italy Fermo January - February 2018

Purpose: The initiative is as an experiment of social innovation aimed at strengthening local community resilience: some of the migrants hosted in the City had the possibility of completing their...

Read More

Workshops, books, exhibitions, music, theater, workshops and sports against racism

Italy Ravenna 2018

Purpose: The Week stimulated a process of confrontation and exchange aimed at preventing and combating phenomena of intolerance, discrimination and racism. Stimulus/Rationale: On the occasion of...

Read More

The Human Rights Film Festival

Spain Donostia-San Sebastian Since 2003

Purpose: The Human Rights Film Festival is an initiative that uses the power of the cinema to promote a culture of peace and respect for human rights, becoming a great agent of social change. The...

Read More

Increasing awareness about Islam and reducing anti-Muslim stereotypes

Ukraine Lutsk 2018

Purpose: “Interpretation of Surahs of the Quran” is an initiative aimed to dismantle stereotypes about Islam and the Muslim world in general, to build a peaceful intercultural society in Ukrainian...

Read More

Topic
0 International outlook
Year