Intercultural cities: good practice examples
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.
Integration project for newly arrived refugees with urban farming
Norway
Bergen
2019-2023
Purpose: The project aims to create sustainability through urban farming and distributing the harvest of urban farming to restaurants, and to integrate newly arrived refugees by involving them in...
“Lublin for All” Project for strengthening intercultural approaches in collaboration with Canton of Neuchâtel
Switzerland
Poland
Neuchâtel
Lublin
2012-2014
Purpose: The purpose of this project was to design and test a participatory system of diversity management in the city of Lublin and to learn from the experience of the Swiss canton ofNeuchâtel in...
Barcelona Municipal Immigration and Refuge Council
Spain
Barcelona
Since 1997
Purpose: The Barcelona Municipal Immigration Council (Consell Municipal d'Immigració de Barcelona, CMIB) is an advisory and participatory body of the Barcelona City Council and was established in...
Lublin’s Civic Dialogue Committee
Poland
Lublin
2021 - ongoing
Purpose: Lublin’s Civic Dialogue Commission for the City Support System for the Integration of Migrants constitutes a key element of Lublin's participatory system for managing cultural diversity....
“Faces of Lublin” awareness raising campaign
Poland
Lublin
2014
Purpose: This public awareness campaign was undertaken by the City of Lublin to strengthen the image of Lublin as an intercultural city by promoting the diversity of its residents through an...
Erlangen: Digital inclusion in the time of crisis, while extending life of IT products
Germany
Erlangen
2020
Purpose: With the Covid-19 pandemic, the topic of digitisation has become even more important. At times, participation was only possible digitally. However, the need for digital equipment is not...
Utilising waste land to build community, local resilience, and employment
United Kingdom
Calderdale
2022
The largest employer in one of the most deprived areas of Calderdale, United Kingdom, is a voluntary organisation that has created a green kitchen building in a community garden on a piece of...
The inclusive employers toolkit
United Kingdom
Bradford
2022
Purpose: Bradford Council champions inclusive business practices Stimulus/Rationale: Process: In Bradford (United Kingdom), the accountancy and consulting firm Grant Thornton have developed an...
Everyone different, Everyone matters
United Kingdom
Calderdale
2022
In Calderdale (United Kingdom), the local authority has led the development of a social cohesion strategy, produced in consultation with the local public, under the banner of ‘everyone different,...
The Office for Religious Affairs: a comprehensive approach
Spain
Barcelona
Since 2005
Purpose: The Office of Religious Affairs (OAR) of the Barcelona City Council is a municipal service whose main objective is to serve as a reference point for religious and spiritual matters, as...
Barcelona Intercultural Plans
Spain
Barcelona
2010 - ongoing
Purpose: The Barcelona Intercultural Plan (2010) was a mandate of the City Council’s Immigration Working Plan 2008 and its main goal was to define a clear intercultural policy strategy about how...
Creating the conditions for an equality data strategy in Ireland
Ireland
Since 2020
Equality data is of critical importance and significant interest to all those involved in this initiative. It is required to feed into the policy cycle to enhance evidence-based policy making in...
Reaching a point from which to take action in Oslo
Norway
Oslo
2022
Purpose: Oslo Municipality undertook a research initiative to gather data on experiences of discrimination, alongside an initiative to develop indicators to measure progress made in response to the...
Territorial and cultural equity in Montréal – Population focus
Canada
Montreal
2020
Targeted Equality Data Initiatives Purpose: Population data is gathered and analysed to inform and guide the design and implementation of city interventions, ensuring they are as just and...
Erlangen-Nürnberg: University enables access to education for refugees
Germany
Erlangen
2017
Purpose: A database to protect private data and speed up the stream of information between different departments. Stimulus/Rationale: In 2015, four times as many people fled to Europe from their...
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,...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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,...
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...
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....
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...
Italy - Learn Arabic!
Italy
Reggio Emilia
2016
Purpose: This is a project in collaboration with the Local Health Authorities to improve linguistic cultural relations between foreign citizens and health services. Stimulus/Rationale: In 2011 the...
Muraliza - Mural Art Festival
Portugal
Cascais
2014-2017
Purpose: Arts overcome cultural and ethnic differences bringing people together - A project that reshapes the historic centre of the city Arts have the uncanny ability to overcome cultural and...
The International Cultural Network of Stavanger
Norway
Stavanger
1982-
Purpose: The International Cultural Network (INK) is an organization running in Stavanger whose main goal is to encourage social cohesion and inclusion. INK was founded in 1982 and now has almost...
OXLO - Oslo Extra Large. A long-term city-wide awareness-raising campaign for diversity
Norway
Oslo
2001-
Purpose: OXLO - Oslo Extra Large is a long-term awareness-raising campaign initiated by the Mayor of Oslo. Through this campaign the City of Oslo is striving to make Norway’s capital a more...