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.
Parks for Health: promotion of health assets for the local community
Camden is working with its neighbouring authority, Islington, on a joint project called Parks for Health. This major project seeks to change the passive focus of parks into active health assets for...
Recruitment practices in favour of diversity in the workforce
Camden is involved with many local, regional and national organisations promoting diversity and non-discrimination in the labour market, including: Stonewall, a charity that works with institutions...
Gender equality: voices of the women in Camden
Camden Council put in place mechanisms to make sure that gender equality is respected in organisations that participate in the decision-making process on matters related to the inclusion of Camden...
Promoting cultural participation and equal access to culture in Neuchâtel
This action promoting cultural participation was implemented in the frame of the intercultural strategy of the canton of Neuchâtel, which is based on the recognition of diversity, equality,...
The Leeds Learning Alliance
The Leeds Learning Alliance (LLA) is a consortium of organisations formed in 2019 by a group of leaders, aiming to improve education in Leeds, United Kingdom (UK). The Alliance is unusual in the UK...
A welcoming app
Purpose: The Portuguese Network of Intercultural Cities (RPCI) has developed an app called Portugal Incoming. The app launched in 2019 is a major practical contribution to the integration of...
Migrant stories
Purpose: During COVID, the City of Erlangen, Germany, made a point of uplifting the stories of contributions by people with migrant backgrounds via their website and communications. These ranged...
Democratic citizenship in Ansan
Under the Public Official Election Act of the Republic of Korea, only Korean nationals aged 25 or older may run for a local election. Those with foreign nationality are not allowed to be a...
Salisbury’s effective measures to combat discrimination
Purpose: The Australian City of Salisbury adopted “The Fair Treatment Policy” and signed the “Refugee Welcome Zone Declaration” Process: The City Council adopted a policy called “The Fair Treatment...
Reconciliation Action Plan
Purpose: Raising awareness about reconciliation, demonstrating commitment and raising the profile of reconciliation in the community. Process: The City of Ballarat have developed and Innovative...
Intercultural Ambassadors
Purpose: A unique festival to encourage its citizens to meet and get to know each other Stimulus/Rationale: The Intercultural Ambassador Program aims to enhance community awareness and social...
Harmony Fest
Purpose: A unique festival to encourage its citizens to meet and get to know each other Process: Since it was launched in 2010, Harmony Fest has become the City of Ballarat’s vibrant diversity...
Covid 19 practice
Purpose: Information and support for CALD businesses during COVID 19 Stimulus/Rationale: The Mayor of Maribyrnong initially announced that the City Council would be giving permit refunds and 50%...
Intercultural Cities Policy and Strategy
Purpose: Developing an Intercultural Maribyrnong Strategy Stimulus/Rationale: In October 2018 Maribyrnong City Council officially started the process towards full membership of the Intercultural...
Refugee Week
Purpose: Welcoming Refugees through Refugee Week Stimulus/Rationale: “Refugee week” is Australia’s peak annual activity to inform the public about refugees and celebrate positive contributions made...
Reducing Racism
Purpose: Reducing racism Stimulus/Rationale: The City Council has an endorsed reducing racism statement and hosts a community reporting tool where reports can be logged about instances of racism to...
Equality Review & Action Plan
Purpose: Equality review of provision of social housing supports and homelessness services on the ground of racial or ethnic origin and action plan. Stimulus/Rationale: Foundation This initiative...
Towards an Inclusive Public Transport Service
Purpose: Long-term programme in Dublin to fight racism and discrimination in public transport Process: Dublin City Council in partnership with Immigrant Council of Ireland, the Equality Authority...
Council for civil society development
Purpose: Civil society organizations working in the social field and organised in the network “Platform for local NGOs’ in Botkyrka” and politicians from Botkyrka have established a joint Council...
Equality Planning
Purpose: The municipal council in Botkyrka has developed specific systems to advance the goal of an equal Botkyrka and give expression to its values that include: citizen-focus, diversity as an...
Bottkyrka: Anti-Discrimination Bureau
Purpose: Anti-Discrimination Bureaux are independent non-governmental organisations; the local Anti-Discrimination Bureau in Bottkyrka is funded by the municipality of Bottkyrka and offers...
Data collection and analysis to counteract discrimination: the case of Barcelona Discrimination Observatory
Purpose: The Barcelona Discrimination Observatory works, since 2018, to make visible any situations of discrimination in the city, and to contribute to the scale and design of the actions...
Shared Values
Purpose: Identifying shared values to build stronger communities Stimulus/Rationale: Values were identified as key by Bradford Council given how they underpin and motivate behaviours. They are...
Guided tours of the Greatest Hits exhibition by members of Erlangen Refugee Forum : The best of the 60s, 70s, 80s, and today - from the Municipal Collection of Erlangen
Purpose: To ensure digital inclusion Process: For the duration of the exhibition Greatest Hits (December 2017 to February 2018) the Kunstpalais offered guided tours in Arabic, Armenian, Persian,...
Committee for Diversity and Inclusion
Purpose: In December 2023 the city council of Stavanger decided to establish a Committee for Diversity and Inclusion (Norwegian: Utvalg for Mangfold og Inkludering) consisting of nine members (five...
City of Sanctuary – welcome and settlement
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....
Participatory Budget
Enhancing the participation of citizens in the decision-making process. Launched in 2014 to implement actions of participatory democracy in Paris, the Participatory Budget aims at mobilising all...
Mescla’t
Purpose: Mescla’t is a festive day that brings together the organisations that work in Sabadell for the culture of solidarity, active participation, and the promotion of living together. The...
Mainstreaming the intercultural perspective in Barcelona districts
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...
Narrative for the inteculturality (Actions for the coexistence)
Purpose: INTERCULTURAL NARRATIVES, Lines of Action for Coexistence is a new commitment to consolidate the transversality of the intercultural approach with the commitment of the municipal services...
A path to build a United and Inclusive Society: The city of Turin adopts its "Guidelines for Interculture and participation"
Purpose: Inclusion of citizens in the political processes is not a challenge – it is the challenge the City of Turin has decided to face. In a time when social inequalities grow, the fear for “the...
Rights Respecting Schools Award
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...
PROUD OSLO – Action Plan for Equality and Freedom regardless of Gender Expression, Gender Identity and Sexual Orientation
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...
Guide on Equal Services: preventing discrimination through intersectionality
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...
Italian Language courses for migrant women
Purpose: The goal of this project is to promote the participation of migrant women into the Italian Language courses organized in the city of Novellara. Stimulus/Rationale: The local administration...
“ARRIVAL CITIES”
Purpose: Women are the primary victims of the intertwined causes of conflicts, underdevelopment and migration. To address these issues, in a sustainable and humanitarian way, migrants should be...
Bradford for Everyone or how to create a more inclusive city for all
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...
Political Literacy Sessions
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...
Covid-19 Working Group
Concept Camden Council has a track record in seeking to address systemic discrimination and structural inequalities. This is not a new issue for the Council, but Covid-19 has both highlighted and...
The Inclusive Employer
Purpose: Bradford Council seeks to be an inclusive employer Stimulus/Rationale: This initiative is rooted in Bradford Council’s Equality Objectives 2016-2020. One objective is that the Council is...
Employment and skills - Adult Learning Programme, BUILD programme, Leeds Anchors Network
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...
Community Connector Project
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...
Fresh start – Learning English
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...
The Leeds Migration Map
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...
Migrant Community Networkers – Creating links in the neighbourhood
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...
The Language Hub Programme
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...
Equal provision of support services to ALL vulnerable groups
Purpose: The purpose is to provide support services to all vulnerable groups within Patras' population, promoting equality and respect for human rights and needs. The focus is on covering basic...
An Anti-Racism Cockpit
Purpose: Internally focused activity is key to addressing systemic discrimination. It enables a focus on the priorities, processes and practices of an organisation. It can be difficult to secure a...
DiverCidade Braga - An Intercultural Journey
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...
The Fusion Market (“Mercado de Fusão”)
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....
International Migrants Day in the Lisbon City Hall
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...
Nga Kete Akoranga (NKA)
Purpose: Promoting cultural competence amongst Auckland’s staff: A training programme for staff to respond effectively to Māori people. Stimulus/Rationale: The implementation of a refreshed Ngā...
The Ubuntu Bridges Programme in Lisbon (“Programa Pontes Ubuntu”)
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,...
The Auckland Plan 2050
Purpose: ‘Fostering an inclusive Auckland where everyone belongs’ Stimulus/Rationale: The Auckland Plan 2050 outlines a 30-year strategy for Auckland to tackle three key challenges: Population...
Multilingual initiatives improve the intercultural dialogue and the inclusive integration
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...
Boosting the citizens’ social life with art and festivities
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...
Bergen Inclusion Center
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...
SCOUT: aSsessing Competences fOr fUTure
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,...
Montreal launches a policy of non-discriminatory access to all municipal services
On June 5, Rosannie Filato, head of public security on the Executive Committee, and Magda Popeanu, vice-president of the Executive Committee and head of culture and diversity in Montreal, unveiled...
Young Mayor
Purpose: Putting power and responsibility in the hands of young people. Stimulus/Rationale: Lewisham Young Mayor is a robust attempt to put real power and responsibility in the hands of young...
Lisbon’s ethnic economy
Purpose: The study aimed to support the development of immigrant entrepreneurship initiatives in Lisbon, and the main objectives were the following: Provide some basic socio‐economic features about...
Urban art for Intercultural Interaction - “o Bairro i o Mundo”
Purpose: Regenerating a stigmatised neighbourhood through large-scale art project Stimulus/Rationale: Quinta do Mocho was for many years the most stigmatised of neighbourhoods in Loures, associated...
Local Assemblies
Purpose: A network of citizen forums which empower local decision making and action Process: This programme started in 2008 and consists in a forum during which the Council talks to the residents,...
Welcoming internationals to the city
Purpose: Several years ago, the Stavanger Chamber of Commerce and Industries started a program to introduce international employees and their families to the city. The region’s Welcome Center is...
First Welcome
Purpose: The city is applying an intercultural approach to dealing with welcoming newcomers, via a two-stage process. The First Welcome deals with the basic issues of identification, certification,...
Having Faith in Lewisham
Purpose: Putting faith groups at the heart of community building Stimulus/Rationale: A large number of residents subscribe to a religion and of the rapidly growing number of faith groups (over...
Centre for Conflict Mediation
Purpose: The intervention is aimed at managing conflicts arising from neighbourly relations and proximity between people and is intended to improve social relationships so there is an alternative...
House of Peace and Human Rights
Purpose: The House of Peace and Human Rights aims at disseminating the culture of peace, the promotion of human rights, peace processes and the recovery of historical memory. It does so in...
Intercultural Museum
Purpose: The aim of the museum is to exhibit and tell the history of diversity in Norway, conceptualizing the museum as a space of dialogue that involves as wide and diverse a range of people as...
Maio - Diálogo Intercultura / May Intercultural Dialogue
Purpose: May – Intercultural Dialogue is affirmed in Setúbal as a moment of sharing and joint work, with the aim of promoting intercultural dialogue and coexistence, through the promotion of...
Educational equality in Oslo. Tackling educational segregation through raising standards
Purpose: The aim of this project is to combat educational segregation through organizational structures, activities and curricula that increase diversity and intercultural learning in public school...
School Approaches for Family Empowerment (SAFE)
Purpose: SAFE aims to reach and involve public servants, intercultural mediators, school principals and families. It has been developed to give the school a central role in the process of social...
Johannes Learning Centre - a bilingual school which teaches and hires minorities
Purpose: Johannes Learning Centre is Stavanger’s main vehicle for building language competence. Although originally all the staff were Norwegians, 40% are now of minority background. The school has...
Don’t Feed the Rumour
Fight against misconceptions, prejudices, rumours and stereotypes about migrants and the city of Amadora, and provide correct information on migration and ethnic and cultural diversity “Immigrants...
Safer Alta de Lisboa
A community-policing service based on intercultural principles Purpose: Since 2007, the Lisbon Municipal Police (LMP) has been developing a community policing strategy, seeking the maintenance of...
Give Something Back to Berlin
Purpose: A social enterprise that treats refugees not as victims but bringers of diversity advantage Process: The “Give Something Back to Berlin” (GSBTB) foundation is a fine example of a civil...
Siemens’ program for integrating refugees
Purpose: Erlangen shows that labour markets can open up to refugees under favourable circumstances Process: With a population of 100 000, the City of Erlangen is home to the University of...
District Mothers
Purpose: Migrant mothers reaching out to and integrating other migrant mothers Stimulus/Rationale: Process: The “Stadtteilmütter” (District Mothers) project is targeted at areas under Neighbourhood...
Intercultural Integration Plan 2015-2020
Purpose: Despite inter-ethnic strife in Ukraine one city offers leadership in pursuit of an alternative way Process: Whilst war and interethnic conflict has raged to the east (Donbass) and south...
A city international policy
Purpose: An aspiring intercultural city should have an international policy that seeks, at least in part, to promote a dynamic relationship with places of origin of major Diaspora groups. Such...
Salut l'étranger-ère!
Acknowledging and rewarding the intercultural heroes of Neuchatel Since 1995 Neuchâtel State Council has been making an annual award of 7,000 CHF to a group or an individual who, through a work, a...
Nachbarschaftsheim Neukölln
Purpose: Community centre that encourages active and informed citizens Stimulus/Rationale: Process: Nachbarschaftsheim Neukölln is a community centre which aims to facilitate social cohesion and...
Diversity in the workforce
Purpose: To ensure and encourage diversity in the workforce in Bergen municipality, by supporting and facilitating career development for people with a minority background. Stimulus/Rationale: The...
Surf.Art
Purpose: Cascais regularly organises intercultural activities not only to encourage social cohesion but also to help young people to improve their self-appreciation and self-esteem....
The Welcome App
Purpose: An App to help refugees organising their everyday lives in Germany - Helps overcoming the language barrier - Provides information regarding asylum law Stimulus/Rationale: A considerable...
New generations on the wave
Purpose: This project aimed at giving the opportunity to local administrations and local communities to work together to develop strategies for the promotion of civic and intercultural active...
Diversity policy in Geneva - New roadmap for the 2020-2025 legislature
Purpose: Since 2014, the City of Geneva has been developing a public policy on cultural diversity and fight against racism. Placed among its priorities by the Administrative Council (executive of...
Roma inclusion policies in Reggio Emilia, Italy
Purpose: The initiative aims to support the inclusion of the Roma community in Reggio Emilia by promoting intercultural interaction. Stimulus/Rationale: The city of Reggio Emilia has approximately...
Schools for equality and diversity
Purpose: To promote a quality education system that is inclusive and promotes equal opportunities for all students. More precisely, to build capacity of teachers on the prevention of violence and...
Pròxim: Access to the labour market
Purpose: Pròxim Programme is a social and labour insertion programme for people in an irregular administrative situation that could be regularised. The objectives are: To increase the level of...
Interreligious dialogue in Valladolid
Purpose: Promote attitudes of respect for religious diversity by involving representatives of religious communities in the representatives of religious communities in the shared management of...
Fans for diversity: inclusion through a community of football supporters
Purpose: Increasing the diversity and inclusion of all football fans and strengthening ties in the community. Stimulus/Rationale: A Bradford City Football supporters group, the Bangla Bantams, is...
The Open Mosque Project – Increasing contact in the neighbourhood
Purpose: The event “Open Mosques” allows people to meet and to get to know each other. The project’s primary objective is to open up the unknown – the space of the mosque – and thereby reduce...
Multilingual health information
Purpose: The INFORMA em AÇÃO project aims to promote access to the SNS - National Health Service - by migrant communities and the improvement of the conditions in which it takes place, by...
The Iroko 7 Cs in Kirklees – Community focus
Purpose and stimulus/rationale: The Iroko project was developed, over an eight-month period, to respond to a context of: stark inequalities for Black and African Caribbean Communities revealed by...
Diversitours
Purpose: Diversitours is a project to promote intercultural coexistence through urban tours that reflect the positive impact of cultural diversity in cities. Guided walks with an intercultural...
Fostering inclusive recruitment: project report and Guidebook for Employers
Purpose: Through the project “Inclusive Recruitment” the Portuguese municipalities of Amadora, Loures and Oeiras worked on ways and means to encourage Portuguese employers to hire migrants and...
Annual ICC Forums Tradition – Melitopol
Process: Melitopol, as a member city of the Ukrainian ICC network, has managed to establish the useful tradition of hosting annual international Intercultural Forums. Despite the limitations...
EUkrainians’ Favourite Book
Process: In 2021, due to the restrictions imposed by the pandemic, the Ukrainian cities that are member of the ICC programme had to celebrate Europe Day online for the second consecutive year....
The Council of Churches in Lutsk
Purpose: Establishing interfaith dialogue and guaranteeing freedom of thought and religion Stimulus/Rationale: At the initiative of the mayor of the City of Lutsk, Mr. Ihor Polishchuk, the Lutsk...