Intercultural cities: good practice examples - Intercultural cities programme

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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)...

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...

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...

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...

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....

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...

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,...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

OXLO Business Charter - making migrants visible as a resource for business and economic growth

Norway Oslo 2013-

Purpose: Launched in 2013 at the Oslo Global Mobility Forum, the OXLO Business Charter is a forum and a network for the collaboration between the city and the business community, making migrants...

Mediation panel – a low threshold mediation service for complaints on discrimination

Norway Oslo 2018

Purpose: The mediation panel organised by the Norwegian Peoples Aid is a service where victims of discrimination can present their complaints, get advice, and engage in dialogue through mediation...

A road map to promote egalitarian government open to diversity

Switzerland Neuchâtel 2018

This roadmap is an unprecedented step in Switzerland and is designed not only to combat discrimination but to capitalise on diversity proactively so as to create a climate fostering creativity and...

Bergen – a safe city for LGBTI refugees and citizens with migrant background

Norway Bergen 2023-2027

Purpose: As part of the plan The Rainbow City of Bergen: Plan for gender and sexual diversity 2023-2027, the city of Bergen includes information about the importance of taking responsibility for...

The Montreal Intercultural Council

Canada Montreal permanent

The Montreal Intercultural Council (CiM) advises, and issues opinions to, the City Council and the executive committee on all issues of interest to the cultural communities and on any another...

Urban Working Group (UWG) of Epirus

Greece Ioannina since April 2017

Purpose: The purpose of the Urban Working Group (UWG) is to facilitate effective coordination and collaboration among various stakeholders involved in refugee management in the Epirus region of...

Gender-based analysis plus (GBA+)

Canada Montreal 2018

refers to the notion of intersectionality. It means that, in addition to gender-differentiated analysis, it is important to consider needs and differentiated effects in the light of other...

World Interfaith Harmony Week

Portugal Lisbon 2018

Purpose: Foster Interreligious dialogue. Stimulus/Rationale: The week especially provides a platform for interfaith groups and other groups of goodwill to demonstrate and share their work. Based on...

The Intercultural Calendar

Germany Berlin-Neukölln 2018 onwards

Purpose: A calendar for different religious, cultural and international celebrations Stimulus/Rationale: Process: Together with the integration representatives of each Berlin district, Neukölln...

Women in intercultural dialogue

Germany Berlin-Neukölln 2018 onwards

Purpose: A space for mothers from different background to share, learn and to pass onto their children. Stimulus/Rationale: Process: Berlin-Neukölln supports the organisation “LebensWelt” (“Living...

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...

The Welcoming Communities Initiative

New Zealand Auckland 2018 onwards

Purpose: A joint central and local government programme implemented by councils across New Zealand to welcome newcomers. Stimulus/Rationale: Auckland Council, ATEED (now Tātaki Auckland Unlimited)...

Interkulcultural Mediation at the Rixdorfer Primary School

Germany Berlin-Neukölln 2018 onwards

Purpose: Mediating between cultures and languages to promote intercultural integration at schools Stimulus/Rationale: Process: Berlin-Neukölln supports the organisation “LebensWelt” (“Living...

Auckland’s support for its diverse entrepreneurs

New Zealand Auckland 2018 onwards

Purpose: Programmes, competitions and spaces that encourage innovation and collaboration amongst Aucklanders from all kinds of backgrounds. Stimulus/Rationale: Tātaki Auckland Unlimited 's diverse...

#iorispetto: active citizenship against discrimination

Italy Turin Milan Palermo March 2018 until 31 August 2019

Purpose: #IORISPETTO promoted society, young people and students’ awareness of a culture of human rights and the principles of fairness and justice, together with an understanding of the mechanisms...

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...

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 Next Door Family

Spain Donostia-San Sebastian Since 2012

Purpose: The project “Bizilagunak: La Familia de al lado” gathers migrant families and Basque families together. The project operates on a local area, focusing on building relations among families...

Neighbourhood Pacts

Italy Reggio Emilia 2016

Purpose: The goal of this initiative is to adopt consultative and participatory methods with all residents, users and property owners, in order to develop a strategic plan of the City for physical,...

NEUCHÀTOI

Switzerland Neuchâtel 2016

A community conducts a dynamic open discussion of its evolving identity Neuchàtoi is an ongoing campaign and dialogue platform to create an open discussion of how the city of Neuchâtel is evolving...

Norwegian Center for Multicultural Value Creation

Norway Oslo 2005–2022

Purpose: Oslo City Council’s Office for Business Development has taken an active stance on integrating minority businesses through The Norwegian Center for Multicultural Value Creation, which is...

Designing intercultural public space

United Kingdom London-Lewisham 2006 onwards

Purpose: Involving the whole community in shaping the future of Lewisham’s open space. Stimulus/Rationale: In 2006-7 the Borough of Lewisham conducted research into public attitudes. Residents...

LUCIDE

Germany Hamburg 2016

A network of cities seeking to develop ideas about how to manage multilingual citizen communities LUCIDE is a network seeks to develop ideas about how to manage multilingual citizen communities....

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...

“Zambujal Gets Better!” - project

Portugal Amadora ongoing

Ethnic mixing and skills development as part of a general rejuvenation of a city district Purpose: The Programme “Zambujal Gets Better” was brought into life in partnership with the Municipality of...

Mångkulturellt Centre, Fittja

Sweden Botkyrka 2016

A diversity research and popular dissemination centre with local and international scope The Multicultural Centre is a municipal foundation engaged in research, education and cultural activities....

Refugee Welcome and Integration Network

Spain Cartagena 2017 - ongoing Cartagena, Spain

Purpose: On 24 May 2017, the City Council of Cartagena (Murcia - Spain) launched the Refugee Welcome and Integration Network to address the needs of refugees and asylum seekers in the municipality,...

Fargespil (Kaleidoscope)

Norway Bergen 2016

Purpose: To foster experiences of both alikeness and the richness of diversity by bringing different young actors representing different national music and dance traditions together in a musical...

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...

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...

Todos – Walk of Cultures

Portugal Lisbon 2009- ongoing

Purpose: To celebrate Lisbon as an intercultural city, promoting intercultural and interreligious dialogue Stimulus/Rationale: A nomadic festival of intercultural festival which reintegrates...

OMOD - Scrutinizing Oslo public services through an intercultural lens

Norway Oslo 1993-

Purpose: OMOD Center for Social Justice is a volunteer organization against institutional discrimination that provides information, advice, and assistance to organisations in the area of race...

Opening Doors: The Logan Police/Ethnic Communities Partnerships Project

Australia Logan 2016

Building trust between police and ethnic minority communities Logan City was growing rapidly and overseas migration and there was concern that levels of trust between young migrants and the Police...

The value of a city Integration Charter

Germany Erlangen 2016

Erlangen sets out its values and principles The City of Erlangen is becoming more and more multicultural and, today, about the 34% of its inhabitants have a migration background. In order to...

Building interfaith partnerships

Italy Reggio Emilia 2016

Purpose: The project, led by the municipality’s urban planning and architecture department, aims firstly at identifying and mapping the presence of different religious communities. The action goes...

Somalia Bandy

Sweden Borlänge Ongoing

Purpose: The purpose is to use sports as a means for social integration of young Somali refugees, especifically the ice hockey form Bandy. Stimulus/Rationale: The team was set up by a local...

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...

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...

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....

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...

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...

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 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....

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...

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....