Photo : Participants of the Integration Academy in Lublin, Poland

 

 Background

The Interagency Academy on the Integration of Migrants and Refugees is a collaborative initiative aimed at supporting the integration capacities of municipalities through tailored training sessions and peer-learning opportunities for civil society representatives and civil servants.

The Academy was launched in 2023 to strengthen the capacity of local authorities to foster inclusive, welcoming and resilient communities, enhancing their ability to work effectively with migrants and refugees, respond to their needs and ensure their full access to rights and services. It was jointly initiated by the Council of Europe’s Intercultural Cities programme (ICC), the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR), the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR), and the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) bringing together their expertise and the practical knowledge of cities to reinforce local authorities’ capacities for inclusive and rights‑based integration. Cycles of the Academy were designed to last for 18 months with several training sessions, workshops and seminars developed according to the priorities, needs, and competences of the participants.

 

 Examples of themes:

  • Managing diversity and inclusion
  • Combating disinformation
  • Anti-rumours strategies and methodologies
  • Trauma-based approaches to integration
  • Cross-cultural competences
  • Good practices on migrants integration

 

 Partnership & Impact

The Academy draws on international expertise and regional collaboration to equip participants with practical tools and peer-learning opportunities based on concrete case studies, allowing them to reflect around common challenges and develop strategies to reduce barriers to integration and foster social cohesion. The best practices and insights discussed during the training sessions are then channelled back into local inclusion strategies, supporting the mainstreaming of equality and inclusion in everyday policy and practice.

 

 Activities of the Academy

The pilot activities of the Academy were launched in collaboration with the Union of Polish Metropolises (UMP) in 2023-2024, before expanding to the Baltic region in 2025-2026.

Activities organised within the Interagency Integration Academy:

Follow us