The report of the Intercultural Integration Academy held in Marrakech, Morocco on 18-19 February 2020 has been published.

The Academy gathered 30 participants from Morocco, Jordan, Palestine* and Tunisia. This time the Academy focused on policy-making and strategies for the intercultural city as well as the anti-rumours methodology. The Academies provide an intensive introduction to the ICC and the tools available, as well as for the cities to meet and exchange experiences.

During the Academy ICC experts Anne Bathily, Carla Calado, Daniel de Torres and Phil Wood presented as well as coordinator of the Moroccan ICC network Abderrahman Lamrani. The first intercultural academy in Morocco raised many new ideas and inspiration for the future. In collecting feedback from the participants, interest in the topics raised was expressed. Most participants also expressed interest and need for being members of the international or a national ICC network and saw ways of implementing the principles in their daily work.

Key learnings were focused on the softer side of interculturalism, which is a set of principles that needs to be implemented and accounted for in all actions within the city. By introducing the principles in policies and strategies and ensuring all areas of the city have an understanding of the principles, more cohesion and interaction can be created.

The Academy was also an opportunity to speak about the national ICC networks and their modus operandi. These discussions will be followed up separately with each city and the leaders of the Moroccan network. The ICC was happy to see several cities interested in joining the ICC programme and entering into a network to continue working with the area of interculturalism.

The Academy was organised/held in the framework of the European Union/Council of Europe joint programme “Ensuring Sustainable Democratic Governance and Human Rights in the Southern Mediterranean” (South Programme III), co-funded by the two organisations and implemented by the latter.

* This designation shall not be construed as recognition of a State of Palestine and is without prejudice to the individual positions of Council of Europe and European Union member States on this issue.