Youth, positive narratives and intercultural competences for teachers are just some of the areas covered by the work carried out under the 2024 ICC grants for networks of intercultural cities in Italy, Portugal, and Spain.

These results, published today, are the fruit of one year of work by national networks and their member cities across the three countries. They underline the value of collaborating between cities to foster greater intercultural inclusion and resilient and inclusive societies at the local level.

In Italy, a practical policy paper on developing inclusive positive narratives was developed, highlighting the key role cities have in tackling both mis- and disinformation. A three-part strategy is recommended: 1) to build capacity across the city administration; 2) to implement this in a wide-ranging, multistakeholder and participatory way; and 3) to network through exchanging practices on a rolling basis.

In Portugal, cities worked together to publish a set of guidelines for teachers on implementing an intercultural approach in schools. The cities of Barcelos, Lisbon, Oeiras and Paranhos worked together on the project. Those guidelines emphasise the importance of involving everyone, including students, teachers, city officers and politicians, and recommend prioritising long-term programmes to develop intercultural competences.  

In Spain, in addition to a new video explainer of the ICC and the Spanish national network of intercultural cities, extensive work on intercultural communication has been carried out. Innovative ways to engage young people at the local level, also in the fight against rumours and in promoting positive narratives, have been piloted by Spanish cities.

 See resources publishes on the national networks pages for Italy, Portugal and Spain.