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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.

Template for collection of Good practices >>

The Quality of Life Framework

New Zealand Auckland 2010 onwards

Purpose: Monitoring public perceptions of quality of life, including community, culture and social networks. Stimulus/Rationale: Auckland Council collaborates with other New Zealand councils to...

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Auckland’s intercultural elections

New Zealand Auckland 2017 onwards

Purpose: Initiatives to encourage minority communities to engage in political life. Stimulus/Rationale: Local elections take place in New Zealand every three years. Since 2016 Auckland’s election...

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Auckland’s minority advisory bodies

New Zealand Auckland 2018 onwards

Purpose: Advisory bodies in Auckland to represent cultural minorities and deal with diversity matters. Stimulus/Rationale: The Independent Māori Statutory Board (IMSB) is mandated through...

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Auckland Council as an Inclusive Workplace

New Zealand Auckland 2022 onwards

Purpose: Auckland Council has an inclusive workplace where all people can feel valued and respected, work flexibly and be part of an organisation that acts as a champion of diversity and inclusion....

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Neukölln publishes "Normalising Integration - Living together in an intercultural metropolis"

Germany Berlin-Neukölln 2018

Purpose: Policy and principles for an intercultural city Stimulus/Rationale: Process: "Normalising Integration - Living together in an intercultural metropolis" is both a comprehensive policy...

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The Inclusive Auckland Framework

New Zealand Auckland 2019 onwards

Purpose: Fully committed to the principles of the Intercultural Cities Network. Stimulus/Rationale: Auckland Council's Inclusive Auckland Framework outlines an organization-wide change programme...

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Te Wiki o te Reo Māori (Māori Language Week)

New Zealand Auckland 2018 onwards

Purpose: A celebration of the culture and language of the 700,000 Māori people living in New Zealand. Stimulus/Rationale: As an intercultural City, Auckland celebrates and encourages the use of...

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Creative anti-rumour writing

Spain Bilbao Since 2017

Purpose: To raise public awareness, prevent and address the formation of prejudices and stereotypes linked to migration and cultural diversity through creative writing. Rationale: This initiative...

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Espai Avinyó

Spain Barcelona 2011 - ongoing

Purpose: The Espai Avinyó aims to be a dialogue and a meeting space for promoting reflection on what cultural diversity implies in every sphere of society and on the challenges involved in...

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Promoting multilingualism

Spain Barcelona

Purpose: A language learning programme recognising and promoting the linguistic diversity in Barcelona’s neighbourhoods was launched to: foster multilingualism in the city and within the...

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Intercultural Week

Italy Casalecchio di Reno 2009-ongoing Casalecchio di Reno, Italy

Purpose: The festival INCONTRI DI MOnDI is developing within the intercultural strategy of the Municipality of Casalecchio di Reno. The initiative, that is renewed every year since 2009, consists...

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The “Second chance”: work qualification centre for migrants

Norway Bergen Ongoing

Purpose: To give a “second chance” to refugees and other migrants who do not succeed in completing the professional, social and language training within the two years of the introduction programme...

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The programme for unaccompanied minors (UAM)

Norway Bergen Ongoing

Purpose: The purpose of the programme is to provide ongoing support and housing for unaccompanied children and young people, e.g. to include them in the Norwegian education system and help them...

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Together for Stronger Communities

United Kingdom Bradford 2019

Purpose: Encouraging a sense of belonging and connection so that everyone can play their part in achieving Bradford’s ambitions Stimulus/Rationale: A greater sense of belonging and connection...

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Women’s House

Spain Donostia-San Sebastian Since 2008

Purpose: The Casa de las Mujeres de Donostia is a space for women to meet, debate and reflect in order to influence policies, programmes and projects that aim to advance towards real and effective...

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Participation and interaction through renovation of public spaces: the example of Tabakalera

Spain Donostia-San Sebastian 2019 on

Tabakalera is a former tobacco factory that was converted into a contemporary culture centre. Located in the Egia district, the building is an impressive space (13,277m2) that organises, since...

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Interreligious policies - Interfaith Dialogue

Spain Sabadell Since 2010

Purpose: The Department of Civil Rights and Citizenship develops public policies for the protection of freedom of religion, belief, and conviction and to guarantee an enriching coexistence. These...

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A global welcoming vision

Spain Sabadell Since 2008

Purpose: Reception is a fundamental stage in working towards more inclusive and cohesive societies in which people arriving from other countries can obtain the information, knowledge and skills...

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Building a culture of human rights

Spain Sabadell 2020

Purpose: Improve capacities and raise awareness of Human Rights among citizens and organisations and mainstream a Human Rights approach within the City Council. Stimulus/Rationale: Sabadell...

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Education projects for interculturality

Spain Sabadell 2020

Purpose: Education projects are aimed at building students competences – including intercultural competences-, raising awareness about diversity and promoting critical thinking. The City and School...

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Welcome guide ¡Hola!

Spain Tenerife 2016 - ongoing

Purpose: To improve the welcoming and social integration of migrants and refugees through education and art. This was done through the elaboration of a Guide, providing key information and advice...

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La Rosa dei Venti - Mediation desk

Italy Novellara 2018-on going

Purpose: Enhance social inclusion of women - both foreign and Italian - through cultural and recreational activities. Stimulus/Rationale: Within the framework of gender equality and...

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Recognise and change

Italy Turin 36 months (01/10/2017 – 30/09/2020)

Purpose: The project aims to fight against discrimination and violence linked to the gender and cultural differences. Specific objectives: SO1: Increasing the awareness of the youth between 11 and...

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Stronger communities – The Schools Linking Network

United Kingdom Bradford JAN - DEC 2020

Purpose: Supporting children and young people to explore identity, build connections & strengthen communities so everyone can live well together. Stimulus/Rationale: Bradford works with primary,...

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Database of refugees

Germany Erlangen 2017

Purpose: A database to protect private data and speed up the stream of information between different departments. Stimulus/Rationale: For a long time, data about refugees in Erlangen were...

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XEIX

Spain Barcelona Since 2012

Purpose: The XEIX project aims at promoting commercial associations as a meeting point and generation of neighbourhood identity. The project is about fostering intercultural relations in...

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The Copenhagen Host Programme

Denmark Copenhagen 2016-19

Purpose: The aim of Copenhagen’s Host Programme is to facilitate encounters between newly arrived migrants and Copenhageners who wish to volunteer as hosts to promote integration into Danish...

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Action Plan for Inclusion and Diversity

Norway Bergen 2018-2022 (still in use)

Purpose: The city council of Bergen wanted to formally adopt a public statement of its intentions as an Intercultural city. Stimulus/Rationale: The primary driver for this initiative was political...

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Intercultural public space

Spain Barcelona since 2021

Purpose: The purpose of these actions is to encourage the creation of spaces and opportunities for positive interaction and the generation of ties and relationships on equal terms....

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Setúbal - Office for Immigrants and Ethnic Minorities

Portugal Setúbal 2004 - ongoing

Purpose: A transversal approach to managing intercultural issues on a municipality Stimulus/Rationale: The City Council, for more than a decade, has been working on the integration of immigrants,...

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