PRO M OTING R E FU G E E I NT E G RAT I O N A ND I NC LU SI ON : E M P OW E R I N G M U N I C I PA L I T I E S AC R OSS E U R OP E Country Cyprus Moldova Baltic and Nordic Countries 28 Municipalities Area Limassol Coordination, Access to funding, Developing holistic integration support Multiple Holistic integration support / Enhancing municipal-level integration capacity / Effective inclusion of refugees/host communities in planning and service delivery Multiple Multilevel coordination to enhance the integration potential of municipalities P R O MOT IN G R E FUGE E IN T EG R ATIO N AN D IN C LUSIO N : EMP OWE R IN G MUN IC IPAL ITIES ACROS S EUROPE In short Creation of intercultural councils, policies and regional networks for effective long-term integration and access to sustainable funding mechanisms. Cities of Solidarity – promoting social cohesion and the socioeconomic integration of refugees in municipalities of Moldova. Project For-In, built on wide regional and country-specific partnerships aiming to capitalize on existing initiatives in the Baltic countries and extensive experience in the Nordic countries, to strengthen capacities of local authorities, civil society, refugee and immigrant communities and other integration actors. UNHCR REGIONAL BUREAU FOR EUROPE, AUGUST 2024 Further detail The Developing Intercultural Integration Policies project, focused on fostering an inclusive society through meaningful local stakeholder involvement. Key achievements included establishing intercultural councils and launching initiatives like language courses and vocational training for immigrants. The project has benefited from the active role of the Union of Cyprus Municipalities (UCM) and Union of Cyprus Communities (UCC), leveraging their expertise to address operational and legal challenges. Moreover, Regional Intercultural Networks in each district facilitated the mapping of civil society landscapes and created actionable two-year plans, enhancing community outreach. Although this project has concluded, a new initiative known as the 2023 Enhancing Structures and Policies for Intercultural Integration in Cyprus89 is now underway, building on its foundations and continuing with strategies like regular thematic and strategy review meetings, sustainable funding mechanisms, and continuous evaluation to ensure the effectiveness and longevity of intercultural integration efforts. This initiative is part of the transition strategy of Local Refugee Coordination Forums, which were established during the onset of the Ukrainian refugee influx to promote an area-based approach to humanitarian coordination. As the situation stabilizes and the response shifts to the local integration of refugees, UNHCR and Refugee Response partners are working in close collaboration with 8 municipalities to develop local action plans to galvanize support for projects and activities fostering the integration of refugees in the communities hosting them. This initiative aims to promote resilience for all by supporting priorities set by the communities themselves, reflecting municipal and regional development plans, and advocating for refugee inclusion in new development plans in construction. As part of this, UNHCR has set up 10 Community Service Centres in municipalities with a significant refugee population. These centres serve as safe spaces where refugees and local communities can access legal orientation, skills training, and registration for financial aid, as well as a variety of recreational and cultural activities. During the past ten years, Baltic States have continuously improved integration policies by developing specific nationallevel programs and action plans and capacity-strengthening for local authorities. In addition to the For-In project, a PanBaltic initiative for integration actors has helped to facilitate cooperation among local practitioners as well as national integration actors in the Baltic Countries. Further information: • Two-year integration project kicks off across the Nordic and Baltic region • Nordic-Baltic project 2021-2023 FOR-IN • Pan-Baltic Experience Exchange Seminar in Vilnius • Best practices in hosting Ukrainian refugees in the Baltic States UNHCR REGIONAL BUREAU FOR EUROPE, AUGUST 2024 29