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
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