UNITES (2022-2024)
Led by Eurocities, UNITES (UrbaN InTEgration Strategies through co-design) trained and accompanied local authorities to co-design integration strategies with other stakeholders and migrant communities.
UNITES was designed to:
- improve integration outcomes by co-designing integration strategies with stakeholders, citizens and vulnerable migrants
- train integration practitioners in managing co-design processes through different forms of learning and exchange of good practices
- foster the participation of citizens, including migrants but also vulnerable migrants in the co-design of integration strategy
- raise awareness on the advantages of a “whole of society approach” to integration.
In a first stage, UNITES developed training on co-designing integration strategies, incorporating research on European best practices. A pilot version of the training was first conducted with staff from the 8 cities participating in the project – Düsseldorf, Prague, Oulu, Grenoble, Athens, Bologna, Zagreb, and Zaragoza. The training then was developed into an open-access online course (MOOC) for integration practitioners outside the project.
In a second stage, the 8 participant cities received a grant to set up a new mechanism for stakeholder consultation and develop their local integration strategy through co-design with stakeholders and migrants. In planning and implementing their actions, they received guidance from colleagues from other cities and migrant organisations in peer workshops and peer visits to each city.
For more information, please contact Carolina Picot – carolina.picot@eurocities.eu
METHODOLOGY AND ACTIVITIES
CO-DESIGN WITH MIGRANTS AND LOCAL COMMUNITY
UNITES developed tools of outreach and co-design activities tailored to each city’s local context to involve migrants and other citizens. Such measures can, for instance, include training costs and remuneration for migrants helping to co-design a strategy. Each city partner consulted with relevant stakeholders at the local level, including social services, social workers, NGOs and associations to identify vulnerable migrants. These measures were discussed locally, including with the stakeholder group, and were revised according to feedback within the transnational peer support.
TRANSNATIONAL PEER SUPPORT
OUTPUT
Also available in French, German, Spanish and Italian under ‘Toolkits’ here.
CHECK OUT THE OPEN COURSE
STORIES OF SUCCESS
Fighting fires to integrate in Athens
Connecting communities in Dusseldorf
Diversity managers in Bologna
The journey to integration and empowerment in Zagreb
Fostering healing through creativity in Oulu
Welcoming all migrants in Grenoble
Transforming lives in Zaragoza
Amplifying migrants’ voices in Prague
PARTNERS
EUROCITIES (COORDINATOR)
MIGRATION WORK CIC (EXPERT)
NEW WOMEN CONNECTORS
UNITEE
CITY OF ATHENS
BOLOGNA
CITY OF DUSSELDORF
GRENOBLE ALPES METROPOLE
CITY OF OULU
CITY OF PRAGUE
CITY ZAGREB
