Inclucities

IncluCities is an initiative led by CEMR from 2020 to 2023, aiming at improving the integration of third-country nationals in middle-sized cities through city-to-city cooperation. Eight cities, with varying degrees of integration-related experience, and their national associations of local and regional government participate in the project, led by CEMR and funded by the Asylum, Migration, and Integration Fund (AMIF) of the European Union.

The project focused on city-to-city collaboration with exchange of knowledge between 4 mentor cities (Brussels, BE, Mechelen, BE, Fuenlabrada, ES, and Schaerbeek, BE) and 4 mentee cities (Saint Jean de la Ruelle, FR, Capaci, IT, Livadia, GR, and Jelgava, LV), accompanied by their national associations of local and regional governments.

The mentoring process took place in several steps, from the needs assessment and matchmaking to the organisation of study visits, action plans, and training academies, and to present the achievements in the cities’ broader community. This instructive process helped both the mentee and the mentor cities in the assessment of their inclusion policies and created cities’ friendship.

Alongside this mentoring process, mentoring guides, policy papers and infographics have been published to highlight the success and key examples of the project.

As lead partner of the project, CEMR took care of the general coordination, exchanges, communication, and events organisation of the project, together with its associations Brulocalis, VVSG, AFFCRE, AICCRE, LALRG, FEMP and KEDE.