When migrant communities are excluded from local decision-making, trust in institutions weakens and entire cities miss out on vital perspectives. Across France and Europe, many residents, especially those with migration backgrounds, still face barriers to meaningful participation in civic life.

Resilient Cities responds to this gap by opening up collaborative spaces where diverse communities and local actors come together to shape policies that reflect real needs. Through inclusive, participatory processes, the program helps embed resilience and social cohesion into the heart of local democracy, ensuring that voices long overlooked become central to how cities grow and evolve.

Following the  successful pilot project, EMBRACE, in the Est Ensemble region, the Resilient Cities program has been implemented in the city of Lyon, the city of Clermont-Ferrand and Grenoble Alpes Métropole. These territories have embraced the approach and actively contributed to shaping a new, inclusive model of local governance.

Want to join a growing movement of cities reshaping the local democracy ?
Resilient Cities is expanding across Europe, rooted in collaboration between local actors and migrant communities. From Lyon to Clermont-Ferrand to Grenoble Alpes Métropole, cities are reimagining what inclusive governance can look like. Add your city to the map.

How does it work?

Participation is understood not as a one-time act, but as a dynamic process. Through targeted capacity-building training, local actors develop the knowledge, tools, and inclusive practices necessary  to engage more effectively with migrant communities . In parallel, individuals  with a migration background are empowered to step into leadership roles, contribute to  local decision-making, and co-create practical solutions that strengthen social cohesion,  while building  confidence in their ability to collaborate  with local actors. 

Co-creation is at the core of the program: in facilitated workshops known as  Policy Labs,  local actors and individuals  with a migration background  come together to share experiences, foster  mutual understanding, and design solutions tailored to the specific needs of their communities.

During the Policy Labs, the micro-experimentation phase allows for small-scale  testing of the ideas developed  during the program. These ideas are progressively  implemented and adapted based on evolving needs and outcomes, with ongoing monitoring guided by clear evaluation criteria The analysis of results informs key learnings , refine strategies , and helps optimize the use of available resources. 

The process doesn’t stop there—continuous  collaboration and follow-up activities ensure the ongoing implementation and adaptation of these ideas , leading to sustainable change that benefits the entire  community.