SPÓJNIA: Local Strategies and Activities for Integration

 

The aim of the project is to strengthen the integration capacity of 16 local communities by creating a sustainable integration system, comprising strategies, partnerships, support programmes and the skills of local leaders.

Polish local communities are currently facing an unprecedented challenge in integrating migrants. In 2024, there were approximately 2.5 million foreign nationals residing in Poland, whilst public acceptance of their presence had fallen to 42 per cent by early 2025. Smaller and medium-sized towns, in particular, lack the data, tools, skills and infrastructure needed to work with diverse communities. Activities tend to be scattered or duplicated, and local authorities lack experience in building cohesive, diverse communities.

The project fills this gap by offering comprehensive, systemic and practical solutions, including a scalable integration model that can be replicated in other regions of the country. It combines a systemic approach with community-based activities, creating sustainable mechanisms for cooperation, dialogue and integration.

The ‘SPÓJNIA: Local Strategies and Activities for Integration’ project (project no. FAMI.02.01-IZ.00-0096/25) is co-financed by the European Union under the Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund. The project is run by the Information Society Development Foundation in partnership with the Polish Migration Forum Foundation.

KEY DATA:

Project budget: PLN 3,726,000.00, including EU funding: PLN 3,353,400.00
Implementation period: 1 January 2026 – 29 February 2028
Scope: nationwide
Funding: Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund, under call for proposals FAMI.02.01-IZ.00-002/24 – integration of third-country nationals in Poland

Planned activities

I. Support for integration activities in 16 localities – covering four key strategic areas: social cohesion and integration of the local community; children and young people – education, adaptation and integration; adults – skills, the labour market and entrepreneurship; older people – an active and dignified life within the community.

  • a social patronage programme,
  • comprehensive educational and integration programmes for children and young people,
  • training, mentoring, business language courses and support for adults in setting up businesses,
  • intercultural cafés and conversation programmes.

II. Developing local integration strategies (8 localities)

  • building cross-sectoral local partnerships (local authorities, community organisations, schools, labour market institutions),
  • assessment of the needs of local communities and migrants,
  • a series of training sessions on intercultural education,
  • study visits to locations with established integration models,
  • participatory development of integration strategies involving stakeholders,
  • social hackathons as an innovative form of consultation and co-creation of solutions..

As part of the project, we plan to support, among other things:

  • 16 local partnerships,
  • at least 12 families benefiting from the social support programme,
  • 180 adults taking part in employment activation schemes,
  • 220 people under the age of 18 benefiting from development and integration programmes,
  • 65 older people in integration programmes,
  • 6 intercultural cafés serving as permanent spaces for dialogue.

The key outcomes of the project will be greater social cohesion, better integration of migrants and an increase in the intercultural competence of host communities, which will translate into local stability, economic development and an improved quality of life for all residents.

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MORE INFORMATION

Adriana Skutyńska, adriana.skutynska@frsi.org.pl