Inclusive Cities in Practice: Strengthening Participation in Super-Diverse Urban Communities

The municipality of Etterbeek (Brussels – Belgium) is facing a growing challenge in terms of social cohesion and citizen participation in a context of very high diversity: nearly 50% of its residents do not hold Belgian nationality, and more than 150 nationalities coexist. This reality represents both a strength and a challenge, particularly in terms of integration, democratic participation, and preventing the emergence of “community bubbles”.

Since 2021, the municipality has been developing the In’Etterbeek initiative, which aims to foster exchanges between residents, encourage the participation of foreign residents in local life, and strengthen links with municipal institutions. This initiative is currently based on an informal network of around 1,500 people and offers a variety of activities (conversation tables, cultural events, visits, conferences, etc.).

The municipality now aims to take a further step by structuring this approach more formally, notably through the establishment of a consultative assembly of foreign residents selected by lot, with a role in dialogue with municipal authorities and supported by a participatory budget. The objective is to strengthen citizen participation, better take into account the needs of these groups, and foster interaction between foreign residents and Belgian citizens.

Within the framework of the URBACT programme, Etterbeek seeks to position itself as a partner city within a European network working on issues of inclusion, citizen participation and social cohesion in diverse urban contexts. The municipality does not claim to offer a fully developed model, but rather aims to share its experiences, test new approaches and learn from the practices of other European cities facing similar challenges.

The project is aligned with municipal priorities in terms of social cohesion, citizen participation and tackling inequalities. It will mobilise a local URBACT group bringing together municipal actors, associations, residents and representatives of the different communities present in the territory.

The main ambitions are:

• to strengthen the participation of foreign residents in local life, including through participation in municipal elections; 
• to promote social mixing and interaction between groups that do not naturally meet; 
• to test innovative forms of dialogue between citizens and local authorities; 
• to improve local policies through a better understanding of residents’ needs; 
• to contribute to European exchanges on participation practices in so-called “super-diverse” cities.