Evaluation Report of the “Open Kraków” Program for the Years 2016-2022

Evaluation of the “Open Kraków” Program – how to measure the effectiveness of urban policies

Does urban integration policy really work—and does it respond to a changing social reality? This publication was created to answer that question in the context of Kraków. Prepared by the Czulent Jewish Association, it offers an in-depth evaluation of the “Open Kraków” Program and serves as a tool for local governments, public institutions, and social organizations. It shows how—based on data, implementation analysis, and user experience—to assess the effectiveness of urban policies and design their further development.

This is a report that goes beyond a standard summary of activities. Instead of focusing solely on what has been implemented, we analyze whether and how the Program has actually been used by the City Office as a public policy tool. We are interested not only in the number of actions, but in their real impact and whether they respond to the needs of residents.

The evaluation is based on data and a multidimensional analysis.

The study combines multiple sources of information—from municipal documents and reports, through quantitative data, to the perspectives of those involved in implementing the Program. This approach makes it possible to capture not only the formal picture, but also how the policy actually functions in practice.

The report organizes and verifies the city’s actions. In the publication, we present:

• tasks completed and not completed,
• initiatives considered successful,
• areas that—despite being included in the Program—did not produce the expected results.

This makes it possible to identify both the strengths of urban policy and the gaps that require intervention.

We pay particular attention to the quality and accessibility of public services.

We analyze how specific solutions—such as administrative procedures or the city’s communication—function from the residents’ perspective. We show that even well-designed tools can lose their effectiveness if they are not accessible or understandable to their users.

From evaluation to recommendation. An integral part of the publication is its recommendations—concrete proposals for changes that can increase the Program’s effectiveness and better align it with current challenges. These include, among others, communication strategies, the use of existing tools, and strengthening the coherence of actions within urban policy.

It is also an example of our approach to working with public policy.

At the Czulent Jewish Association, we combine experience in working with people at risk of exclusion with data analysis and watchdog activities. We examine how institutions operate, where gaps emerge, and what solutions can effectively address them. This publication shows that good urban policy does not end with strategy—it begins where real responsibility for its implementation starts.

The evaluation was carried out as part of the public task entrusted to the project: “Participatory development of recommendations for updating the integration policy for foreigners and representatives of national and ethnic minorities in Kraków – Participatory development of the update of the ‘Open Kraków’ Program.” The task was conducted by Żydowskie Stowarzyszenie Czulent (Jewish Association Czulent), Internationaler Bund Polska, and the Polska – Ukraina Institute Foundation, with support from the Multiculturalism and Migration Observatory.