Inclusion of national and ethnic minority organizations by municipal governments in Poland – existing experiences and proposed solutions for the future

Inclusion of national and ethnic minority organization in cities–from dialogue to real co-decision-making

How can cities better include people belonging to national and ethnic minorities, as well as those with migration experience, in decision-making processes? This question became the starting point for this publication. Prepared by the Czulent Jewish Association in cooperation with institutional partners, it is based on a study combining quantitative and qualitative data—surveys and in-depth interviews. It takes into account both the perspective of city administrations and that of people belonging to minorities themselves. It is a tool for local governments, social organizations, and decision-makers, showing how to move from declarations of inclusion to genuine co-decision-making.

In practice, we often speak about “inclusion,” but less often do we examine what it actually looks like. Our experience shows that the participation of people from minority groups in public life is often limited—not always due to a lack of willingness, but frequently because of a lack of tools, procedures, and proven models of cooperation. That is why in this study we focused not only on diagnosis, but above all on what works—and why.

Badanie zostało zaprojektowane tak, aby zobaczyć ten proces z dwóch stron. Z jednej – instytucji, które tworzą polityki publiczne. Z drugiej – osób, których te polityki bezpośrednio dotyczą. To zestawienie pozwoliło uchwycić różnice w postrzeganiu, ale też wskazać przestrzenie, w których możliwa jest realna zmiana.

The study was designed to examine this process from two perspectives. On the one hand—institutions that create public policies. On the other—people who are directly affected by those policies. This comparison made it possible to capture differences in perception, as well as to identify areas where real change is possible.

However, this is not only a research report. It is part of a broader initiative—the project “Strategies for Cooperation and Inclusion of People at Risk of Discrimination and Exclusion,” implemented by the Czulent Jewish Association in cooperation with the Municipality of Kraków, the Voivodeship Police Headquarters in Kraków, and the American Jewish Committee Central Europe. The knowledge gathered in this publication is intended to directly inform the next stages of action—already at the level of implementation.

At the Jewish Czulent Association, this is exactly how we work—by combining research, experience, and action. On the one hand, we analyze phenomena and identify gaps in the system. On the other, we develop solutions that can effectively address them. Our approach is based on cooperation with public institutions, organizations, and the communities directly affected by these processes. It shows that inclusion is not a one-off action, but a process—one that requires knowledge, tools, and a willingness to collaborate.

Report prepared as part of the project ‘Strategies for Cooperation and Inclusion of People at Risk of Discrimination and Exclusion,’ implemented with funding from the Active Citizens Fund – National Programme, financed by Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Norway through the EEA Grants.

The project is implemented by the Jewish Association Czulent in cooperation with the Municipality of Kraków, the Lesser Poland Voivodeship Police Headquarters, and the American Jewish Committee Central Europe.