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The DiGiN project—Diverse, Equitable, and Inclusive Municipal Organisations—celebrated its official launch on May 23-24, 2024, in Rotterdam. This two-year project, funded under the Citizens, Equality, Rights and Values Programme (CERV-2023-EQUAL), is set to transform municipal workplaces throughout Europe into models of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI). 

The project consortium includes partners from several European countries: 

  • City of Rotterdam (Netherlands) 
  • City of Gent (Belgium) 
  • City of Genova (Italy) 
  • Yellow Window (Belgium) 
  • Leiden University of Applied Sciences (Netherlands) 

Project’s impact and vision 

The DiGiN project aims to craft a broad societal impact by fostering workplaces that reflect the diverse communities they serve. DiGiN seeks to address institutional discrimination through tailored DEI interventions and enhance policy-making processes by incorporating diverse perspectives, particularly in Genoa, Ghent, and Rotterdam. 

Kick-off meeting highlights 

The kick-off included a presentation from Marjo Lamers, the Municipal Secretary of Rotterdam, who emphasised the importance of collective commitment to DEI. The coordinators of the project, from the City of Rotterdam, highlighted in their opening message: 

”Diversity & Inclusion is at the core of our future, and it is already here. It is my personal ambition to enhance diversity & inclusion. The part of being a mirror or a representation of the citizens within the organisation is crucial. To confront the challenges that our city is facing, it is important to incorporate this into our organisation. I am proud that, in this sense, the Panel for Inclusivity launched itself in our organisation without the help of management. Also, I’m proud that this initiative developed and found partners in Europe to develop together, who are all willing to grow knowledge about the topic.” 

Presentations and interactive sessions offered by the project partners provided a platform for sharing inspiring practices and innovative DEI strategies. Hosted in the historic City Hall of Rotterdam, the kick-off meeting outlined the project’s structured approach to integrating DEI principles across municipal levels, from frontline staff to top management. 

Ongoing activities and future plans 

The DiGiN project, having celebrated a successful launch, is now moving forward with key initiatives. The immediate focus is developing and deploying Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion toolkits and frameworks. These resources are designed to equip municipal organisations with the tools needed to build environments that authentically encompass the rich variety of their communities. The project efforts are not just aimed at transforming municipal workplace cultures but also influencing broader policy frameworks at the national and European levels.  

Contact details: 

Hanadi Al-Baz, Advisor International Affairs and European Subsidies City of Rotterdam, h.albaz@rotterdam.nl  

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