Rotterdam has been a pioneer in integrating Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) into municipal governance since the launch of the Inclusivity Panel in 2019. This initiative was created to deepen the city’s commitment to these values and to foster a more inclusive environment.
The Inclusivity Panel, an affinity group within the municipality, was established to offer both solicited and unsolicited advice on DEI matters. This panel has played a crucial role in elevating the importance of DEI in municipal operations, helping to increase awareness and drive policy changes.
Participating in the DiGiN project has given Rotterdam the opportunity to further strengthen the framework around DEI.
“With our involvement in the DiGiN project, we aim to thoroughly embed DEI principles into our policies and practices” says Emmy van Gennip, Programme Manager.
This effort will help ensure that DEI is consistently integrated across all levels of municipal operations. “Throughout the years, the Inclusivity Panel became more well-known in our organisation, and there is more and more recognition for the importance of DEI. However, there is still a long road ahead of us, where anchoring of rules and regulation is the most important next step” van Gennip explains. The city acknowledges the need to deeply embed these initiatives into its regulations to ensure they are not transient but permanent fixtures of governance.
The DiGiN project has provided a crucial platform for Rotterdam to further this agenda. The city’s initiatives are not only transformative on a local scale but are also designed to inspire other municipalities. Rotterdam intends to share its strategies and successes to help other cities develop and enhance their DEI efforts.
“We hope to foster a broader movement that can learn from our experiences, amplifying the impact of DEI initiatives regionally and beyond” van Gennip notes.
Through the Inclusivity Panel and the DiGiN project, Rotterdam is setting a benchmark for DEI in municipal governance. The city’s proactive approach showcases its commitment to creating an equitable environment and serves as a model for others aiming to pursue similar DEI goals.
