CVEK

This policy brief delivers actionable recommendations and methodological guidelines for strategic integration planning at the municipal level. It addresses the steady growth of international populations in Slovak cities against the backdrop of a missing national integration framework.

Drawing on more than two years of hands-on experience designing local strategies in Bratislava, Nitra, Prešov, Košice, and Trnava, the document offers local governments a clear, practical guide. It outlines how to conduct baseline analyses, embed integration goals across broader municipal agendas (mainstreaming), communicate the topic transparently, and secure buy-in from both political leadership and the public. The publication also includes an in-depth case study showcasing Nitra’s successful strategy development process.

These recommendations were developed under the project “Supporting Local Self-Governments in Improving Access to Quality and Inclusive Services for Children and Families from Refugee and Migrant Backgrounds: Shifting from Emergency Response to Long-Term Inclusion Strategies,” implemented in partnership with UNICEF and with financial support from the European Commission.