TALLINN, March 13 (LETA--BNS) - A training program for local government officials in Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania began on Wednesday, aiming to enhance their capacity in receiving and integrating new immigrants and refugees into local communities.

Over the next year and a half, participants will receive training on various topics, including strengthening intercultural communication, building effective integration partnerships, combating disinformation, and preventing gender-based violence.

The program was developed by several international organizations, including the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR), the Council of Europe's Intercultural Cities Program, the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR), and the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), in collaboration with the Latvian think tank Providus.

In recent years, the Baltic states have welcomed thousands of Ukrainian refugees. While migration policy is shaped at the national level, refugee and immigrant integration takes place locally, making the role of municipal workers critically important.

"Successful refugee and migrant integration starts at the local level, where municipalities lay the foundation for inclusive and resilient communities. By prioritizing knowledge, collaboration, and capacity-building, we can empower local governments to fully harness the potential that refugees and migrants bring to their host communities," said Karolis Žibas from the UNHCR Representation for the Nordic and Baltic Countries.

"The municipal integration academy is a key step in strengthening cooperation between the state, municipalities, and the civil sector in building a cohesive and resilient society," Latvian Minister of Culture Agnese Lāce said.

"The integration academy is an important initiative that supports the Lithuanian Ministry of Social Security and Labor and the Reception and Integration Agency's strategy to enhance municipal involvement in refugee and migrant integration. It strengthens competencies, fosters collaboration among key integration stakeholders, and provides valuable insights from practices in other Baltic states," Monika Žitkė, head of the integration coordination department at Lithuania's Reception and Integration Agency, said.

"The launch of this academy is a much-needed step forward. It is inspiring to see this opportunity emerge, allowing municipalities to strengthen their capacities, share best practices, and collaborate to make our cities more inclusive and welcoming to immigrants," said Janika Hango, adaptation and integration manager for the City of Tartu.

The first training session, taking place on Thursday and Friday in Riga, is organized by the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR), drawing from training provided over the past 18 months to Polish municipalities facing similar challenges.