Celebrating 15 years of promoting dialogue and social cohesion
Through IIH, the two partners promote intercultural dialogue, challenge stereotypes, and connect people with different perspectives across cultures and religions.

Participating organisations benefit not only from funding of up to US$20,000, but also from capacity-building programmes, individual mentoring, knowledge exchange, visibility, and access to an international network, all designed to scale their social impact. Experts from the UNAOC, the BMW Group, and Accenture help them enhance their capabilities and expand their impact.

IIH is guided by a fundamental principle: Connect. Empower. Elevate. By bringing people and cultures together, it empowers organisations with a local base to expand their intercultural innovations to new levels.

Ten selected organisations from four continents:

• Foundation for Educational Equity and Development (Ghana), with the project Libraries Without Walls Mobile Literacy & Creativity Hub: Reimagining Education Through Creativity, Culture & Community
• The Girl Child Values Support Initiative (Nigeria), with the project Interactive Theatre for Gender Equality and Women Empowerment
• no-name initiative (South Africa), with the project nniChat App Dialogues for an Inclusive Society: Youth on Xenophobia and Inclusion
• OASIS Public Charitable Foundation (Kyrgyzstan), with the project VoiceMap: People with Disabilities Mapping Their City
• Youth Development Foundation (Pakistan), with the project Inclusive Lens
• Organization Earth (Greece), with the project Sport and Growth
• Asociația Suryam (Romania), with the project “The Integration Atlas” – A Multi-Stakeholder Framework for Social Cohesion in Central Romania
• Fundació Itinerarium (Spain), with the project VISIBLE-IN Play: Inclusive Football for Diverse and Inclusive Societies
• Fundación Semilla (Chile), with the project WAYNA: A Pedagogical Tool for School Coexistence
• Venezolanos en Barranquilla (Colombia), with the project Community Integration Hub: A Scalable Model for Social Cohesion, Inclusion and Economic Empowerment

Growing their impact together
The ten selected local organisations demonstrate that their impact can reach far beyond their own communities, and that regional innovations can have global relevance. The recognition ceremony on 3 November 2026 at the House of BMW in San Donato Milanese marks the beginning of a new stage in the programme: the organisations will now embark on a year-long IIH development and mentoring programme.

Discover more here: https://interculturalinnovation.org/

Key Facts on the Intercultural Innovation Hub (IIH)

• Founded: 2011, marking its 15th anniversary in 2026.
• Impact: IIH has worked with over 100 organisations worldwide, whose initiatives have reached over 7 million people.
• Anniversary year: Ten organisations from across four continents selected from more than 1,400 applications.
• Funding: Up to US$20,000 funding plus a year-long mentoring programme and support with skills development and international networking for participating organisations.
• Partners: United Nations Alliance of Civilizations and the BMW Group, with the support of Accenture.

FAQ on the Intercultural Innovation Hub (IIH)

• What is the IIH? The IIH is an initiative of UNAOC and the BMW Group, supported by Accenture. Its aim is to promote intercultural dialogue, inclusion and social cohesion.
• How long has the IIH existed? It was founded in 2011 and marks its 15th anniversary in 2026.
• What has the IIH achieved so far? So far, IIH has worked with over 100 organisations worldwide, whose initiatives have reached over 7 million people.
• Who does the IIH support? Locally based organisations running innovative projects that promote intercultural dialogue, social cohesion, equal opportunities and inclusion. In 2026 ten projects were selected for support, from more than 1,400 applications.
• What does IIH’s support consist of? Up to US$20,000 in funding plus a year-long mentoring programme and support with skills development and international networking for participating organisations.
• Why is the BMW Group committed as a partner? With over 150,000 employees worldwide, we see intercultural understanding as fundamental to our success and an enrichment for the communities in which we live and work. IIH support includes not only funding, but also our capacity-building programme and global network. This way, we can support the professional development of the chosen organisations and truly make a difference: we help make their ideas a reality, bringing lasting change to people and local communities.
• Why is the collaboration so successful? The collaboration between UNAOC, the BMW Group, and Accenture combines global reach and trust with resources, expertise and the ability to scale – potentially strengthening cohesion beyond individual communities.