1. Assistant Professor, Department of Social Sciences, University of the Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan.

*             Correspondence: htqureshi@pu.edu.pk

Keywords: grassroots innovation, refugee integration, urban governance, social enterprises

1. INTRODUCTION

Recent refugee arrivals in Europe, driven by conflict and instability in regions like Syria, Afghanistan, and Ukraine, have transformed urban landscapes into central sites for integration. Cities provide access to housing, services, employment, and cultural networks, yet conventional top-down policies often struggle to meet the diverse, localized needs of refugees. In response, grassroots and community-led initiatives have become crucial, offering innovative, participatory approaches to inclusion, social cohesion, and empowerment. Grassroots innovations, including community gardens, refugee-led social enterprises, mentorship programs, cooperative housing, and digital platforms, foster social networks, trust, and economic and psychosocial well-being. Unlike top-down interventions, these initiatives position refugees as active contributors rather than passive recipients. European cities like Berlin, Amsterdam, Paris, Athens, and Vienna exemplify this potential, where community spaces and enterprises promote intercultural exchange, skill development, and cultural visibility, while refugee-led organizations advocate for policy change and amplify marginalized voices. Despite their promise, these initiatives face challenges, including fragmented funding, legal barriers, limited recognition, and uneven inclusivity. Their adaptability and informality can be undermined when formalized, and access may be constrained by gender, age, cultural background, or digital literacy. Addressing these issues requires flexible governance, intersectional approaches, and participatory design that embed equity at all stages. Collaborative urban governance models that actively partner with community and refugee-led organizations enhance the effectiveness of local solutions, although tensions with national policies and regulations may limit experimentation. Empirical evidence shows that grassroots initiatives improve both social and economic integration. They offer employment opportunities, skill-building, social participation, intercultural dialogue, and psychosocial support, while enabling refugees to contribute meaningfully to community life. However, systematic research on their long-term impact, scalability, and contextual determinants remains limited, with most studies being isolated case analyses. Participatory research centering refugee voices is essential to understand enabling factors, challenges, and mechanisms for success. Overall, grassroots innovations complement formal integration policies by addressing relational, cultural, and social dimensions often overlooked in top-down approaches. This study aims to examine such community-led initiatives in European cities to identify lessons for policy, practice, and sustainable, inclusive refugee integration.

2. LITERATURE REVIEW

In recent years, Europe has witnessed successive waves of migration driven by conflict, persecution, and economic instability across regions such as Syria, Afghanistan, and Ukraine. Between 2015 and 2024, European cities have hosted millions of refugees and asylum seekers, transforming urban spaces into key arenas for integration and social innovation [18]. Traditional top-down integration models—designed and implemented by national governments—have often struggled to respond flexibly to the localized and diverse needs of refugee populations. In response, a growing body of grassroots and community-led initiatives has emerged across European urban settings. These bottom-up innovations, rooted in civil society, volunteer networks, and refugee-led organizations, have demonstrated new ways to promote inclusion, social cohesion, and empowerment at the neighborhood level [19]. Grassroots innovation refers to small-scale, community-driven initiatives that develop alternative solutions to social challenges through local participation and resource mobilization [20]. Within refugee integration, these innovations encompass informal education programs, intercultural community gardens, social enterprises, cooperative housing projects, and neighborhood solidarity networks [21]. While often modest in scale, such initiatives play a transformative role in connecting refugees with host communities, building trust, and generating sustainable forms of social capital [22]. They also serve as laboratories for social experimentation, producing practices that can complement and inform formal integration policies. As cities become more central to migration governance, understanding the dynamics and outcomes of grassroots innovations has become an urgent academic and policy priority.

3. URBAN CONTEXT AND THE NEED FOR GRASSROOTS RESPONSES

European cities such as Berlin, Athens, Amsterdam, and Vienna have emerged as primary settlement areas for refugees due to greater access to services, employment, and cultural diversity [23]. However, rapid urban influx has also intensified housing shortages, unemployment, and social tensions. Municipal authorities, constrained by limited resources and bureaucratic rigidity, have often relied on partnerships with civil society and local communities to manage integration at the neighborhood level [24]. Grassroots actors—ranging from volunteer associations to refugee-led start-ups—have filled critical service gaps, offering language tutoring, legal aid, mentorship, and psychosocial support in ways that are adaptive, relational, and culturally sensitive [25]. Unlike formal institutions that often view integration through economic or administrative lenses, grassroots initiatives approach integration as a holistic and lived process. They respond to refugees not merely as service recipients but as co-creators of local change. For example, community gardens in Berlin and Milan have transformed underused urban land into shared spaces where refugees and residents cultivate food and relationships [26]. Similarly, refugee-led cafés and culinary enterprises across Amsterdam and Paris have used food as a bridge for cultural exchange and income generation. These local experiments challenge conventional paradigms of integration by fostering mutuality and belonging in everyday spaces.

4. THEORETICAL PERSPECTIVES ON GRASSROOTS INNOVATION AND INTEGRATION

The concept of grassroots innovation is grounded in social innovation and participatory development theories, which emphasize community empowerment, inclusion, and sustainability [27]. In the context of refugee integration, grassroots innovations represent “bottom-up social laboratories”  [28] that test locally appropriate responses to global migration challenges. They often emerge from what Scott (1985) calls “vernacular resilience”—local capacities to improvise and adapt under constrained conditions. Through collective agency, refugee and host communities co-produce novel practices that circumvent bureaucratic bottlenecks and respond to urgent social needs [29]. Moreover, these innovations embody the principles of social capital theory, where networks, trust, and reciprocity become critical resources for integration. When refugees participate in local cooperatives or community centers, they not only acquire skills and social networks but also contribute to community resilience and urban regeneration [30]. In cities marked by cultural plurality, grassroots initiatives serve as spaces of “everyday cosmopolitanism” (Noble, 2013), enabling encounters that challenge stereotypes and foster intercultural understanding. They transform integration from a one-sided adaptation process into a dialogical exchange between newcomers and residents [31].

5. EMPOWERMENT, AGENCY, AND REFUGEE-LED INNOVATION

A critical dimension of grassroots integration lies in refugee agency. Refugee-led organizations (RLOs) have become significant actors in the European urban landscape, offering services designed “by and for” displaced communities. These organizations not only provide immediate assistance—such as translation, childcare, or job placement—but also advocate for systemic change by amplifying refugee voices in policymaking. The shift from “integration for refugees” to “integration with refugees” marks an important evolution in humanitarian and social policy discourse [4]. For instance, initiatives like Refugees Welcome International in Germany and Refugee Voices Network in the United Kingdom illustrate how collective organization empowers refugees to reclaim agency over their integration journeys. Similarly, the Refugee-Led Innovation Fund launched by UNHCR in 2021 has supported over 100 projects across Europe that demonstrate scalable grassroots models—from digital mentorship platforms to circular economy start-ups. These cases reveal how agency-driven innovation not only enhances livelihood opportunities but also transforms public perceptions of refugees from passive dependents to active contributors [32].

6. CHALLENGES FACING GRASSROOTS INITIATIVES

Despite their successes, grassroots innovations face structural and operational challenges. A persistent issue is the fragility of funding. Many community-led projects rely on short-term grants, crowdfunding, or volunteer labor, which limits their continuity and scalability [33] Legal and institutional barriers further constrain innovation; refugees’ restricted access to work permits, financing, and decision-making forums often undermines long-term impact. Moreover, there is an inherent tension between the informality that fuels innovation and the formalization required for sustainability. As grassroots projects grow, they risk losing their community-driven ethos when integrated into bureaucratic systems or donor frameworks [34]. Another challenge concerns representation and inclusivity within community-led initiatives. Not all refugees participate equally; gender, age, and socio-cultural differences can shape who benefits from grassroots programs. For example, women refugees may face additional barriers to engagement due to childcare responsibilities or cultural norms. Addressing these inequalities requires intersectional approaches that embed inclusivity in design and implementation. Additionally, the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted many in-person initiatives, pushing innovators toward digital platforms that sometimes excluded participants without adequate technological access [35].

7. URBAN POLICY AND MULTILEVEL GOVERNANCE

The relationship between grassroots innovation and urban governance is increasingly recognized as a cornerstone of sustainable integration. Municipalities across Europe—such as Barcelona, Malmö, and Vienna—have adopted co-governance models, partnering with grassroots organizations to deliver housing, language, and employment support [7]. These collaborations represent a shift from hierarchical policymaking to networked governance, where cities act as “brokers” between civil society and higher levels of government [9]. However, policy alignment remains uneven: while some national frameworks support local experimentation, others impose restrictive asylum or funding policies that inhibit municipal flexibility.The European Union’s Urban Agenda for Integration (2021–2027) underscores the need to link local initiatives with broader policy frameworks. By promoting social innovation funding, cross-city networks, and peer-learning platforms, the EU aims to bridge the gap between micro-level community practices and macro-level policy goals [8]. Yet, translating successful grassroots experiments into institutional practice remains complex. Scholars warn that “scaling up” can lead to bureaucratization, depoliticization, or loss of contextual adaptability. Sustainable integration thus requires a delicate balance: preserving the spontaneity of grassroots initiatives while embedding them in supportive policy environments.

8. SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC OUTCOMES OF GRASSROOTS INNOVATION

Empirical evidence across Europe shows that community-led initiatives contribute to measurable improvements in refugees’ social inclusion, mental health, and economic participation [4,32]. Social enterprises employing refugees—such as the Kuchenträume Bakery in Berlin or Social Bee in Munich—demonstrate that locally grounded innovation can simultaneously address unemployment and social isolation. Community gardens, art cooperatives, and cultural workshops have been linked to enhanced well-being and intercultural dialogue [1,18]. Furthermore, grassroots digital platforms—such as RefConnect and Migreat—have expanded access to information, legal aid, and mentorship networks, demonstrating the role of technology in democratizing integration resources [22]. Beyond individual outcomes, grassroots innovations also generate collective benefits. They strengthen community resilience, reduce anti-immigrant sentiments, and foster civic participation among both refugees and residents. Importantly, they reimagine the city as a space of solidarity and cohabitation rather than exclusion. In doing so, these initiatives align with the broader Sustainable Development Goals (SDG 10 on reduced inequalities and SDG 11 on sustainable cities), reinforcing the global relevance of localized innovation.

9. IMPLICATIONS

The growing research on grassroots innovations for refugee integration in European cities highlights transformative potential across policy, urban governance, social cohesion, and future research. These community-led initiatives demonstrate how refugee inclusion can be enhanced when local actors are empowered, while also revealing structural reforms needed to sustain and scale their impact. With ongoing displacement driven by conflicts and climate crises, embedding grassroots innovation within formal integration systems is increasingly critical. For practitioners and cities, co-production of services is essential. Municipalities should act as enablers, creating spaces for collaboration among refugee-led organizations, civil society, and social innovators. Ecosystem-based approaches—illustrated by participatory urban labs and community hubs in Amsterdam and Barcelona—facilitate continuous interaction, while repositories of best practices and mentoring programs ensure knowledge transfer beyond project lifecycles. Supporting refugee-led organizations through administrative training, micro-grants, and mentorship programs enhances capacity, local ownership, and sustainability. Grassroots innovations also produce notable social and economic benefits. Social enterprises, cultural initiatives, and cooperative ventures promote integration by positioning refugees as contributors, enhancing livelihoods, fostering social cohesion, and dismantling stereotypes. Initiatives such as intercultural gardens, culinary ventures, and artistic collaborations build trust, strengthen civic participation, and revitalize marginalized urban areas. Supporting refugee entrepreneurship through simplified licensing, inclusive procurement, and microfinance stimulates local economies while enhancing integration outcomes. Research and knowledge production must evolve alongside practice. Participatory and co-produced research that centers refugee voices is essential for capturing lived experiences and informing policy. Comparative, longitudinal, and mixed-method studies are needed to evaluate governance models, measure long-term outcomes, and understand contextual factors shaping grassroots success. Cross-city networks, like Eurocities Integrating Cities and OECD forums, can facilitate learning and replication. Ethically and culturally, grassroots innovations challenge traditional aid paradigms by emphasizing agency, reciprocity, and dignity rather than dependency. They transform public spaces into arenas for intercultural exchange and foster plural urban identities. Funding and policy must respect community autonomy and support inclusive participation. Strategically, embedding grassroots innovation into urban resilience planning strengthens cities’ capacity to respond to complex challenges such as migration, housing, inequality, and climate change. Institutionalizing urban innovation ecosystems that integrate public, private, and civic actors ensures refugee participation in long-term development agendas. EU-wide support mechanisms, aligned with the European Green Deal and SDGs, could stabilize funding, promote scaling, and link refugee integration to broader social and environmental objectives.

10. CONCLUSION

In conclusion, grassroots innovations are fundamentally reshaping the landscape of refugee integration in European urban contexts, demonstrating that effective inclusion relies not only on formal legislation, national policies, or institutional programs but also on the creativity, agency, and resilience of local communities. The growing body of evidence indicates that these community-led initiatives enable adaptive, context-sensitive, and participatory approaches that address the social, cultural, and economic dimensions of integration, often more effectively than top-down strategies alone. As European cities continue to face complex and evolving migration dynamics driven by conflict, displacement, and socio-economic pressures, grassroots innovations provide critical lessons in flexibility, empathy, collaboration, and empowerment. Recognizing, institutionalizing, and sustaining these initiatives through long-term support, inclusive governance, and multi-level coordination is essential for translating localized successes into scalable and enduring integration frameworks. Moreover, systematically documenting and learning from these initiatives can guide policymakers, urban planners, and civil society actors in designing integration systems that are responsive, equitable, and human-centered. By positioning refugees as active contributors and co-creators within urban communities rather than passive recipients of aid, grassroots innovations not only enhance social cohesion, intercultural understanding, and economic participation but also foster more resilient, inclusive, and vibrant cities. Ultimately, this research underscores that the future of refugee integration lies in the intersection of policy, practice, and community-led innovation—where sustainable, humane, and socially cohesive urban futures are co-constructed by both host societies and displaced populations.

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