UNAOC, BMW Honor 10 Grassroots Groups in Milan
Ten grassroots organizations from across the globe receive recognition and funding through the Intercultural Innovation Hub 2026.
Updated on Nov. 3, 2026 in Cultural
The United Nations Alliance of Civilizations and the BMW Group honored 10 grassroots organizations as recipients of the Intercultural Innovation Hub 2026 at a ceremony in Milan, Italy. The recipients will receive funding along with a 12-month capacity-building and mentoring programme.
Why it matters
The Intercultural Innovation Hub marked 15 years of recognizing grassroots initiatives, and more than 100 projects have been brought into the global spotlight through the programme. The selected organizations span Chile, Colombia, Ghana, Greece, Kyrgyzstan, Nigeria, Pakistan, Romania, South Africa and Spain.
The programme has run for 15 years and has spotlighted more than 100 projects, with the current cohort of 10 recipients drawn from ten countries. The recipients receive a 12-month capacity-building and mentoring programme, though the funding amounts were not disclosed.
The players
United Nations Alliance of Civilizations
A flagship United Nations initiative that promotes dialogue and understanding between cultures and societies, and which runs the Intercultural Innovation Hub.
BMW Group
A German multinational automotive and motorcycle manufacturer that co-develops the Intercultural Innovation Hub in partnership with the UN initiative.
Accenture
A global professional services company that supports the implementation of the Intercultural Innovation Hub.
The details
The honors were presented at the House of BMW in Milan, Italy, where the recipients were recognized for their grassroots work. The Intercultural Innovation Hub is a flagship programme of the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations, developed with the BMW Group and implemented with the support of Accenture.
Timeline
2026: Intercultural Innovation Hub 2026 recipients honored in Milan.
Over a 12-month period: recipients take part in the capacity-building and mentoring programme.
Cultural Context
This year's honorees extend the Intercultural Innovation Hub's 15-year record of recognizing grassroots initiatives, a track record that now includes more than 100 spotlighted projects. The annual cohort continues the programme's model of pairing recognition with a 12-month mentoring period.
The recognized projects gain added visibility and resources that can expand their programming to new communities. Readers interested in these initiatives can follow the work of the honored organizations as they carry out the 12-month programme.
The takeaway
Grassroots intercultural work often depends on sustained support beyond a single award, which is why the combination of funding and a 12-month mentoring period matters. Readers can watch how these ten initiatives develop over the coming year.
Further reading
Explore more cultural stories to see how grassroots projects are shaping intercultural exchange.
