The Shared Societies Project is a Club of Madrid global initiative that provides leaders with greater understanding of the benefits of social cohesion and the incentives and means to act to advance it. The project supports democratic development through leadership for dialogue, diversity and social cohesion.

The program is designed in the belief that societies are most likely to be peaceful, democratic and prosperous when leaders and citizens recognise the value of diversity and actively build a shared society.

Within the global program regional, thematic and country-specific projects focus on issues central to the questions of dialogue, diversity, and social inclusion and participation. These include democratic values and freedom of association in the Middle East/North Africa; women’s political participation; and religion, political leadership and intercultural dialogue.
 
Through these projects and a series of case-study visits and research, Club of Madrid members, assisted by international experts, will work with leaders to identify existing experiences that have been effective in creating and sustaining social cohesion through dialogue, leadership, and policy and institutional mechanisms. Together, they will design effective leadership strategies for use in situations where securing social cohesion and shared citizenship remains a challenge.

The project will produce a portfolio of practical realistic strategies from which leaders can seek inspiration, analyse alternatives and design, communicate and implement policies and strategies for social cohesion and shared societies in their nations and cities.

[Download the project brochure]

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