WIR state program - promotion of integration measures in the field of immigration and migration

Funding under the state program WIR "Diversity and Participation"

The main funding priorities of the state program "WIR - Diversity and Participation" are:

1. funding for WIR diversity centers: In order to further strengthen and expand the partnership between the state and municipalities in integration policy, the existing municipal WIR coordination staff and WIR case management for refugees will be further developed into WIR diversity centers. Since 2022, a WIR employee position and micro-projects have also been funded. The 33 districts, independent districts and special status cities are eligible to apply.
2. promotion of non-profit migrant organizations: Funding for micro-projects as part of the activities of migrant organizations, strengthening the association structure by hiring a mini-job employee and building networks with established municipal players. All non-profit migrant organizations as well as municipalities in cooperation with them are eligible to apply.
3. funding for projects on the culture of welcome and recognition and intercultural openness as well as funding for projects with new innovative approaches. All municipalities, public, church and independent organizations as well as non-profit migrant organizations are eligible to apply.
4. funding for the qualification and deployment of volunteer integration guides: funding for the qualification and deployment of integration guides; now also in relation to work with refugees. All municipalities, public, church and independent organizations as well as non-profit migrant organizations are eligible to apply.
5. support for volunteer lay interpreters: Since 2018, appropriately trained volunteer lay interpreters with basic interpreting skills have been supported by associations and municipalities with lay interpreter pools in Hesse. The aim is to provide language support for people with a refugee background in particular at appointments with authorities or in social institutions.
6. provision of funding for the conceptual development of diversity and integration strategies in Hessian municipalities with a population of 10,000 to 50,000 people.

Darmstadt Regional Council

- Online application
- For associations and organizations: Extract from the register of associations/commercial register, proof of non-profit status, association statutes
- Meaningful informal concept
- For follow-up applications: Interim report (binding form)

Application forms can be downloaded from www.integrationskompass.de or from the homepage of the Darmstadt Regional Council.

- Sponsors must submit a meaningful concept when applying
- The funding must be presented in the online application. The grant recipient must ensure the overall financing of the measure. Any necessary co-financing can be provided.
- As a rule, the grant must be applied for annually.
- Measures that have already begun as well as investment projects and construction measures cannot be funded. The same applies to measures that are part of the regular or mandatory tasks of the grant recipient. Funding of projects from different funding programs of the State of Hesse for the same purpose is not permitted.

Action before the administrative court. There is no legal entitlement to the granting of benefits.

Applications for funding from the state program WIR must be submitted online. The ministry responsible for funding integration programs for people with a migration background decides on the applications. The decision on applications for the deployment of integration guides and lay interpreters is made by the Darmstadt Regional Council. The grants are approved and paid out by the Darmstadt Regional Council.

Usually by December 31 of the previous year. Details can be found in the funding guidelines.

None.

Private individuals cannot submit applications (see answer to the question "Procedure").

Further information on the WIR program and publications can be found at