The works of Imereti Regional Hub are run by Local Democracy Agency Georgia (LDA Georgia) within the framework of the European Union (EU) and Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung (KAS) funded project “Civil Society STAR initiative: CSOs as Sustainable, Transparent, Accountable and Resilient Development Actors in Georgia” (2021-2025). The project aims to strengthen civil society as an independent, sustainable, transparent, and accountable development actor across Georgia; while the Hub is targeted to support the sharing of information, experience and opportunities.

Specifically, it spreads information about the project activities in the region, communicates with the local actors via consultation, networking, advocacy and monitoring, strengthens local CSOs, CBOs, civil activists and increases public awareness on their role and works.

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The aim of the Imereti Regional Hub is to support the sharing of information, experience and opportunities

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Beyond supporting main activities under the “Civil Society STAR Initiative “, the Hub implements following activities:

• LDA Georgia conducts trainings for CSOs / CBOs from Imereti region on the following topics: advocacy; fundraising; project writing; financial management of projects.
• In the framework of the project will be held study visits of CSO’s / CBO’s representatives of Imereti region to successful civil society organizations in the regions of Western Georgia.
• CSO’s and CBO’s representatives can get consultation on management issues of the organization in order to strengthen them, the information about the grant competitions announced in Imereti region.
• The SMS platfrom was created to proactively provide information to CSO and CBO representatives in the region about various activities.
• During the project formed several youth clubs to change the attitudes of young people / students towards civil society and community- based organizations; Each course of seminars continues for three months.
• The public consultations will be provided at the regional level to discuss important issues at the regional level with the involvement of relevant actors.
• The Meetings are held with the persons responsible for relations with the non-governmental organizations of the municipalities. The aim of the activity is to promote the role of civil society in public policy.
• Imereti regional hub offers hotline service any interested persons who will be able to receive information remotely on a legal issue of interest to them/not only;
• Newly established CSO and CBO organizations will be selected to support their development with whom the organization will work on refining its structure, developing internal management documents.
• Regional Civil Society Forums will be held to increase the accountability of civil society and improve public attitudes. Connect with potential sponsors and funding seekers.
• Imereti regional hub supports to strengthen youth club in Baghdati municipality. During the project will be created a model of mayor’s order, model of provision, will be held trainings and youth conferences, will be funded youth initiatives.

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The project “Civil Society STAR initiative: CSOs as Sustainable, Transparent, Accountable and Resilient Development Actors in Georgia” (2021-2025).  is implemented by the Consortium led by the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung (KAS) and composed of the following CSOs: Center for Strategic Research and Development of Georgia (CSRDG), Civil Society Institute (CSI), Center for Training and Consultancy (CTC), Education Development and Employment Center (EDEC), and Institute for European Politics (IEP).

For several years now, ALDA has been one of the beneficiaries of the operating grant of the “Europe for Citizens” programme of the EACEA – Education, Audiovisual and Culture Executive Agency of the European Union.

Thus, we are thrilled to announce that, again this year, ALDA has been confirmed beneficiary of the operating grant of the Citizens, Equality, Rights and Values Programme (CERV) of the European Union!

The CERV stems from the fusion of the previous programmes “Europe for Citizens” and “Rights, Equality and Citizens Programme”, and aims to protect and promote rights and values as layed down in the EU Treaties and the Charter of Fundamental Rights in particular by supporting civil society organisations active at local, regional, national and transnational level.

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This grant proves the effectiveness of ALDA’s actions for the promotion of democracy and citizens participation in Europe and beyond

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More specifically, the operating grant just awarded is dedicated to networks, organisations or think tanks contributing to the implementation of programme objectives, including training and capacity building activities, conferences, mutual learning, cooperation, awareness-raising, communication and dissemination activities.

The whole ALDA is honoured to be again among the few beneficiaries, proving the effectiveness of ALDA’s actions for the promotion of democracy and citizens participation in Europe.

A great opportunity and an important responsibility: ALDA is ready to act more than ever as a driver of participation, democracy and European values, giving a strong input towards the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals and the Agenda 2030.

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ALDA – The European Association for Local Democracy, is proud to be recognised by the European Commission as one of the 59 most active organisations that work to protect and promote Union values.

Indeed, ALDA has been recognised in the Framework Partnership Agreement of the Citizens, Equality, Rights and Values Programme (CERV) of the European Union for the period 2022-2025.

Such framework partnership is of great importance for ALDA, being both a confirmation of the effectiveness of ALDA’s work in supporting good governance and citizen participation in Europe; as well as evidence of the confidence that the European Commission has in ALDA as a strategic partner in the implementation of the new EU priorities for the next 4 years.

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ALDA is proud to be recognised by the European Commission as one of the 59 most active organisations that work to protect and promote Union values

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More in depth, the agreement consists in a long-term cooperation between the Commission and the selected partners with the aim to contribute to the objectives of the Union policy in the following areas:

• promoting and protecting Union values;
• promoting equality, preventing and combating discrimination;
• promoting gender equality;
• combating racism, xenophobia and all forms of intolerance;
• protecting and promoting the rights of the child;
• promoting European remembrance;
• promoting citizen engagement;
• preventing and combating gender-based violence;
• preventing and combating violence against children.

Visit the dedicated web page of the European Commission to learn more and click HERE to have a glance of ALDA’s main activities for the 4-year period, titled “Local democracy: shaping the future together”

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Members and ALDA: together for a brilliant new year!

Despite the big challenge the whole world is still facing, 2021 marked a great year for ALDA: spreading democracy, supporting local initiatives are at the heart of the Association’s activities. Yet, much of this has turned into real thanks to, and in collaboration with, members and friends of ALDA.

Hence, listening to members’ ideas and proposals is a daily commitment: through interactions the best projects have been made possible! Therefore, ALDA is very much committed to engage and animate its network, offering several concrete opportunities

Yet, what does “being a member mean”? As many of you already know, by joining ALDA and become an ALDA Member, you will enter an international network offering several benefits, such as:

• Networking, partnership opportunities and facilitation;
• Capacity-building activities;
• Free webinars and workshops specifically designed for the members;
• Assistance in finding funding opportunities.

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Listening to members’ ideas and proposals is a daily commitment: through interactions the best projects have been made possible!

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Yet, this is not everything. Believing in its network is a concrete exercise for ALDA: thus, the association re-invests in its members the majority of its total budget. As shown on the picture  on the right, the 55% of its resources are allocated to Local Authorities, Civil Society Organizations, and Local Democracy Agencies. In other words: to ALDA’s network!

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Last but not least… 2022 already brings something new! ALDA has launched a new communication initiative called “Shades of democracy” – the new ALDA Podcast. Each episode, monthly broadcasted, tackled several topics related to democracy, from crowdfunding, to ELoGE, from culture to youth! 

Listen to it on the main platforms, and contact us at alda@alda-europe.eu if you want to know more!

Hope to see you online soon! Great to have you as #ALDAMember

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Shades of Democracy on:

• Spotify
• Google Podcast
• Spreaker
• Deezer

This newly started 2022 has also marked the inauguration of a new Presidency of the Council of the European Union.

Following Slovenia, from the 1^st of January 2022, France has taken over the Presidency for the next six months, until June 30^th, 2022.

In light of the delicate and peculiar situation the Union and the whole World are going through, the French Presidency will focus its mandate according to citizens’ expectations and needs, trying to bring the needed changes in a concrete way, as stated in the latest news.

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2022 starts with the beginning of the French Presidency of the Council of the European Union

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From a general perspective the trio programma, that means the overall mission of French, Czech and Swedish Presidencies, up until the beginning of 2023 will focus on:

• Protecting citizens and freedoms; based on European values;
• Promoting a new growth and investment model for Europe, inspired by sustainable green growth;
• Building a greener and more socially equitable Europe, with special regard to health and
• A global Europe that promotes multilateralism and renewed international partnerships

Specifically on the French Presidency, its main priorities around three emblematic areas: climate, digital and social. At the same time, it will work to lay the basis for important changed and achievements linked to the economic sphere, youth, health and culture.

ALDA welcomes with enthusiasm the new French Presidency and encourages it to keep the active participation of citizens in the European governance high in the political agenda, thus giving the needed impetus to the closing phase of the Conference on the Future of Europe!

Check the Presidency website

Winter Greeting and Happy New Year from ALDA President, Mr. Oriano Otočan, ALDA Secretary General Mrs Valmorbida and all the ALDA team!
As every December, it is time to stop for a second and look back at what has been done during the last 12 months. A year full of initiatives, meetings and events that give great energy for the upcoming 2022.

« Dear Members, Partners and Friends of ALDA, behalf of the whole team of ALDA, its Governing Board and all the LDAs, let me wish you all the best Winter Holidays that 2021 can offer to all of us! » – stated our President Mr Oriano Otočan  at the beginning to its letter.

« The year about to end has been a unique one – continued Mr. Otočan –  with the COVID-19 pandemic crisis still challenging deeply the implementation of our activities and everyday work all around Europe and beyond. Many of you have faced difficulties in the management of the crisis, from the economic to the social and cultural point of view. It is the reason why our support towards local communities has been more important than ever.

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This year more than ever, our goal has been to connect our network of local communities and actors from Europe and beyond, deeply convinced that only together, by sharing ideas and by working together, we will overcome the complex challenges of our time. In this regard, we also launched a series of new opportunities for our members, among which the working groups, giving the opportunity to share, cooperate and shape together the future of our Association and of Europe as well.

Despite difficulties in the phase out this global pandemic, that deeply affected the life of all of us, we are ready to do our part to protect the more vulnerable ones and to approach ourselves to 2022 with renewed energy to finally come back to a new-form of “normality”, enriched by all the thoughts and challenges we all together faced in the past 2 years.

I wish also to use this opportunity to remember our dear friends and colleagues Sasa Marinkov, delegate of the Local Democracy Agency Central-Southern Serbia, and Victor Cotruta, Eastern Partnership Project Coordinator, that left us this year. Friends that we would truly remember and adore till the end of days.

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« Let me wish you all the best Winter Holidays that 2021 can offer to all of us! » – Mr Otočan – ALDA President

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As said, the year(s) behind us were not easy. Yet, besides challenges, they were also full of opportunities to prove the importance of mutual support that only the global community, composed by the local communities all over the globe, can provide. That is the core of ALDA, the core value of all of us: local communities working for a global sustainable change, towards a better future for all the human beings and for our planet as well!

Last but not least, – concluded Mr. Otočan –  I wish everyone all the best!  I wish you a better, calmer, safer and happier 2022! »

Similarly, Mrs. Antonella Valmorbida, ALDA Secretary General wished to the network and friends of the association warm winter greetings and happy New Year, and willing to see each other soon in 2022.

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Play the video and listen Mrs. Valmorbida’s winter greetings in Italian, French or Russian

After the first steps of the programme in Croatia and North Macedonia, ALDA was awarded with the accreditation to implement the European Label of Governance Excellence (ELoGE) in Kosovo*.

In the next 2 years, ALDA will implement the ELoGE assessment of around 15-20 municipalities in Kosovo* and work with them to be able to understand and apply good democratic practices. They will also facilitate and monitor the process of the implementation of the 12 principles of good democratic governance as outlined by ELoGE and spread awareness among authority figures.

This project will last for a 2-year period, starting the activities in January 2022 and ending-up in November 2023.

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From January 2022, ALDA will contribute delivering better local governance for citizens of Kosovo*

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Previously, ALDA received the accreditation to be able to implement ELoGE in Croatia and North Macedonia, which was a precursor for the work in Kosovo* and another step in the greater ambition for the Western Balkans. Along with that, recently on September 28th, the Secretary General of ALDA, Antonella Valmorbida, visited Kosovo* in order to create a proposal for the support of local governance, encourage and facilitate capacity building, and grow regional cooperation in the Country and the rest of the Balkans. Important factors are the promotion of good management of EU funds and the promotion of EU programmes.

Strong of this further accreditation, ALDA is excited and committed to supporting local government and EU integration ambitions in Kosovo*.  Through the implementation of the principles of the ELoGE programme, ALDA will contribute to deliver better local governance for citizens.

Why the ELoGE? The ELoGE evaluation allows local authorities to understand their strengths and their weaknesses when providing public services to the local community and exercising public authority. To improve the quality of local governance, local authorities can use various tools developed by the Centre of Expertise and take inspiration from their colleagues’ best practices.

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