At the Civil Society Week 2025, organised by the European Economic and Social Committee, housing took centre stage thanks to the impactful contribution of Maite Arrondo, member of ALDA’s Advisory Board and expert in innovation in housing policies. Representing ALDA’s long-standing commitment to inclusive democracy and local development, Arrondo called for a European approach to housing that is rooted in rights, social cohesion and the empowerment of local authorities.
During her speech, Arrondo highlighted that housing can be seen either as a human right or as a market commodity —depending on whether one views it through a legal or economic lens, and she urged the EU to rethink its policy and funding structures accordingly. With millions of citizens facing unaffordable rents or precarious living conditions, the current housing system is failing to deliver on its most basic function: providing people with homes.
One of her main recommendations was to ensure stronger EU investment in affordable and sustainable housing through the next Multiannual Financial Framework (2028–2034). This includes allocating targeted resources in the Social Climate Fund to support energy-efficient and inclusive housing models. Crucially, she proposed removing housing from speculative markets and linking future investment to long-term affordability, as well as introducing a Real Estate Transparency Register at EU level to combat tax evasion and financial crime in the housing sector.
Arrondo highlighted the need to rebalance the financial and rights dimensions of housing, proposing that indicators on housing affordability and exclusion be integrated into the European Semester process. Monitoring these indicators would help the EU respond more effectively to growing socio-economic inequalities across Member States.
“We must rebalance the financial and rights dimensions of housing to meet the urgent needs of Europe’s most vulnerable citizens.”
In line with ALDA’s vision for inclusive governance, the intervention placed particular emphasis on local authorities as key actors in the delivery of housing solutions. Arrondo called on the EU to channel funds directly to cities and municipalities, accompanied by technical guidance and the exchange of best practices. Housing policies, she argued, should involve cross-sector partnerships among local governments, civil society, small businesses, housing associations, and tenant unions.
To enhance social cohesion, the EU must promote mixed-income and intergenerational housing, placing the needs of vulnerable populations — such as migrants, elderly residents, and low-income households — at the heart of housing strategies. These principles are in line with ALDA’s broader commitment to inclusive local democracy and participatory decision-making.
Arrondo also proposed the creation of a European Collaborative Housing Fund to support community-led and cooperative models. These alternatives — such as Community Land Trusts and housing cooperatives — not only increase housing availability but also promote democratic ownership and strengthen local economies. A recent success story from Spain, where the Council of Europe Development Bank financed over 350 cooperative homes in Catalonia, served as a concrete example of what such a fund could achieve.
Addressing the issue of homelessness, Arrondo advocated for sustained EU support to the EU Platform on Combatting Homelessness (EPOCH) and for the expansion of the Housing First model. She stressed the importance of data-driven monitoring frameworks, referencing the OECD’s recent work on measuring homelessness to develop evidence-based policies and fill data gaps, particularly concerning hidden populations.
By combining rights-based principles with territorial cohesion and local engagement, Maite Arrondo’s recommendations align with ALDA’s belief that inclusive housing is essential for democratic resilience and community well-being.
“Many houses are not serving their primary objective — providing homes for people.” This was the closing reflection of a powerful intervention, and a timely reminder for policymakers. As the EU discusses its Affordable Housing Initiative, ALDA echoes the call for policies that prioritise people over profit — and that give cities and citizens the tools to shape their own housing future.
ALDA’s Governing Board convened for a very important in-person meeting in Belgrade, Serbia, marking a strategic milestone in the organisation’s continued commitment to fostering local democracy, civic engagement, and European integration, particularly in the Western Balkans.
Hosted at Hotel Mona Plaza on 27–28 March, the event brought together members, partners, and institutional representatives to review progress, set priorities, and deepen collaboration on key thematic issues. The meeting opened with a high-level panel titled “BOOSTing Integration: Civil Society as a Driver of EU Accession,” reinforcing ALDA’s role in empowering local stakeholders across the region.
Before the official opening, ALDA’s delegation was welcomed by Pierre Cochard, Ambassador of France to Serbia, who highlighted France’s support for democratic governance and regional cooperation in the Western Balkans. The Ambassador’s participation underlined the importance of strong institutional partnerships in promoting European values at the local level.
A key point of discussion was the confirmation of chairs and co-chairs for the Thematic Hubs, which will guide the organisation’s action throughout 2025. Each hub—ranging from local governance to migration, gender, environment, digital transformation, and youth—will now move forward with coordinated leadership and a sharpened focus. The next step will be an onboarding process for the newly appointed chairs and co-chairs, ensuring shared understanding, coherence, and momentum across all hubs.
The choice of Belgrade as the venue was significant, reflecting ALDA’s long-standing engagement in the Western Balkans and its commitment to supporting democratic processes in the region. In the face of geopolitical instability, including challenges to democratic governance in countries like Georgia, members reflected on how ALDA can continue to adapt and respond with resilience, including through the advocacy work around the Local Democratic Resilience – a strategic paper that outlines key principles and recommendations to strengthen local democracy in times of crisis, and serves as a cornerstone for ALDA’s positioning in complex political environments.
The meeting also addressed updates on the budget, risk management, and the preparation of the General Assembly 2025, while welcoming new members from the Bourgogne Franche-Comté Region and the Dijon Metropolitan Municipality, reinforcing ALDA’s ever-growing network of engaged stakeholders across Europe and beyond.
As ALDA looks ahead, this Governing Board meeting reaffirms its mission to act as a catalyst for democratic innovation—rooted in the local, responsive to global challenges, and driven by collaboration.
Period:
01/01/2025 - 31/12/2026
Countries involved:
Bosnia and Herzegovina European Union France Greece Italy Portugal Spain Western Balkans
Aquatik aims to raise awareness on water heritage and water management in inland areas. European water heritages often exist in the most remote and/or inland areas, leading them to be overlooked and neglected as urbanisation accelerates globally. As a result, inland and remote areas rich in water resources are experiencing depopulation and are indirectly suffering the environmental consequences and climate change exacerbated by urbanisation. In addition to this, oftentimes initiatives aimed at raising awareness and improving water governance focus on resources found in urban areas, without considering the deep interconnection between them and those remote areas and their water ecosystems. The Aquatik-EU project begins where it is recognised that concrete actions aimed at mitigating or improving the management of aquatic heritages stem, first of all, from heightened awareness of the importance of such precious yet often overlooked resources. This awareness must be cultivated among citizens, local communities and, above all, governments and towns, as reflected in the project’s partnership. In order to reach its general objective, the project will work on 3 strands: capacity building, governance, and cultural heritage – e.g. the creation of a network of water museums.
OBJECTIVES
The general objective of the project is to contribute to the development and strengthening of a European awareness and capacity regarding the conservation status of hinterland aquatic ecosystems and their cultural, touristic, environmental and socio-economic relevance.
Specific objectives are:
Capacity-building:
To improve water management, related expertise and tools of a network of European municipalities for preserving local water heritages;
To improve citizens’ and local communities’ sense of responsibility and knowledge on the multifaceted importance of preserving water resources;
Governance:
To improve dialogue opportunities between local authorities, sector-specific stakeholders, civil society and citizens on water preservation and valorisation through participatory mechanisms;
Culture:
To enhance mutual understanding and a sense of shared identity among European citizens in recognising the multifaceted importance of water resources as cultural heritage.
From 17 to 21 March 2025, ALDA took part in the «9ᵉ édition des Rencontres européennes de la participation» (9th Edition of the European Meetings on Participation), an annual flagship event gathering key actors of citizen participation across France and Europe, organised by Décider ensemble.
Created in 2005 on the initiative of the then-Minister for Ecology and Sustainable Development, Serge Lepeltier, Décider ensemble is a think tank committed to promoting a culture of shared decision-making and stakeholder dialogue. Over the past two decades, the organisation has become a major hub for exchange and professional development in the fields of public participation, consultation, and co-creation of policies.
The 2025 edition of the Rencontres européennes de la participation was held in Strasbourg from 17 to 19 March, at the Palais de la Musique et des Congrès, followed by two days of online sessions from 20 to 21 March. The event once again served as a dynamic meeting point for practitioners, policymakers, civil society organisations, and researchers.
On 18 March, ALDA contributed to the panel discussion “Participation citoyenne dans les villes européennes”(Citizen Participation in European Cities), highlighting local experiences from its broad network. The session focused on innovative democratic practices across municipalities, showcasing how cities are empowering citizens to actively co-shape local policies.
The aim was to create a platform for exchange with participants and develop activities that could strengthen participatory democracy practices to address the current challenges facing democracy.
The panel began with an introduction and ALDA’s presentation by Antonella Valmorbida, ALDA Secretary General. She opened the session by providing a brief overview of ALDA’s 30 years of work, which began in the Balkans under the initiative of the Council of Europe. She explained that the organisation now supports 17 Local Democracy Agencies (LDAs), including initiatives in Ukraine and Eastern Partnership countries. ALDA’s network, comprising 300 members, works across seven thematic hubs: Civic Engagement, Migration, Gender, Inclusion and Human Rights, Territorial and Local Development, Digital and Innovation, and Youth Empowerment and Education. Antonella emphasised ALDA’s commitment to strengthening local democracy and promoting cooperation among EU territories to improve participatory democracy practices.
ALDA’s contribution underscored the importance of local democracy and community engagement in the broader European context.
The first part of the panel involved a moderated discussion, led by Antonella Valmorbida, with two speakers from Etterbeek Municipality in the Brussels-Capital region: David Dubois, Head of the Mayor’s Cabinet, and Marie-Charlotte Heldenbergh, Deputy Head of the Mayor’s Cabinet. Additionally, Susana Gomes, Head of the Culture and Citizenship Department at Valongo Municipality, presented the experience of Valongo.
David Dubois and Marie-Charlotte Heldenbergh presented Etterbeek, a city with 50,000 inhabitants, high population density, and significant turnover, with half of the population being renewed every five years. They conduct numerous micro-participations throughout the year, hold consultations, and utilise all the tools and methodologies they can think of. Sociologically, Etterbeek is described as a city of “the richest of the poor” and “the poorest of the rich,” creating a great social mix. They also highlighted socio-economic factors beyond their control, such as rising material costs and limited budgets. One initiative they discussed was a mobilisation project based on private savings, state bonds, or municipal bonds, run through a crowdfunding platform. This project successfully secured 80 investors, raising 1.2 million euros in just 24 hours, with most investors coming from the local community. A public meeting with 200 attendees featured a live counter displaying the donations.
Given the high turnover of the population, Etterbeek has many interns, academic exchange participants, people here for professional reasons, and others who settle long-term. David Dubois and Marie-Charlotte Heldenbergh mentioned that they received 600 responses from foreign nationals applying to join a citizens’ council. This led to the creation of a community for non-Belgian residents, which today has 1,500 members. They also organise workshops on how Belgium works, covering topics such as the municipalities, the police, and the administration.
Susana Gomes from Valongo Municipality presented the experiences of this medium-sized city in Portugal. Valongo, part of the Porto metropolitan area, is a city with many industrial opportunities. The city’s unique challenge is that many residents work in neighbouring cities but live in Valongo, which affects citizen engagement. Valongo’s participatory initiatives are particularly focused on young people, as the city has implemented various tools for working with students and youth. Susana Gomes emphasised the importance of keeping people informed after they give their opinions. Engaging citizens in the process is not enough—ongoing communication and feedback are key to maintaining participation, particularly among youth who often demand quick answers.
The panel continued with an intervention by Giulia Sostero, ASWAT Department Coordinator at ALDA, who presented several key projects during the session. Giulia started with the presentation of ASWAT Department and AUTREMENT project that focuses on sustainable urban mobility and citizen participation in the Tunisian cities of Kairouan and Mahdia. It includes capacity-building for local governments, public space design, and awareness campaigns to engage citizens. The project aims to promote better urban development, soft mobility (especially biking), and enhance the economic and tourist appeal of the cities. Than she presented another project, WYDE – Women and Youth in Democratic Engagement Civic Engagement, funded by the EU, focuses on empowering youth and women for greater democratic engagement at all levels. It includes a network of projects aimed at encouraging youth participation in civic affairs and strengthening youth organisations. The project advocates for more youth inclusion in society and enhances cooperation between youth civil society and public policymakers. Finally she presented WE ACT Project, that aims to increase the political participation of women and LGBTQIA+ individuals in local politics in Turkey. Supported by the EU, it focuses on improving civic rights and participation, particularly ahead of the 2024 local elections. The project also works to foster democratic debate on gender issues and promote gender-inclusive policies across Turkey.
After a round of Q&A on the added value of participatory democracy in the context of current challenges, particularly concerning disinformation campaigns targeting local elected representatives or specific communities, the discussion delved into how city councils are supporting participatory initiatives and the feedback they are receiving from citizens.
The final intervention was by Anna Ditta, Head of the Programmes and Development Department at ALDA, who concluded the session by presenting several European funding programmes that support participatory democracy, including CERV (Citizens, Equality, Rights and Values) , Erasmus+, and Horizon Europe. She specifically highlighted Erasmus+, explaining that it is a funding programme designed to support a range of activities in education, training, youth, and sport, offering opportunities for students and other groups to implement projects abroad, strengthen their skills, and promote international cooperation.
Antonella Valmorbida closed the session by emphasising the need for deeper engagement in democracy, particularly in today’s complex world. She reflected on how, in such a dynamic environment, people live in different social, economic, and cultural contexts, and it is crucial for democracy to be responsive to these diverse needs. She highlighted the important role that citizens play in shaping the future of their communities and societies, reminding everyone that democracy requires ongoing participation from all.
In the afternoon, ALDA Secretary General, Antonella Valmorbida participated in a panel titled “Take Your Seat at the Table: Connecting Different Levels of Citizen Participation” a workshop organised by the European Commission, OECD, European Movement France, and ALDA.
The panel addressed the topic of how to better connect different levels of citizen participation, from local to transnational. Other speakers included Gaëtane Ricard-Nihoul, Deputy Head of Unit, Citizens’ Dialogue at European Commission, Charlotte Denise-Adam, Policy Analyst/Directorate of Public Governance at OECD, Hervé Moritz, President of the European Movement France, and Emilie Gaychet, Local Development Manager of Les Jeunes Européens – France.
During her intervention, Antonella Valmorbida highlighted ALDA’s active work with local and regional authorities, as well as with associations where citizen participation at the local level is central to their efforts. She posed the question of “how” and to what extent ALDA can offer a voice in the context of decentralisation. Antonella emphasised that Europe is not just a single voice; it is all of us together. It is not the voice of one individual but the collective voice of the diverse population that constitutes Europe.
She stressed the importance of raising awareness about the tools for citizen participation and encouraging their use. ALDA, she noted, represents a wider community and has produced documents with 40 recommendations on the issue of citizen participation. Through the Civil Society Europe network, ALDA is currently representing around 100 organisations to advocate for these matters.
Antonella Valmorbida emphasised the importance of initiative and proactivity, highlighting that it is crucial for people to be familiar with the tools available to make their voices heard – whether through events, white papers, local initiatives, or national thematic networks. One of the main challenges, she explained, is understanding the importance of civic life in our own lives. Consulting and actively participating in the life of institutions, Antonella concluded, is essential for strengthening democracy and fostering a more inclusive society.
The second part of the event included two days of online workshops by several organisations. ALDA Balkans’ workshop took place on March 21, 2025, titled “Citizen Engagement: A Key to Lasting Reconciliation in the Western Balkans.”
The online workshop started with Ivana Velkova, Deputy Head of Unit Western Balkans – ALDA Skopje Office, who opened the session by introducing Stanka Parac Damjanovic, ALDA Regional Programme Coordinator, senior trainer with extensive experience in civil society development, active citizenship education, and local governance. Stanka discussed how to assess citizen participation at the local level, emphasising the need to extend participation beyond a small group. The conversation then turned to the role of creative activites as tools for engaging citizens, highlighting their potential to encourage broader involvement.
The discussion continued moderated by Simona Slavkova, Grant Manager at ALDA, with Simona Bishkoska, Communication Officer at ALDA and Viktorija Postolovska, Project Manager at ALDA, who focused on youth activism and its role in promoting reconciliation, fostering a productive debate on the importance of dialogue and youth participation.
Ivana Velkova concluded the session by presenting BOOST project, a programme aimed at strengthening democratic, economic, and social development in the Western Balkans. BOOST supports civil society through capacity building, financial support in key thematic areas, and promotes active citizenship, gender equality, and dialogue with decision-makers. The programme focuses particularly on empowering young people, especially young women, and strengthening their capacity for active participation across all thematic pillars, including youth & entrepreneurship, rural development & environment, and the preservation of cultural heritage. This project, among others, serves as a concrete example of inclusion, empowerment, and sustainable development, demonstrating how targeted support can lead to meaningful change and greater societal participation.
The overall objective of this call for proposals is to provide technical and financial support for joint cooperation initiatives between CSOs and public authorities and civic engagement activities.
The specific objectives of this call for proposal are:
To empower CSOs as key intermediaries to mobilise citizens and ensure their voices are reflected in policy decisions at local and regional levels.
To strengthen consultation mechanisms by supporting CSOs in creating or enhancing platforms that facilitate dialogue between public authorities and communities.
To enhance participatory governance by fostering collaboration between CSOs and authorities to improve policy implementation, inclusion, and responsiveness.
To promote citizen engagement and civic education through participatory budgeting initiatives, policy monitoring and evaluation, and awareness-raising activities that increase transparency, accountability, and informed public participation.
Scope of the support programme
Financial support
Selected organisations will receive financial support in the form of grants managed by the European Association for Local Democracy (ALDA) and People in Need Moldova (PIN). This funding will enable the successful applicants to cover project-related expenses, facilitating the implementation of their activities and achieving the objectives outlined in their proposals.
Technical support
In addition to financial support, selected organisations will benefit from customised, needs-based consultancy services provided by the CONTACT Centre. This will include on-demand assistance in organisational development and other key areas to strengthen their operational capacity.
Furthermore, thematic capacity-building training will be offered to prepare project implementers to engage effectively in democratic processes, promoting active citizen participation, and engaging meaningfully in policy dialogue.
Granting modalities
The grants’ duration will range from 6 to 18 months, depending on its size, scope and objectives. It is set to begin in June 2025 and must be completed no later than November 2026.
The grant recipient will sign a grant contract agreement with ALDA or PIN, as grant intermediaries of European Union funding. Several proposals are expected to be funded under this call, divided under three streams:
Lot 1: Consultation mechanisms at the national, district level or in several municipalities. These grants will support the development and strengthening of consultation platforms (for example, such as District Participatory Councils, Transparency Councils, etc), as well as the work of advocacy coalitions to enhance civic engagement in policy implementation within specific sectoral policies (for example, the implementation of social policies, environmental policies, development plans, etc). The amount available for these grants can be up to EUR 30,000.
Lot 2: Consultation mechanisms for communes and villages. These initiatives should help foster inclusive decision-making at the local level by ensuring that community voices are actively represented in governance processes, aiming at reinforcing existing participatory platforms or at establishing new ones. The amount available for these grants can be up to EUR 16,000.
Lot 3: Grassroots participation initiatives at the commune and village level. These grants enable CSOs to promote active citizen engagement, implement participatory budgeting initiatives, and develop local engagement strategies that integrate communities into governance structures and policy dialogues. The amount available for these grants can be up to EUR 12,000.
Selected organisations will be exempted from VAT from the costs incurred within this grant; therefore, the budget proposal should contain the planned costs excluding VAT.
Eligible activities and priorities of the call
The following types of activities are eligible for funding. The list is neither exhaustive nor cumulative. Additional types of activities may be considered, provided they align with the objectives of this call for proposals. These examples are offered as suggestions to inspire potential applicants and guide their project design.
Civic education and citizens’ engagement in democratic processes
Conducting awareness campaigns to promote democratic governance and support democratic processes in order to increase civic and democratic culture at the local level, focusing on civic and voter education, active participation and inclusion;
Organising training sessions and workshops on civic education, media literacy and community mobilisation and organisation to encourage informed and active participation in democratic processes;
Facilitating citizen forums, debates, town hall meetings, and policy discussions to encourage dialogue with local authorities and involve citizens in the public consultation process and decision-making, especially for groups that are less represented;
Promoting civic responsibility through awareness campaigns and media outreach, including through community events, digital campaign and direct engagement with citizens;
Partnerships for participatory policy-making
Creating or strengthening multi-stakeholder consultation platforms and other participatory mechanisms involving public authorities to develop sustainable partnerships among community actors and to involve them in solving community problems;
Structured consultations between CSOs, local authorities, and community representatives to increase awareness on their role in local policy-making;
Public hearings and roundtables to gather citizen input on local policies and initiatives by organising sessions of policy dialogue through budget hearings, participatory budget-making, and social audits with public authorities;
Mechanisms for feedback collection and response to ensure that authorities act on citizen concerns across the policy and budget cycle (from design to monitoring and evaluation) through joint reflection and coordination meetings with public authorities (central or local) to improve their responsiveness and the quality of citizen involvement in public policymaking;
Transparency and inclusiveness
Participatory initiatives allowing citizens to propose and vote on local spending priorities through the development of tools that enhance the participation of civil society in budget-making processes at the local level;
Citizen monitoring mechanisms for democratic and governance processes and budget allocation through the conduction of social audits, public budget hearings, or public consultations, prioritising budgetary processes that relate to policy priorities such as gender, environment, and climate change;
Community-led development initiatives that reflect the needs of diverse social groups by promoting the needs and rights of the most vulnerable groups towards the public authorities to include specific and targeted provisions responding to their needs.
The cross-cuttingpriorities of this call are to strengthen civil society’s ability to protect democratic spaces by fostering citizen engagement and collaboration with public authorities. Additionally, it aims to promote informed decision-making in response to the growing spread of disinformation concerning public affairs and democratic processes. The key elements outlined below should be considered while preparing the application:
Proposals featuring public awareness initiatives on disinformation risks, digital and media literacy, and electoral integrity will be highly valued, particularly in the early project stages. However, no activities should take place immediately before or on election day.
Proposals that foster structured and sustained cooperation with public institutions (local public authorities, ministries and decentralised agencies or agencies in relevant sectors, etc) while promoting inclusive participation of citizens in decision-making will be considered highly relevant.
Given the importance of cooperation between civil society and public authorities to develop effective and sustainable cooperation initiatives with public authorities, prospective applicants are encouraged to work closely with public authorities and coordinate with them while preparing their proposal.
Complementarity and synergy with ongoing initiatives, advocacy coalitions, networks, platforms and existing permanent consultation mechanisms are strongly encouraged to ensure a coordinated, sustainable, and high-impact approach to strengthening democratic governance.
Promoting gender-responsive, socially inclusive and environment friendly approaches into policy-making is a high priority.
The following types of activities are ineligible for funding: actions that focus primarily on individual sponsorships for participation in workshops, seminars, conferences, or congresses will not be supported. Additionally, activities concerned mainly with individual scholarships for studies or training courses are excluded. Any actions that support political parties and/or individual politicians are also ineligible.. Furthermore, retroactive financing for projects that are already in progress or have been completed will not be considered. Projects that provide exclusive benefits to individuals or restricted groups of individuals will not qualify for funding. Actions within the formal education sector will generally be ineligible, except in special circumstances. Environmentally harmful projects will not receive funding, and the purchase of equipment is only permissible if it is directly linked to the implementation of the project.
A prospective applicant organisation may submit only one application for the entire call for proposals, rather than one per lot. Applications must be submitted by individual organisations, not as part of a consortium. However, collaboration and synergies between project proposals are strongly encouraged. Allocating a small part of the budget for digitization of organizations (e.g. cybersecurity software, subscription to the communication platform, etc.) is encouraged.
Application and selection process
The following provides an overview of the application and selection process from the publication of the guidelines to the start of implementation.
Full application submission
The application period is open immediately and will close on Friday 18 April 2025; 23:59 Chișinău time. The full application package is composed of:
The full application form filled in an editable document (Annex 1)
The Mandate and Statement on exclusion criteria both signed (Annex 2)
The identification / registration certificate of the applicant.
Applications should be sent to inspiredmoldova@gmail.com; Applications must be submitted in Romanian, Russian or English languages.
Evaluation and award procedure
Administrative compliance
All applications will undergo an administrative check that establishes whether the information required by the online application form has been provided. Applications will be assessed through the administrative compliance criteria described below:
The application package is received complete, in line with section 5.2 above.
The organisation must be an NGO registered in Moldova and provide a certificate of registration.
The organisation must be able to sign a grant agreement with PIN or ALDA.
The organisation is not already a beneficiary of a grant within the INSPIRED Moldova project.
The organisation declared not meeting any of the exclusion criteria outlined in the Annex 2 – Mandate & Statement on exclusion criteria.
Technical evaluation
The Evaluation Committee will then assess the administratively compliant applications against the criteria listed below:
Final evaluation & award decision
Based on this evaluation, applicants will receive an official response with the outcome of their application. If selected for funding, a number of additional documents may have to be completed by the applicant as part of the due diligence process. Once all comments have been addressed and additional information and documents have been provided, a grant agreement will be signed between the applicant and People in Need or ALDA.
On Monday, 24 March, ALDA officially inaugurated its new headquarters in Corso Palladio 76, right in the beating heart of Vicenza — a symbolic and strategic move that reflects our growing role both locally and across Europe.
This new space is more than just an office: it is a home for participation, a centre for ideas, and a meeting point between citizens, institutions and Europe.
We were honoured to welcome distinguished guests and representatives from institutions at all levels, whose presence underlined the relevance of this moment:
We were also delighted to share this celebration with ALDA Members, Partners, Staff, and many citizens — all of whom contribute every day to advancing our mission of local democracy, civic participation, and European cooperation.
The ceremony featured the cutting of the ribbon and the European flag unfurling down the building’s façade — a visual reminder of the values that guide us and of Europe’s presence, at the very centre of Vicenza.
This relocation marks a significant milestone. After many fruitful years at Viale Milano, ALDA made the necessary decision to move due to the exponential growth of the organisation in recent years. With an expanding team, new projects, and stronger local engagement, it became clear that we needed a space that could truly reflect this evolution — both functionally and symbolically. It is a commitment. A commitment to being visible, accessible, and present. To working more closely with the local fabric — cultural, social, institutional — while staying true to our European mission.
Thank you to everyone who joined us for this meaningful day. This is only the beginning of a new chapter — one that we are excited to write together.
ALDA hosted a high-level event on 20 March 2025 at the Press Club in Brussels, focusing on the growing democratic momentum in Serbia and its impact on the broader Western Balkans. The gathering brought together policymakers, civil society actors, and international organisations to reflect on the region’s democratic challenges and the importance of civic engagement.
In her remarks, MEP Alessandra Moretti, Vice-Chair of the EU-Serbia Stabilisation and Association Parliamentary Committee, praised the strength of Serbia’s grassroots movements. These decentralised and non-partisan civic initiatives reflect a powerful expression of public discontent and democratic aspiration. At a time of political instability, it is citizens—particularly the youth—who are taking the lead in defending fundamental rights. Moretti called on EU institutions to offer stronger support, especially as far-right forces grow in influence within the European Parliament. The European Union, she stressed, must act decisively to uphold media freedom, the rule of law, and democratic values in the Western Balkans.
Nataša Vučković, President of ALDA and Director of the Center for Democracy Foundation in Serbia, highlighted the increasing mobilisation of young citizens. Driven by frustration with a lack of accountability, these movements are demanding greater transparency and change. Vučković emphasised that this reflects not just protest, but a civic awakening, with citizens actively shaping their country’s future.
Antonella Valmorbida, Secretary General of ALDA, reminded participants of ALDA’s three-decade-long engagement in the Balkans, beginning with the establishment of the first Local Democracy Agency in Subotica in 1993. ALDA’s work in the region is grounded in local democracy, participatory governance, and building trust between citizens and institutions. With a presence in over 44 municipalities, ALDA continues to strengthen partnerships between civil society and local governments, helping address corruption and reform public administration.
“Without a strong, vibrant civic space, European integration risks being delayed or derailed”
The event also featured insights from Vlad Petrea ofExpertise France, who presented several EU-aligned initiatives supporting the region’s development. These include SOCIEUX+, promoting employment rights and social protection; EU4Fast, which combats human trafficking; and Shared Horizons, implemented in partnership with ALDA, which fosters youth engagement and a shared European identity.
ALDA’s own BOOST initiative was also presented, aimed at mitigating brain drain by investing in youth entrepreneurship, cultural heritage, and rural development. Soon, ALDA will launch a regranting programme in Belgrade, further demonstrating its commitment to building local capacity and resilience.
One of the event’s key takeaways was the urgent need for stronger European solidarity with civil society actors in the Western Balkans. Serbia’s EU integration depends not only on political reforms, but on the health and vibrancy of its democratic culture. As Moretti put it, “Without civil society, Serbia will never become an EU member.”
By bringing together voices from institutions, local authorities, and grassroots organisations, ALDA reaffirmed its commitment to a democratic, inclusive, and European future for the Western Balkans. Through initiatives such asShared Horizons andBOOST, and through its growing network ofLocal Democracy Agencies, ALDA continues to create bridges between citizens and institutions, empowering people to shape their own communities.
From 17 to 20 March, the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) in Brussels hosted Civil Society Week 2025, bringing together organisations, policymakers, and engaged citizens to discuss key challenges facing Europe today. As an active member of the Liaison Group of the EESC, ALDA was at the forefront of the discussions, co-organising two high-level panels and engaging in key exchanges on the future of local democracy and citizen participation.
On 17 March, ALDA co-organised the panel“Charting Europe’s Course: Reconnecting Polarised Societies through Community Learning & Citizenship Education”. The discussion highlighted the importance of education, culture, and media literacy in strengthening democracy and fostering civic engagement. Speakers underscored the need for greater recognition of teachers, investment in cultural initiatives that bridge identities, and community-led learning models that empower citizens. Among the panellists was Maite Arrondo, ALDA Advisory Board member, who brought valuable insights on how collaborative approaches and civic education can play a transformative role in reconnecting divided communities. Ensuring that participatory democracy starts locally is key to countering disinformation and political polarisation across Europe.
Two days later, on 19 March, the focus turned to one of Europe’s most pressing social challenges—affordable and sustainable housing. ALDA’s panel“Towards More Affordable, Democratic, and Sustainable Housing in Europe” brought together experts and policymakers to discuss solutions to the growing housing crisis. With rising costs, financialisation, and energy poverty affecting vulnerable communities, the conversation explored the role of cooperative housing models, stronger tenant protections, and regulatory measures in ensuring that housing remains a fundamental right, not just a financial asset. Local authorities, it was noted, play a critical role in bridging economic concerns with human rights priorities, requiring greater support at the European level.
“Strengthening local democracy and citizen participation is essential to countering polarisation, fostering inclusion, and shaping a more resilient Europe”
Beyond the panels, ALDA had a strong presence throughout Civil Society Week 2025, engaging participants at its dedicated stand, sharing its work, and strengthening partnerships with fellow organisations and institutions. The event culminated in a Closing Ceremony on 20 March, where ALDA’s President, Nataša Vučković, took the stage alongside institutional representatives, such as Oliver Röpke, EESC President, and Nicolae Ştefănuță, Vice-President of the European Parliament, to reflect on the key takeaways. In her intervention, Vučković emphasised the critical role of citizen engagement in strengthening democracy, underlining the need to address societal divides between generations and between urban and rural communities. She also spoke about the potential of young people and new technologies in helping to bridge these gaps. As she powerfully stated: “To make your voice heard in the community, first on the local level and then possibly at the national level, citizens can truly realise the importance of various democratic rules.” Her words reinforced ALDA’s commitment to ensuring that local voices are represented in European policymaking and to fostering democratic innovation across all levels of governance.
As Civil Society Week 2025 comes to a close, one message is clear: democracy thrives when citizens, institutions, and civil society work together. ALDA remains committed to supporting local actors, fostering participatory governance, and driving positive change across Europe and beyond.
🔗 Find out more about Civil Society Week 2025: EESC Website
The first conference of the Hatedemics project, entitled “AI Against Hate and Misinformation”, took place on Thursday 13th of March in Brussels. This one-day event brought together all of the project partners as well as leading experts, policymakers, civil society organisations, and technology professionals to discuss hate speech and misinformation as well as to present the project’s first results on the Hatedemics Platform. The platform is a tool suite that will integrate innovative AI tools and materials used for combating intolerance and discrimination online, designing and deploying interactive training and educational paths based on the platform as well as raising awareness on the importance of fake news at the basis of hate speech, and empowering action by engaging young people as activists. To add to the project partner’s speeches, external speakers were invited to bring their expertise during the different discussions, including Ron Salaj (ImpactSkills), Hana Kojakovic (Media Diversity Institute), Lydia El Khouri (Textgain -AI for Good), Stella Meyer (H/Advisors Brussels), Gemma Cortada (Diputaciò Barcelona) and Charlotte Weber (Make.org).
The conference opened with a keynote speech by Ron Salaj on the weaponisation of speech. He demonstrated the importance of free speech which is endangered when monopolised by the wrong persons. Speech belongs to the ones controlling the media and the communication. Therefore, these people own the power and use free speech “as a constellation to dismantle democratic institutions everywhere in the world”.
To provide the audience with context, the speakers tried to give definitions to key concepts related to the project, exposing a problem: there is a lack of consensus on operational definitions of these key concepts. For instance, the definition of hate speech varies with each country’s legislation, and depends on how we evaluate the intention of harm, which evaluation is subjective and strongly related to a context. Still, hate speech can be defined as a mechanism of dehumanisation of the other. In the context of the technological improvement of AI, concerns are emerging about the use of online tools with the wrong intentions: “AI is like a hammer: it can be used to build something valuable or cause significant harm”.
With the rise of generative AI, the risks have grown, raising important questions about who gets to decide what we see online. There is a need to draw a clear line between free speech and illegal speech, and it’s important to consider the entire system. Users must take a more active role and should not be seen merely as victims. Educating users, along with a combination of laws and rules, is essential. This is where the Hatedemics project stands.
The Hatedemics platform is a tool to counter hate speech and misinformation. Designed with the expertise of fact-checkers, NGOs operators for civil society members, the platform’s co-creation process is one of the key aspects discussed in the conference. The first step of the co-creation consisted in analysing and exploring hate speech in social media, more specifically on telegram channels to collect data for the creation of the platform’s algorithm. By co-creating, the Hademics project aims to design something different by understanding the gaps in the field and boosting the user’s value to increase the final uptake and impact. Co-creation enabled the project’s partners to work around 5 languages (Italian, Spanish, English, Polish and Maltese). These first feedbacks came out positive and highlighted the aspects that need to be improved before the release of the Platform.
The first results of the project permitted the definition of key educational goals to help learners address misinformation and hate speech. Indeed, the main objective of the project is to train the platform’s users, mostly students and youngsters, to answer hate speech using counterspeech. Counterspeech, a key concept in the Hatedemics project,is the use of fact-based information to refute hate speech and counter hate. As highlighted during the conference, fact-checking is essential in the fight against hate and misinformation online. That is the reason why a part of the Platform is devoted to the development of a chat box that will generate possible answers based on fact-based arguments to counter hate speech and misinformation.
The last part of the conference was dedicated to panel discussions on key issues related to the project. The first panel discussion focused on the use of AI in combating hate speech and misinformation, explaining that AI can be useful as a tool to handle the hate generated online, as manual intervention alone is not sufficient to deal with the amount of content generated every day even if it has some limitations, such as censorship, hindering freedom of speech, etc.
The second-panel discussion delved into the legal and ethical framework of the use of AI, explaining that since AI imitates human behaviour, it requires special literacy. AI is also becoming increasingly present in our lives, which raises privacy concerns that call for a complete reevaluation of privacy as we know it. Another problem mentioned is the difficulty for legal officers to follow the development of AI. Finally, the third-panel discussion addressed the future of fact-checking on social media, especially in the context of the recent decision from META to get rid of fact-checking. The speakers emphasised how important the role of fact-checkers is in ensuring accurate information and respecting free speech.
These discussions and the overall conference led to a general conclusion on AI and Against Hate and Misinformation: to fight it efficiently, the effort must be made together in every aspect involved.
As a key partner in this initiative, ALDA plays a crucial role in fostering involvement and collaboration with EU Cities and Regions, ensuring that Citizens Engagement is at the forefront of sustainable urban development.
ALDA’s Role in the CCRI Knowledge Hub
ALDA brings its extensive experience in promoting good governance and citizen participation to the CCRI Knowledge Hub. By facilitating dialogues between local authorities and civil society, we ensure that the voices of citizens are integral to the planning and implementation of circular economy strategies. This approach enhances transparency while empowering communities to actively shape their sustainable futures. In this context, ALDA’s mission aligns with the CCRI Knowledge Hub by promoting active citizenship, fostering sustainable development and strengthening local governance.
Through the CCRI Knowledge Hub, ALDA advances these objectives by integrating citizen input into circular economy initiatives, ensuring that sustainability efforts are both community-driven and impactful.
Discover the Selected Cities and Regions
The CCRI Knowledge Hub is actively supporting cities and regions across Europe in their transition to a circular economy. This process began with an open call inviting municipalities to apply for the CCRI Mentoring Programme, which offers expert guidance and tailored support to help local governments integrate circular economy principles into their policies and practices. The call was open to cities and regions at different stages of their circular journey, from those taking their first steps to those seeking to enhance existing initiatives.
After a thorough evaluation, several cities and regions across Europe have been selected for the mentoring programmes, designed to support the adoption of circular economy practices. These include municipalities from Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Denmark, Finland, France, Norway and Ukraine. ALDA actively collaborates with these cities, emphasising the importance of local cooperation to ensure the long-term success of circular economy initiatives.
The selected participants will now engage in a structured mentoring process, starting with a comprehensive assessment of their current policies and strategies. Based on this analysis, they will receive targeted support, including one-on-one mentoring with circular economy experts, customised workshops and access to CCRI resources. The programme focuses on key areas such as public engagement, innovative business models, financial mechanisms and impact assessment, ensuring that each city and region can effectively integrate circular principles into their governance structures.
By working closely with these municipalities, the CCRI Mentoring Programme aims to create lasting impact, supporting cities and regions in building more resilient, resource-efficient communities.
The Importance of Local Participation
Engaging local communities is essential for the success of circular economy projects. ALDA’s collaboration with municipalities facilitates the co-creation of solutions that are tailored to the unique needs of each region. This partnership model fosters a sense of ownership among citizens, contributing to more resilient and adaptable urban environments.
Our involvement in the CCRI Knowledge Hub underscores the vital role of citizen engagement in achieving sustainable and circular urban transformations. By bridging the gap between local authorities and communities, we ensure that the journey towards a greener Europe is inclusive and participatory.
In the coming months, the project will launch a new open call for a second round of the mentoring programme, focusing specific territories. More details will be announced soon—stay tuned by following CCRI and ALDA’s communication channels for updates.
Period:
01/03/2025 - 29/02/2028
Countries involved:
Albania Belgium France Hungary Italy Moldova Poland Spain Switzerland
The project MICAD proposes a robust framework for inclusive metropolitan co-planning policies, centering on climate and digital transitions globally, with a specific focus on Europe. Informed by the consortium’s expertise, the project will highlight key elements of multilevel governance policies focusing on digital and climate transitions, meaning the articulation of local, regional, international and transnational governance of those transitions, while providing readily actionable tools to plan them destined to local and metropolitan authorities both within and outside the consortium. The project’s main output will be the co-design of 5 Roadmaps for digital or climate transitions with a metropolitan inclusive perspective for the different European cities/metropolitan authorities involved in MICAD. Key outputs include: – The co-design of five roadmaps for digital or climate transitions with an inclusive metropolitan perspective in diverse European cities. – A toolkit for local and regional authorities to support planning and governance. – Policy recommendations to amplify the impact of these transitions beyond the consortium. A diverse consortium of experts in urban planning, co-creation, and living lab methodologies collaborate to empower authorities with the skills needed for inclusive planning. MICAD also emphasises international cooperation, leveraging replication partners’ networks to disseminate methodologies globally. The project will contribute to academic discourse through publications and provide insights into effective participatory policy-making strategies, offering adaptable solutions for diverse contexts.
OBJECTIVES
The MICAD project aims to advance inclusive metropolitan planning by integrating digital and climate transitions through a collaborative approach that actively engages diverse stakeholders. By promoting social equity and resilience, MICAD ensures that traditionally underrepresented groups are included in decision-making. The project will co-produce practical tools and strategies, including a toolkit, methodological frameworks and policy recommendations to support local and metropolitan authorities. MICAD will implement digital or climate transition roadmaps in five European cities/metropolitan areas, while promoting knowledge, exchange and capacity building through a transnational network of experts and two online operational hubs. The project also aims to strengthen global collaboration by engaging stakeholders in Europe, Africa and Latin America to promote the replication and scalability of inclusive planning models. Ultimately, MICAD aims to break down governance silos and promote strategic, sustainable and equitable metropolitan development.
On March 13 and 14, 2025, ALDA hosted two online focus groups for the STAR 2.0 project, actively involving Ukrainian youth workers. These insightful sessions, facilitated by Matilde Ferrari, had a total of eight participants (three participants in the first session and five in the second). Participants provided essential feedback and valuable insights aimed at enhancing the upcoming training programme of STAR 2.0, which seeks to promote social inclusion and youth engagement through street art. By empowering youth workers to integrate street art into their practice, STAR 2.0 harnesses its potential for creative involvement and public dialogue, helping youth express themselves and strengthen their communities.
STAR 2.0 Training Programme
The STAR 2.0 training programme consists of ten modules intended to equip youth workers with essential competencies and practical skills to effectively integrate street art into non-formal education. Street art is envisioned as a powerful tool for youth engagement, facilitation and inclusion. Each module aims to develop specific skills, employing various tools that enable youth workers to actively initiate and implement creative projects in their local communities. Participants will engage in online training to learn how to organise street art activities, such as workshops with local artists, mural creation for social expression, video documentation of the creative process, and community events celebrating the art and to build stronger communities.
Key Insights from the Focus Groups
Throughout the focus groups, participants actively contributed to the discussion of each structured module, offering valuable suggestions for enhancing the effectiveness and practicalityof the training content. Insights emerged regarding the necessity of interactive learning tools, comprehensive tutorials and detailed resource materials.
One participant said,
“having a space for exchanging experiences and learning from others is essential”
Specific highlights included the need for practical, hands-on videos, clarity on legal aspects, and effective strategies for collaborating with street artists,
“direct exchanges with artists are invaluable to understand their vision and goals”.
The discussions also revealed significant interest in inclusive and participatory methodologies, emphasising the importance of resources available in Ukrainian, practical toolkits and accessible video explanations. Modules addressing the logistics of street art production, public space management, and sustainable community engagement practices also received positive feedback, with recommendations for clearly structured materials and case-study approaches.
Looking Ahead
The feedback received from these Ukrainian youth workers will significantly help the development of STAR 2.0’s future training modules and activities, ensuring relevance and practicality.
More focus groups will be conducted by other STAR 2.0 partners, further enriching the programme with diverse perspectives and best practices. These collective efforts aim to create a comprehensive and adaptabletraining programme.
To stay updated on STAR 2.0 activities and learn more about our mission, visit the official STAR 2.0 website and follow all the updates onour activities.
MICAD is a three-year project led by METROPOLIS – Association Mondiale Des Grandes Metropoles. It is funded by the Horizon programme through the Horizon – Research and Innovation action.ALDA’s specific role is to use the results and lessons learnt to develop comprehensive advocacy activities aimed at European institutions and national governments of the MICAD authorities participating in the consortium. We are ensuring that the impactful results from the project are shared and can lead to broader systemic changes.
ALDA is one protagonist of the green and digital transitions in metropolitan areas through the MICAD project!
By coordinating communication and exploitation activities and promoting replicability, ALDA is a key partner for extending the success of the green and digital transitions to other metropolitan areas.
A new framework for inclusive green and digital transitions
The MICAD project is set to enhance how metropolitan authorities approach climate and digital transitions, placing inclusivity and multilevel governance at its core. With climate and digital transitions becoming central priorities at the European policy level—through initiatives such as the EU Green Deal and the 100 Climate-Neutral and Smart Cities Mission—metropolitan areas must develop strategies that integrate sustainability with digital transformation. Led by a consortium of experts, MICAD will provide local and metropolitan authorities across Europe and beyond with actionable tools to navigate these critical transitions effectively.
A multilevel governance approach to co-planning
One of the project’s main strengths is its focus on multilevel governance. By integrating local, regional, international, and transnational governance perspectives, MICAD aims to create a robust framework for co-planning policies. These transitions are not isolated but complementary forces shaping the future of governance, requiring transdisciplinary collaboration to align ambitions, fill knowledge gaps, and strengthen cooperation. MICAD ensures that climate and digital transitions are not only effective but also equitable, benefiting all members of society.
Co-designing roadmaps and a toolkit for a more inclusive future
At the heart of MICAD lies the co-design of five Roadmaps for digital and climate transitions, each developed with a metropolitan-inclusive perspective. These Roadmaps will serve as strategic guides for European cities and metropolitan authorities participating in the project, fostering collaboration and best practice sharing. Additionally, the project will co-develop a toolkit aimed at supporting local and metropolitan authorities in designing inclusive policies for climate and digital transitions, ensuring these frameworks can be adapted beyond Europe.
Kick-off meeting in Chișinău, Moldova
From March 12th to March 14th, the MICAD consortium gathered in Chisinau, Moldova, for the project’s official kick-off meeting. This event brought together all partner organisations, laying the foundation for strong collaboration and a shared vision in implementing inclusive metropolitan transitions. The meeting provided an opportunity to align on project goals, discuss methodologies, and set the stage for the development of the Roadmaps and toolkit.
As part of the kick-off meeting, the first General Assembly of the project was held, ensuring that all partners were aligned on governance structures and key priorities. Additionally, an open session took place with the main goal of introducing the project to local key stakeholders, including government officials, civil society representatives and academics, in order to shared visions and concerns, collect insights and recommendations, and to enhance effectiveness and connections with external actors who may benefit from MICAD.
On behalf of ALDA, the kick-off meeting was attended by Rebecca Marconi, Project Manager of MICAD, Elisabetta Pinamonti, Head of the Financial Department, Beatrice Guerra, Financial Officer, and Viorica Tudos, Director of ALDA’s Office in Chisinau.
Building on expertise and collaboration
MICAD is implemented by a diverse consortium of partners, each bringing unique expertise in metropolitan planning, governance, and digital and climate transitions. By fostering multi-stakeholder dialogue and participatory policymaking, the project builds on previous initiatives in the field, ensuring continuity and innovation in the development of inclusive policies.
The consortium includes:
METROPOLIS –Association Mondiale des Grandes Metropoles (FR)
ALDA – Association Européenne pour la Démocratie Locale (FR)
MRI – Metropolitan Research Institute Varoskutatas KFT (HU)
HES-SO – Haute Ecole Spécialisée De Suisse Occidentale (CH)
UTA – Urban Technology Alliance Association (CH)
This strong partnership ensures that MICAD benefits from a transdisciplinary approach, aligning research, policy, and practical implementation to create real impact.
Stay connected and follow MICAD’s progress
By prioritising inclusivity and multilevel governance, MICAD is paving the way for a more sustainable and equitable metropolitan future. The project will not only equip authorities with essential tools but also foster a collaborative approach to climate and digital transitions, ensuring that no one is left behind. As MICAD unfolds, stakeholders and the public are invited to stay informed through ALDA website and the project’s social media channels.
The CIRAN project recently held a significant meeting in Ljubljana, Slovenia, from February 18–20, 2025, bringing together experts, stakeholders, and partners to discuss pressing issues related to mining in protected areas. The event featured insightful sessions, workshops, and a fascinating visit to the UNESCO Global GeoPark Idrija, providing participants with the opportunity to explore the intersection of mining, sustainability, and social contracts.
The event kicked off with a captivating visit to the UNESCO Global GeoPark Idrija, once a thriving mercury mine, which allowed participants to learn about its rich mining history and the challenges of balancing environmental preservation with industrial activity. The park served as a perfect backdrop for the discussions that followed.
On February 19th, the workshop titled “Social Contracts: A Pragmatic Approach to Mining in Protected Areas” brought together around 40 experts from across Europe and beyond.
The workshop focused on the complex relationship between mining activities and protected areas, with participants engaging in dynamic group discussions centered on specific case studies.
This collaborative approach helped to shed light on the evolving role of social contracts in addressing the challenges posed by mining in such sensitive areas.
A key highlight of the day was the avant-premiere of the e-documentary“Not in My Country: Serbia’s Lithium Dilemma,” which explored the controversial issue of lithium mining in Serbia. Following the screening, a thought-provoking roundtable took place, offering further insights into the social and environmental implications of such mining operations.
The final day, February 20th, was dedicated to the CIRAN project meeting itself, where consortium members discussed future steps and strategies for the continued success of the project. The collaboration among the partners was invaluable in setting the tone for the next phases of the initiative.
The CIRAN project meeting in Ljubljana was a resounding success, providing a platform for meaningful conversations about mining, sustainability, and the importance of social contracts in managing protected areas. The event highlighted the importance of collaboration and shared expertise in finding solutions to the challenges faced by the mining industry in sensitive ecological zones. A heartfelt thank you goes out to all the participants for their contributions to these important discussions. Stay tuned for more exciting updates and upcoming events!
On the 12th March 2025, the Foster Europe Foundation hosted a successful online conference focused on resilient communities and future-oriented solutions. With ca. 140 participants from across Europe, the event was organised within the Foster Project and it brought together key experts to discuss critical issues in foresight, participatory governance, and democratic engagement.
The event kicked off with a keynote from Mr. Pierluigi Brombo of the European Economic and Social Committee, who emphasised the role of foresight in shaping policies that can tackle future challenges in local governance. His address highlighted the importance of anticipating changes in political and societal trends to create sustainable solutions. Mr. Brombo stressed that it’s crucial to move beyond traditional political cycles and focus on long-term planning to address environmental and social challenges.
Ms. Katerina Ciampi Stancova from the OECD further explored the role of foresight in policy research. She highlighted the importance of building capacities for future thinking within organisations and governments. According to Ciampi Stancova, adopting foresight tools is not just about predicting the future but also about creating space for innovation in public policy. Her speech emphasised how foresight can be a bridge to more resilient, adaptive societies.
We have heard many interesting case studies in the field of foresight in local governance and citizenship; along with opportunities and challenges and European successful experiences in participatory governance. Ms. Martina Balazova from Comenius University in Bratislava shared valuable insights into the Slovakian experience with participatory budgeting. She discussed how involving citizens in the decision-making process is crucial to ensuring sustainable and responsive governance. Her case study demonstrated that when people are given the platform to voice their opinions, policies are not only more inclusive but also more effective.
Mr. Daniel Klimovský gave an insight is past and present of participatory governance in Slovakia.
Another significant example came from Mr. Lukas Hammer, a Member of the Austrian National Council, who presented the “Climate Council” initiative. Hammer’s case study illustrated how deliberative democracy processes at the federal level can effectively address complex issues like climate change. He shared how Austria’s Climate Council has empowered citizens to contribute directly to policy decisions, fostering a more participatory and transparent political environment.
Mr. George Petrov from Citizens Participation Forum presented the Index of participation to measure quality and quality of participation in Bulgaria.
The event wrapped up with closing remarks by Ms. Tamara Ehs – also ALDA Advisory Board Member – who emphasised the ongoing challenges in participatory governance. Ehs underlined the importance of continued efforts to involve citizens in the policy-making process and to ensure that these practices are adapted to the changing needs of society.
We would like to thank all speakers for their meaningful contributions. The high level of engagement throughout the event confirmed the relevance and urgency of the topics discussed. We look forward to continuing these important conversations in the upcoming online conference scheduled for June, focused on civic engagement.
On 10 March 2025, the first edition of the Labour Market Course in Italy for migrants and refugees was launched in Rome, with the participation of 15 beneficiaries. This initiative is part of the AMIL – Alliance Multi-Stakeholders for Migrants Integration and Labour project, designed to enhance participants’ understanding of the Italian labour market and empower them to navigate it effectively. The course, structured into eight sessions combining separate group activities and plenary meetings, will conclude on 1 April 2025, with future editions welcoming new participants.
The training programme provides insights into the procedures, processes, and dynamics of labour market organisation in Italy. Employing proactive and interactive methodologies, it helps candidates explore their professional potential, aligning their skills and aspirations with market opportunities.
The course adopts a transcultural biographical approach, incorporating brainstorming, pair work, small group activities, plenary debates, role-playing, and other narrative techniques to foster engagement and learning.
Building on the initial orientation and employability workshops offered by the AMIL project, participants will further strengthen their skills through additional training. This includes two morning sessions per week over a month, focusing on essential topics such as workplace safety, workers’ rights and responsibilities, employment contracts, business organisation, and active policies supporting Third-Country Nationals.
A key component of this initiative is its complementarity with the System Action of the Ministry of Labour, particularly the PUOI Plus programme, which aims to promote the socio-economic integration of vulnerable migrants from Third Countries. By aligning with national efforts to support the employment of low-skilled workers, the programme enhances job placement opportunities while ensuring fair and stable employment conditions.
Led by CIES and Speha Fresia, as Lead Partner and Project Partner respectively, the AMIL project aims to create effective matches between candidates’ skills and employer needs. By fostering multi-stakeholder collaboration, it generates tangible benefits for both participants and the broader community.
The comprehensive training covers crucial aspects of the Italian labour market, its governance, workplace safety regulations, national employment contracts, and regional job placement opportunities, including:
Introduction and group formation
Workplace safety: general principles
Work organisation
Job placement: general framework
Labor market and its functioning
Testimonies from workers in different sectors
Testimonies from employers in different sectors
Guidance for specialised sectoral training
AMIL promotes a sustainable integration model, extending and strengthening the MEIC (Migrants Economic Integration Cluster) methodology. This innovative approach ensures that migrants play an active role in their integration journey through tailored orientation and training programmes, ultimately supporting their long-term professional and social inclusion in Italy.
The WYDE Civic Engagement project is a key component of the Youth and Women in Democracy Initiative (WYDE), launched by the European Commission to strengthen youth participation in democratic processes at national, regional, and global levels.
Structured around three core pillars, the project drives meaningful change by:
🔹 Advocacy and Research – Supporting youth-led research to shape global discussions on democratic participation. 🔹 Capacity Building – Empowering civil society and young leaders through five dedicated clusters that foster youth-led initiatives worldwide. 🔹 Quick Impact Actions – Providing targeted, country-level support to address urgent challenges in youth political inclusion and engagement.
By amplifying youth voices, promoting international cooperation, and bridging the gaps in research on youth political participation, WYDE Civic Engagement is paving the way for a more inclusive and representative democracy.
Following a rigorous evaluation process, the partners of the first cluster are proud to announce the NGOs that have been chosen after the third Call for Proposal. These organisations stood out for their innovative approaches, strong commitment, and the potential to make a significant impact on civic engagement in their communities:
LOT 1
« Citizens Voice Lab : Innovation numérique au service de l’inclusion des jeunes et des femmes dans la démocratie participative en République Démocratique du Congo » by JAMAA Grands Lacs – Democratic Republic of Congo
« Valoriser les initiatives des jeunes pour l’engagement civique et la gouvernance locale dans la Commune de Yaoundé IV « Héritage Citoyen » by HUMANEES – Cameroun
« OUR SPACE PROJECT2 » by Hope for life Uganda – Uganda
« Voices United: Bridging Rural CSOs for Inclusive Growth in Kajiado County of Kenya » by The Youth Cafe – Kenya
« YouthElect Fellowship Programme » by Ilead Africa (CLOSE THE GAP INITIATIVE) – Nigeria
«Strengthening Participation, Accountability And Transparency in States (SPATS), Ondo State, Nigeria by PROMAD Infotech Foundation» – Nigeria
« Projet de Renforcement de la Gouvernance Inclusive et Participative au Togo 2 (PReGIPT 2) by Clinique d’Expertise Juridique et Sociale (CEJUS)– Togo
« Strengthening her aspirations for Political engagement – shape » by Ark and rainbow development Foundation – Nigeria
« Projet d’Appui à l’engagement civique des Jeunes femmes et leur participation aux processus décisionnels dans la Commune Urbaine de Kindia en Guinée» by ONG Ouvrir Les Horizons – Guinee
« Local Accountability Watch (LAW Drivers)» by Connected Youth for Accountability, Peace and Development Initiative (YAPD4Africa) – Nigeria
What’s Next?
These organisations will now embark on capacity-building and coaching sessions, guided by the WYDE Civic Engagement framework. These sessions will equip them with the necessary tools to refine their strategies and implement their projects effectively.
Over the coming months, their initiatives will contribute to strengthening democracy and amplifying the voices of youth and women. The WYDE Civic Engagement project team will be closely following their progress, sharing insights into their impact and achievements.
Stay tuned for more updates on their journey toward a more inclusive and participatory democratic landscape!
L’Agence de Démocratie Locale (ADL) Tunisie a franchi une étape significative dans la modernisation de l’administration locale en inaugurant des espaces citoyens à Djerba Houmet Essouk (gouvernorat de Médenine), Remada (gouvernorat de Tataouine) et, prochainement, à Chebika (gouvernorat de Kairouan).
Ces initiatives, ancrées dans le projet « Villes inclusives – Services de proximité et emplois décents pour tous », marquent un tournant dans la relation entre les citoyens et leurs communes. Conçus pour être accessibles et inclusifs, ces nouveaux espaces offrent un accès simplifié aux services municipaux grâce à la numérisation et à la modernisation des démarches.
Ils garantissent :
une transparence accrue en permettant aux citoyens de suivre leurs demandes en temps réel ;
une accessibilité pour tous grâce à des infrastructures modernes et adaptées ;
une efficacité optimale grâce à un traitement rapide et fluide des demandes.
Ce projet ambitieux est le fruit d’une collaboration fructueuse entre l’ADL Tunisie et l’Union Nationale de la Femme Tunisienne, avec le soutien financier de l’Agence de Développement Suisse à travers Cities Alliance. Il s’inscrit également dans le cadre du projet « Renforcement de la Gouvernance Locale et Modernisation des Services Locaux » (REMO), soutenu par le ministère fédéral allemand de la Coopération économique et du Développement (BMZ) et mis en œuvre par la GIZ, en partenariat avec le ministère de l’Intérieur tunisien.
En phase avec l’Agenda 2030, l’ADL Tunisie considère la transition numérique comme un levier essentiel du développement local et de l’inclusion. Ces espaces citoyens contribuent à réduire la fracture numérique et à positionner les municipalités comme des acteurs clés de la société de l’information.
L’inauguration de ces espaces citoyens marque le début d’une nouvelle ère pour l’administration locale en Tunisie. L’ADL Tunisie et ses partenaires poursuivent leurs efforts pour étendre cette initiative à d’autres communes afin de bâtir une administration plus proche, plus efficace et plus inclusive, au service de tous les citoyens.
🇬🇧
LDA Tunisia deploys citizen spaces to strengthen local services
The Local Democracy Agency (LDA) Tunisia has made a significant step in modernising local administration by inaugurating citizen spaces in Djerba Houmet Essouk (Medenine governorate), Remada (Tataouine governorate), and soon in Chebika (Kairouan governorate).
These initiatives, rooted in the project “Inclusive Cities – Local Services and Decent Jobs for All”, mark a turning point in the relationship between citizens and their municipalities. Designed to be accessible and inclusive, these new spaces provide simplified access to municipal services through digitalisation and the modernisation of procedures.
They ensure:
Increased transparency by allowing citizens to track their requests in real time.
Accessibility for all through modern and adapted infrastructure.
Optimal efficiency through quick and smooth processing of requests.
This ambitious project is the result of a fruitful collaboration between LDA Tunisia and the National Union of Tunisian Women, with financial support from the Swiss Development Agency through Cities Alliance. It is also part of the “Strengthening Local Governance and Modernisation of Local Services” (REMO) project, supported by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and implemented by GIZ, in partnership with the Tunisian Ministry of the Interior.
In line with the 2030 Agenda, LDA Tunisia views the digital transition as a key driver of local development and inclusion. These citizen spaces contribute to reducing the digital divide and positioning municipalities as key players in the information society.
The inauguration of these citizen spaces marks the beginning of a new era for local administration in Tunisia. LDA Tunisia and its partners are continuing their efforts to extend this initiative to other municipalities in order to build a closer, more efficient, and more inclusive administration, serving all citizens.
