The importance of implementing the project “European Label for Governance Excellence (ELoGE)” both in North Macedonia and in Kosovo* has been further testified by the meeting among the Minister of Local Self Government of North Macedonia, Mr. Risto Pernov; the Minister of the Ministry of Local Government Administration, Mr. Elbert Krasniqi and ALDA President Oriano Otočan; ALDA Governing Board Member Emir Coric together with ALDA Secretary General Antonella Valmorbida.
Hence, on the second half of November 2022, the ALDA delegation gathered in Skopje – the capital city of North Macedonia – to capitalised on the successful commitment of the Association in implementing the ELoGE mechanism. From a general perspective, the latter is intended to support local self-government units to improve their standards and provide high-quality services within local self-government.
More in details, concerning North Macedonia, the local government units conducted self-assessment surveys among citizens, employees and councillors, while collecting documentation that allows to check whether the self-assessment is justified. Starting back in April 2021 with the preparation phase, the project then saw several phases, one of which was the workshop organised in March 2022 to illustrate and discuss on the ELoGE project. Similarly, on 19 May 2022 in Pristina, representatives from 11 Municipalities attended a dedicated training focusing on the implementation and further understanding of the mechanism. Furthermore, as also exchanged during the meeting with the Minister, Mr. Pernov, there is a fertile and common ground to further deepen the collaboration and partnership; while encouraging the participation of citizens to the community life; and strengthening the Self Government policy. Both the ALDA office in Skopje as well as the Board are very much grateful for this meeting, and reiterate the will to implement ELoGE project in North Macedonia and Kosovo*, while enabling communities. Read the news in Armenian Read the news in Georgian Read the news in Romanian Read the news in Ukrainian
The project and all partners involved represent an unbiased platform for exchanging, reflecting, debating, and acting for the future of Europe. The project’s structure followed the metaphor of a BET: the partners of the project “BET on EU” were requested to play the role of betters for the future of the EU, to build valuable tools and strategies to multiply the engagement of European and Balkan local authorities in the EU enlargement process.
OBJECTIVES
The main objective was to bring together the partners into discussing and make “BETS” about the future and possibilities of the EU and its partner countries.
Its major output? A “game book” was drafted, where the results of these discussions and “BETS” are highlighted. The game book represents a valuable tool to engage the EU and the Balkans in new strategies that involved local authorities in the EU enlargement process.
The purpose of the project “The sound that brings us together” was to meet youngsters’ expectations of making their own instruments and playing music together by using their creations, while learning the musical traditions of each country. During the week-long exchange, youngsters made simple instruments using cardboard, paper, elastic, rope, wood, etc.
The creative workshops were dedicated to music creation, discovery and practice of traditional music of the countries involved, as well as the use of digital technologies in music. Youngsters finally set a stage for a theatre performance in a friendly atmosphere. The participants were coming from Belgium, Reunion Island-France, North Macedonia and Serbia.
OBJECTIVES
The project’s mail goals were:
Bringing together 4 cultures by making music;
Making instruments from recyclable materials;
Learning about the traditional music and dances of the 4 countries;
Enhancing the crafting skills of the participants;
Learning about the cultural heritage of North Macedonia.
The project “Volunteers for European remembrance” consists of hosting two European Voluntary Service (EVS) volunteers for a period of 12 months in ALDA Skopje office. In line with important historical commemorations in 2014, the idea for this project responds to the need to contribute in the promotion of peace and European citizenship. Bringing peace is the most valuable effect of EU and this should be maintained by encouraging tolerance, intercultural understanding and objective remembrance through mobility and youth development.
OBJECTIVES
The two volunteers worked with Macedonian youngsters and other partners on these topics. This project objective was also to contribute for the professional and personal development of these volunteers: integration in international team, development of professional skills, improvement of language competences etc. This not only contributes to their possibility for employment but also contributes to the creation of responsible and engaged young European citizens. More, this project resulted with different tools for dissemination and promotion: videos, photos, articles and interviews on the topic of remembrance and EU citizenship as well as promotional materials used for Erasmus plus programme.
ACTIVITIES
The project worked on the topic of remembrance and EU citizenship through:
Leading youth projects and workshops on the topic of remembrance and peace with help of new technologies and communication tools (video, photo, interview);
Promoting EU citizenship and exchanges to youngsters, civil society organisations and local authorities in Macedonia;
Promoting intercultural understanding through presentations of other culture and language for Macedonian youngsters.
The last meeting of the Governing Board of ALDA for this 2022 took place in Wroclaw (Poland). Oriano Otočan – ALDA President – together with the other delegates reached the Polish city, on Thursday 24 November 2022.
Welcomed by the opening speeches of Mr. Jacek Sutryk – Mayor of Wroclaw – Mr. Bartek Ostrowski – Vice President of ALDA and Representative of the Mercury Foundation (Poland)- and Mr. Otočan, the Board dedicated the first part of the meeting to the structural aspects of the Association – be they the implementation of the 2020-2024 strategy; and the activities foreseen for the upcoming 2023.
In Wroclaw, to support the LDAs in Ukraine and develop a flagship initiative on models of migrants inclusion
In addition, great visibility has been given to the “proposal for a flagship initiative on models of migrants inclusion in our cities and territories” as well explained by the GB Member Mr. Andrea Rilievo.
As well mentioned at the very beginning, the Board gathered in Poland also in light of the current situation in Ukraine, which was the focus of the second part of the meeting. Hence, the GB Members discussed together how to further strengthen and empower the Local Democracy Agencies in Ukraine, so that to provide additional support not only to the colleagues working there, but of course to the population and the citizens living there.
Last but not least, the meeting ended with the analysis and discussion of the Gender and Equality document, upon which ALDA is also working.
Overall, this Governing Board meeting was a successful one, opening for a positive and more engaged 2023!
PATHS – Youth for Solidarity Economy and Entrepreneurship in Europe, was designed to promote cooperation and innovation in young social entrepreneurship. The project brought together various organizations that work in the field of education, training, and youth. The whole project was conceived to discuss effective methodologies to promote youth entrepreneurship by integrating the model of solidarity economy into educational materials for youngsters and youth workers.
OBJECTIVES
The project aimed to integrate the model of solidarity economy into educational materials for youngsters.
More specifically, PATHS pursues the following goals:
Promoting cooperation and networking among participating organisations and develop activities maintained over time (integrated promotion of youth entrepreneurship) based on ongoing collaboration between European organisations (strategic alliance).
Strengthening capacity of organisations working on the promotion of youth entrepreneurship through resources, materials and tools that will improve the quality of its activities and results.
Promoting the development of specific skills by workers of the organisations involved (trainers, youth workers) and to provide professional training for them as for facilitators of youth entrepreneurship projects in the field of solidarity economy.
Contributing to the promotion of entrepreneurship among young people as an alternative to unemployment and, simultaneously, as a way of emancipation and contribution to society.
Contributing to strengthening youth entrepreneurship projects and its transformation into solidarity economy enterprises with consequent multiplier effect in terms of employment and contribution to the common welfare.
Contributing to the normalisation of entrepreneurship training approaches combining formal and non-formal education in order to meet specific needs of the business world.
Its long last goal? To contribute to the promotion of social, economic, cultural, and professional growth of the new generations of European citizens, strongly affected by the ongoing economic crisis.
Caravan Next is a large-scale Social Community Theatre collaborative project connecting professional artists with communities and local citizens. The project was designed to bond professional artists with communitiesandcitizens in a network of theatre organisations and cultural institutions consisting of 13 partners from 11 different European countries. The concept of Social Community Theatre is to use art and theatre to promote community empowerment. The project includes 40 cultural events in different European cities and 5 events in the United States, Morocco, Uruguay, Taiwan and Australia. The events will involve local communities on a common theme: European challenges of the Third Millenium.
OBJECTIVES
The main objective is the cultural empowerment of each community. Social Community Theatre events often took place outside regular theatre buildings and include activities such as parades, festivals, outdoor performances, workshops, visual installations, cultural barters, and other forms of artistic interventions.
Its long-lasting goal? increasing the participation in cultural events and rethinking theatre as a process of meeting and exchange between local citizens and professional artists.
BDBO project was designed to build capacity and actively support long-term unemployed 40+, thus finding ways out of difficult economic and social situations. These low qualified Europeans are hit the hardest from economic pressures, and through this project they will be provided with simple and practical guidance to change and improve their life. This 2-year project foresees 3 main phases to identify possible solutions and ways out, always in strict collaboration with the community these adults are living in. The whole project is based on a methodology cycle, conceived in synergy with the community, named OBAMA:
Orientation
Briefing
Ability
Meeting
Action
OBJECTIVES
The project aimed at increasing the capacity to act among adults by providing them with specific tools and an ad-hoc methodology. It was based on the real-life and work situation of long-term unemployed adults, practicing within their community the OBAMA methodology cycle. Its major output? By learning to take action within the community, these adults can become subjects of change instead of objects of change.
The project started its preparation phase in December 2006 and will last for three years (until November 2009). It aims at enhancing the promotion and visibility of the Youth programme in South East Europe (Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, “the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia”, Montenegro and Serbia) and the Southern Caucasus (Georgia).The overall objective is to allow young people to acquire knowledge, skills and competencies, focusing on the training of multipliers and on the development of networks and partnerships. The proposal combines co-operation, training and information aspects, through the implementation of different actions: information seminars, the setting-up of specialised info-points, web-site and newsletters, youth ambassador groups, trainings of peer educators (multipliers), job shadowing, trainings on the European Volunteer Service, itinerant crossing youth fair and the setting-up of 4 different networks of stakeholders (networks of info-points, of youth ambassadors, of EVS organisations and network of peer educators-multipliers) working in the field of youth in SEE and in Georgia.
ACTIVITIES
EVS training seminar in Kotor, Montenegro, 9-13 February 2009
An important training seminar on European Voluntary Service (EVS) took place from 9 to 13 February in Kotor, Montenegro. This event, who gathered the delegates and the youth officers from the 12 LDAs, was organised by the Association of the Local Democracy Agencies and the Local Democracy Agency from Niksic within the project “Youth: the right direction” financed by the European Commission. The aim of the seminar was to complete the trainings for the youth officers about the European Voluntary Service within “Youth in action” programme. During the first day, the participants refreshed the knowledge on EVS from the previous trainings held in 2008 in Budva, Montenegro. A special focus was put on a role of the hosting and sending organisation and the other stakeholders, the tools for promotion of the programme as well as the financial part of on EVS project. Also, all the participants appreciated the nice walk in the old picturesque city of Kotor which surely contributed to the team building.
The second day was reserved for the accreditation of the LDAs for becoming hosting, sending and coordinating organisations for European volunteers. Thanks to the Salto SEE Resource centre, all the LDAs were accredited in the same place and time on the base of the Host expression of interest (HEI) they have previously provided. The LDAs benefited from the presence of the Salto accreditors for SEE to ask some questions and share some ideas of how to develop good EVS projects and to promote this programme among the youth on local level. Finally, the last day was focused on the future cooperation by creation of EVS network that include all the LDAs and other European partners. The creation of this network is a result of the “Youth: the right direction” project that during the past 3 years has informed and trained many young people on the European programme “Youth in action”. These young people are now youth ambassadors among their peers and are willing to continue working in the youth field on local level. By the creation of this network, the LDAs will have the possibility to develop high quality projects by straitening the cooperation with the other European Partners. The final beneficiaries will surely be the youth from the Region who will have a possibility to live and work as a volunteer in EU for 6 months as well as the youngsters from all around Europe that will come to discover the Balkans by working in one of the LDAs.
Training on EVS in Montenegro, 10-11 December 2008
The Association of Local Democracy Agency and the Local Democracy Agency of Niksic with the support of the European Commission through the Youth in Action programme is glad to host you in the City of Becici/Budva for this two days seminar 10-11 December 2008! This pre-training on European Voluntary Service (EVS) is the first step of a project aiming at developing EVS projects and at setting-up a network of EVS organisations in the field which may grant multiplying effects, high quality projects, exchange of best practices, long-lasting commitment and cooperation.
Training in Shkodra
The newly establish LDA Albania in Shkodra, northern Albania has been inaugurated on the 10th of October and immediately started its first activity on the 11th. It was the third peer training of multipliers in the framework of ALDA’s “Youth the right direction” project. During four days, 25 young people from South-East-Europe and EU countries including ten Albanian from Shkodra had the opportunity to deepen their knowledge of the “Youth in action” program and to draft project together. Apart from the training the young people discovered the city of Shkodra and created real links among each other.
Training in Kutaisi, Georgia
In the scope of the « youth the right direction » project sponsored by the European Commission, ALDA and the LDA Georgia organised a peer to peer educators training from the 24th to the 28th of June 2008 in Kutaisi (Georgia). During 4 days, 20 people from Kutaisi (Georgia), Belfast (Northern Ireland), Nis (Serbia), Monfalcone (Italy), Osijek and Verteneglio (Croatia) have been trained in order to promote, employing a peer to peer methodology, the Youth programme at the local level, supporting the work of Youth National Agencies, Contact Points for Youth and SALTO resource centres.
International Youth Crossing Fair
An international crossing fair organised by ALDA in the framework of its project Youth: the right direction started on Friday the 25th of July in Verteneglio/Brtonigla, Croatia. This fair aims at promoting the European Commission’s “Youth in Action” program and at deepening the mutual knowledge of the different youth contexts whilst promoting cooperation in the field of youth. The activity involves young people, from 7 different countries of the Balkans and European Union. They are travelling all together by bus from Croatia to Albania, passing through Bosnia and Herzegovina and Montenegro, taking part in different activities such as workshops, cultural events, etc. Articles will be regularly published in our website to inform our partners of the progression of the fair.
Youth Centre in Nis -LDA CSS
Thanks to the programme YOUTH, the Right Direction, sponsored by the European Commission, a new group of news people set up an innovative and challenging Youth programme in Nis, in Central and Southern Serbia. They are fully equipped with skills and goodwill for the future. One of the strategic priorities of LDACSS in the next period will be work with the youth in Nis and development of numerous youth projects under the Youth Center Program. This program is a build-up of idea of opening Info Points under the Youth the Right Direction project. Aims of this program are:
youth education and development of various skills, (with acknowledging the principle of peer education, youth for youth learning)
membership networking and development of voluntarism
development and support of youth initiatives and campaigns
development of local cultural potentials and intercultural exchange
working on increasing the knowledge of youth about processes of involvement in EU processes, and encouraging them to take an active role in these processes
“Today, if you look at financial systems around the globe, more than half the population of the world – out of six billion people, more than three billion – do not qualify to take out a loan from a bank. This is a shame. What kind of institutions have we built that cannot afford to extend their services to the majority of the people?” (Muhammad Yunus interviewed in February 2005 by Nightly Business Report’s Linda O’Bryon while attending the World Health Care Congress in Washington, D.C.)
Microcredit is one of the financial service innovations that have developed considerably during the last decade, following the success of the grameen bank model in Bangladesh, founded by Muhammad Yunus and winner of the Nobel Prize in 2006. The term microfinance encompasses a variety of services such as microfinance, microsavings, microinsurance and money transfer vehicles. The microcredit summit campaign provides this definition of microcredit: “programmes that provide credit for self-employment and other financial and business services (including savings and technical assistance) to very poor persons. The rather small amounts involved in the microfinance services lead to the name ‘microfinance’.It is usually more difficult or even impossible for poorer people to access services of the regular financial sector. They do not possess sufficient funds to open a savings account, lack collateral to secure a loan, are unable to present a credit record, and might even lack capacity to correctly complete the necessary paperwork. For conventional banks, microfinance is not profitable enough, which lead many people to be marginalized from financial services preventing them to establish new businesses.In response to this discrepancy in access to financial services, the concept of microfinance appeared in 1970s. It started in South Asia and Latin America, and gained growing popularity in the following decades with a peak of interest during the last ten years. Its main characteristics are longer tenors, and absence of collateral, to remove unrealistic requirements classic loans usually lay on potential borrowers. Successes of microfinance activities were based on the fact that poorer borrowers are as reliable as classic loan clients and that encouraging entrepreneurship fosters local development. Studies have shown that poorer people do repay their loans, to a higher rate than in the usual formal financial sectors of most developing countries (ca 98%). The other advantage of microfinance programmes is that it targets sectors and geographical areas that are usually less covered by the conventional banks such as the rural areas and small-scale agricultural enterprises.Benefits of microfinance are numerous. Access to credit, however small, allows poor people to take advantage of economic opportunities. By reducing vulnerability and increasing earnings and savings, financial services allow poor households to make the transformation from “every-day survival” to “planning for the future.” (Consultative Group to Assist the Poor -CGAP: http://www.cgap.org/p/site/c/template.rc/1.26.1305/ ).
By developing a Microcredit programme, ALDA commits itself to help people in the Balkans benefit from access credit in order to encourage entrepreneurship and foster local development.
This project, initiated by the Association for Local Democracy Agencies (ALDA), in cooperation with the Banca Intesa San Paolo and the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, is a three years initiative to encourage local entrepreneurship in the Balkans, namely in Croatia, Serbia and Bosnia. The Microcredit Project for the Balkans has gathered a vast range of actors willing to support small-scale initiatives in places where credit opportunities for local entrepreneurs are limited.
RATIONALE
The countries of the Western Balkans where the project will be based are slowly but steadily proceeding towards European integration. Economic development and democratiSation are equally important for the fulfilment of these tasks and in order for both to be successful; development of the capacities at the local level is crucial. The economic situation all over the region is rather difficult. The effects of the painful transition process are currently exacerbated by the consequences of the global economic crisis. Among the difficulties are the political heritage from the past and an economic transition, which hardly find a solution to old and costly systems of production. The balance to be assured between private and public companies is often the results of blind and shortsighted strategies, which leaves a large part of the population without assistance and real possibility of having a future. The war that ravaged the region for ten years left evident traces in the economy, in particular in Bosnia and Herzegovina and some parts of Croatia and the infrastructural reconstruction remains a relevant burden for the countries, that often decide “to give up” on certain remote areas. Serbia, on its behalf maybe not affected by the conflict directly as the two aforementioned countries, rates among the countries with the highest number of internally displaced persons and refugees in the world. Another problem is also given by the rigid and costly credit system in all the countries of the region. Many existing companies – and almost all the new or start- up ones – cannot afford the interest rates offered in the market. The vicious circle implies that even the good ideas and the prepared business people have to leave the country and join the brain drain, which reaches worrying peaks in BiH and in Kosovo/UNMIK. The banking system leaves out most of the proposal in their start-up phase. The proposed microcredit scheme, with its conditions, inserts itself among the few “socially responsible” opportunities in the market.
OBJECTIVES
Introducing an integrated approach to microcredit with a goal of promotion of start-up businesses, job- creation, promoting local economic development etc
Promoting a long-lasting and sustainable local economic development in South East Europe fostered by start-up entrepreneurs. Having in mind the difficult situation in which the region is facing itself, the main goal of the project is to contribute to the creation of new employment opportunities in these countries and to help the overall economic and social recovery of the region.
Promoting the public-private partnership through the work of the well-structured Local Democracy Agencies for supporting the microcredit scheme and assisting the clients
Assisting in drafting innovative and sustainable business plans for the microcredit, consequently, activation of successful businesses of young people
ALDA‘s purpose with this project, is to create and develop an Interregional Network whose overall objectives are: to exchange good practices, to promote innovation and know-how by multiplying relations between towns across Europe in the context of the Local Democracy Agenices’ network. The project will strengthen the links between 20 associations from 7 countries participating towns that are particularly involved in citizens’ participation issue and the promotion of EU values in the process of EU integration.
We plan to follow a dynamic method developing international activities supported by local working groups:
3 international events: a study visit (on decentralised cooperation and European Active Citizenship), a summer school (tackling EU policies and values on cooperation) and a final meeting on Policy Making
Local initiatives (not mentioned in the grant calculator) will gather ideas and resources at the local level towards possible twinning initiatives
A web-site and diverse support-material for local working groups and for the promotion of a complex structure as a multiple network of towns.
OBJECTIVES
The general objectives of the project are:
Fostering citizens’ participation and interaction with local and EU institutions through debates on how to improve citizens’ involvement in public life at the local level.
Raising awareness on EU common values such as democracy and participation, promoting thus Active European citizenship and European identity. By gathering together EU and pre accession countries, we will promote a shared identity in the wider Europe.
Promoting the involvement of citizens in the EU decision-making process through expressions of local democracy. Making ordinary citizens aware of their responsibility and of the power that they can detain, we try to give them a greater sense of ownership of the EU.
Creating a network that will promote intercultural dialogue. During international events citizen, particular attention will be paid to multilinguism and cultural diversity. The most significant expected result is the creation of a Network of Towns that encourages town-twinning as a tool for a long lasting cooperation, especially in the field of citizens’ participation. We wish to create a wide-scale network to encourage the multiplication of cooperation agreements. Special attention is given to the EU integration process, focusing thus on eastern-western cooperation.
EXPECTED RESULTS
Through this project at least 250 persons of 7 different countries will acquire new information, knowledge and skills in the field of town twinning and contribute, thanks to their “new” role, to the setting-up of the multilateral network. At the local level, they will give thus higher importance to the implementation of local policies in the field of citizens’ participation, supporting civil society groups involved in the specific field. The project will also directly reach 720 people through the different activities (local and international). The project will also have a relevant impact on a wide number of people who are indirectly involved in the project: especially through the publication, structured as a methodological tool, a wide number of citizens and civil society organizations will acquire new skills to better participate in the life of the community and to interact within the local authority also in the framework of twinning agreements. Concerning the extension of the project, the project seeks to have an impact on different levels:
local/national, through the local workshops and the awareness campaign
European, through the international events
transnational, through the final outputs
e-dimension, mainly through the website
In terms of outcomes, we expect to create at least 10 new twinning agreements, having thus an impact on 10 different local communities.
MULTIPLIER EFFECT
The present proposal is based on the wide experience of ALDA in networking and seeks to set-up a network of networks of tows, multiplying thus the potential relations, chaining partners’ members in a large communication platform. All the partners belong to significant and relevant network at the European level and, therefore, grant an added valued in terms of multiplying effects. Another expected effect is the widening of citizens’ activities by further familiarizing them with the concepts of European identity and active citizenship.
The present project is designed to encourage a constant engagement of the civil society in exchanges preventing democracy of falling into possible gaps. ALDA’s approach is based on one of the EU’s fundamental value: mobility. Mode will encourage mentoring activities between NGOs but also between NGOs and volunteers hoping to deepen mobility experiences and to establish a long-lasting transnational partnership. The partnership, built with 7 partners from 6 countries (2 accession ones), is planned to strengthen relations between European NGOs, help break down barriers between people and groups, promote the learning of other cultures but also support the multiplication of NGOs and NGO networks.
OBJECTIVES
The general objectives of the project are to:
foster citizens’ participation and interaction between citizens’ and NGOs through debates on how to improve EU’s policies and civic participation, with a focus on volunteering. Citizens will express their opinion on the Union’s future
raise awareness on the common values of democracy, citizenship and participation. Thus it will contribute to the development of a sense of European identity. As 2 partners are from candidate countries the project will also help developing a sense of European identity in the wider Europe
promote citizens’ involvement at European level through debates and exchanges abroad, fostering interculturality, a better understanding and thus appropriation of the EU
EXPECTED RESULTS
Expected impact on the target group: Through this project more than 550 persons from 6 different countries will acquire new information, knowledge and skills in the field of volunteering and other types of mobility. Involved NGO personnel will improve not only their knowledge and skills but also their cultural and life experience through mobility exchanges. Since NGOs are the main target groups, we expect to create a synergie between our partners operating for the improvement of their skills, especially in Croatia and Albania. A large number of participants are future or present volunteers that will benefit from the technical support, trainings and mentoring of qualified NGO personnel. Generally, we expect for participants to be more aware of the barriers faced by European identity and challenges of building a knowledge-skilled EU society. The project will also have a relevant impact on indirect targets: through the partners’ networks, publications and websites. These collateral categories are to be motivated to get involved and to learn more on active citizenship, volunteering and the EU.
MULTIPLIER EFFECT
The present proposal supports itself on the wide experience of ALDA in projects on European citizenship and its methodology to teach Active citizenship methods. MoDE seeks to deepen the connexions between NGOs and foster long lasting relations between structures in pre-accession countries and those in EU member states. It is to create more than a platform of mobility, but a network encouraging European values, especially tolerance and sustainable development in order to reduce disparities in terms of Democracy and well being between different regions of Europe. MoDe will create an important channel of communication between NGOs but also between citizens and the EU (since these NGOs are active in EU programmes). This communication line will grant an added valued in terms of multiplying effects. Another effect expected is the widening of citizens’ activities by further familiarising them with the European identity and citizenship.
The project aims at promoting innovation and creativity in the framework of town-twinning, both in Europe and with a special focus on South-eastern Europe, as a way to revitalise and develop town-twinning relationships and thus strengthen cooperation among “old”, new and forthcoming Member States.
The entire project is designed as a learning tool for acquiring the skills and administrative capacities necessary for successful implementation of twinning projects applying the methodology of international decentralised co-operation and promoting exchange of good practices in the field of town-twinning. The partner organisations gathering large number of municipalities will therefore have an important multiplier effect but also will help facilitate and improve the co-operation of respective local administrative departments.
More specifically, the project aims at:
Promoting the concept of town twinning;
Starting, revitalising, and developing town twinning relationships;
Improving the quality of the activities within existing twinning relationships, especially by means of developing thematic cooperation;
Developing new skills amongst those who are responsible for twinning activities at a local level;
Promoting exchange of good practices in the field of town-twinning.
OBJECTIVES
The general objectives of the project are to:
Provide citizens with the opportunity to interact and participate in constructing a tighter-knit Europe, which is democratic and world-oriented, united and enriched by its cultural diversity, thus developing citizenship of the European Union;
Develop a sense of European identity, based on common values, history and culture: Both the national workshops and international twinning conference are designed to help improve the quality contents of the twinning projects and help develop local capacities for European wide exchange of practice in promoting diverse cultural heritage of multicultural local communities across Europe;
Foster a sense of ownership of the European Union among its citizens, by reinforcing the role of national associations of local governments in providing necessary tools and capacities for town twinning.
Enhance tolerance and mutual understanding between European citizens, respecting and promoting cultural and linguistic diversity, while contributing to intercultural dialogue.
The program aims particularly at :
Promoting the concept of town twinning with a special focus on linking good twinning practice among the cities of “old” Europe with Southeast Europe. The project activities will contribute both to establishing and to revitalising the town-twinning relationships and thus strengthen cooperation among “old”, new and forthcoming Member States.
Starting, revitalising, and developing town twinning relationships. Considering the number and the geographic distribution of the partners involved, a new impetus will be ensured for thematic based co-operation for the smaller, non – capital cities to acquire new knowledge, improve their administrative capacities and experience on one hand, and to learn from the cities with substantial experience in twinning projects.
Improving the quality of the activities within existing twinning relationships. The quality of existing twinning relationships will be improved through developing new innovative tools for twinning and cooperation as the result of interaction among the participants themselves, at the level of national workshops and international conference.
Developing new skills amongst those who are responsible for twinning activities at a local level. The project aims at developing new skills amongst those who are responsible for twinning activities at a local level through their intensified interaction and introducing collaborative approaches in defining the common thematic co-operation initiatives.
EXPECTED RESULTS
Expected impacts on the target groups have three main dimensions:
At national level, the expected results are the increased number of:
content based co-operation initiatives between local authorities and local civil society;
content based initiatives between the national associations of local authorities and civil society;
participants in specific thematic co-operation programmes;
and the communication between the associations of local authorities and their members will be improved.
At European level:
The number of international content based initiatives of the associations of local authorities will be increased;
The number of European networking initiatives among civil society organisations will be increased;
The number of participants in thematic twinning workshops will be increased;
The communication and co-operation between local authorities from different parts of Europe will be enhanced.
The third dimension is an innovative dimension marked by collaborative approaches in identifying the most effective communication tool for twinning initiatives will be developed. The participants from different walks of life will work together for fostering cooperation to the benefit of citizens in different local communities across Europe.
The results of the project will be disseminated through the associations of local authorities in respective countries, but also through the network of ALDA composed of more than 150 members- local authorities and NGOs. More specifically- follow actions based on the experience in this project will be initiated within the network of 12 Local Democracy Agencies in Southeast Europe and Caucasus which will have the role of multiplier and the development of the follow-up actions in the countries in the Western Balkans and Caucasus.
This project is a pathway that combines different teaching methods, both face-to-face and distance learning, and integrates ‘traditional’ training with action-training interventions that allow for analysis and experimentation within the local community (classroom training is supplemented with project work that guarantees the testing of acquired knowledge in one’s own territorial reality). It is a participatory “process” since the proposal is developed in several stages and sees the involvement of the territory’s main players in the development of active citizenship and the promotion of participation at local level. It is divided into 3 different training modules, based on a participative-active methodology, followed by an equally important follow-up phase that aims to develop dialogue, cooperation and action between different actors in order to improve governance at local level. It is an active citizenship ‘exercise’ in that the process includes moments of joint ‘work’ between the different participants, work based on case-studies and real hypotheses, to identify answers, solutions and practices, including new and innovative ones, to promote citizens’ participation and involvement in local decision-making processes. It also aims to strengthen the knowledge and skills of local authorities and civil society organisations interested in the topic of active citizenship. The “Active Citizens” Project is addressed to 20 administrators/employees of the Municipality of Brindisi, and to 20 representatives of civil society.
ACTIVITIES
The first training module includes two differentiated tracks for civil society and local authorities, so as to enhance – in this first phase – the specificities of the two main target groups. The main objective of this first module is to provide participants with the information and skills they need to better understand the local and European context on citizenship, their own role and the tools at their disposal to promote themselves as active players at local and community level.
The second training module is basically a citizenship exercise, i.e. a meeting in which, through debate and discussion, the start of a project work to be promoted and developed within the local community is experimented. The first two phases end with an experimental seminar activity called “Impossible encounters”, which aim to present possible situations and case studies in the field of active citizenship and European citizenship through encounters between different actors active in this field at European level.
The seminar activity consists of an open meeting – in the form of a round table – involving various European (and non-European) actors on the most relevant issues in the field of active citizenship and European citizenship.
THE PARTNER
The Municipal Administration of Brindisi, in line with the political guidelines of the European Union, intends to adopt all those tools and operational methods that allow the city community to project itself into a modern dimension, characterised by a common European feeling. Thus, a special councillor’s delegation has been set up and a series of training/action courses on ‘active citizenship’ have been launched. The expression ‘active citizenship’ is used to indicate a person’s conscious participation in political life and his or her full inclusion in the network of rights and duties that are constitutive of being a citizen, as well as the exercise of a responsibility of citizenship within the ‘public space’, so as to contribute to qualifying and enlarging it. Active citizenship’ is an expression, more appropriate to the current reality, of popular sovereignty; an expression no less important than that exercised in voting and in the delegation of representation in institutions; and it is a properly political expression. In turn, the ‘public space’ is the place where all subjects, individual and collective, who seek recognition and exercise citizenship responsibilities, express themselves. It is therefore also that dimension of public affairs where the state, in its various articulations, and the expressions of ‘active citizenship’ establish dynamic relations of a different nature. Administrative action is one of the privileged ways through which this dynamic is interwoven. Within the articulations of the state, the communal dimension of ‘public space’, in terms of deliberation and governance functions, takes on increasing prominence. The traditional way of conceiving the distinction between politics and administration is struggling to tune in to this evolutionary trend. And the same applies to the distinctions between public and private, civil and political. However, a substantial revision of the relationship is necessary to regenerate social legitimacy and the effectiveness of government action, as well as to restore credibility and attractiveness to politics. In this perspective, representative and administrative institutions exercise their responsibilities through administrative action, establishing places and procedures for communication and integration with citizenship. The promotion and enhancement of ‘active citizenship’ must be a real strategic priority of administrative action in the local and regional public space to the point of building real partnerships with ‘active citizenship’ organisations. Therefore, what the Brindisi municipal administration has planned on ‘active citizenship’ and, therefore, on European citizenship, is intended to contribute to bringing the social body in its various articulations – what is more commonly referred to as civil society – closer to the institutions and to the organisation of the public administration, which, although represented by the local authority, today appears to be increasingly distant from citizens’ understanding and dialogue with them. In the era of the nation state, politics acted on two levers: market and government. In the European Union, politics acts on three levers: economy, government and civil society. The European model constitutes a radical advance in the evolution of political life. In fact, the Municipality of Brindisi and ALDA have decided to organise an educational action to bring citizens closer to the Administration through European paths. Today, more than ever, it is important to realise citizens’ participation in public activity and political decisions more than just proclaiming it. The famous ‘glass palace’, i.e. transparency, is implemented by overcoming the citizen’s status as a voter and making him a truly active subject in public choices, but one that is continuously active and, above all, aware of his rights and powers. The objective must be that of an authentic European conscience marked by dialogue, sharing and, above all, a correct conception of freedom in the relationship between citizen and public authority.
United Nations climate change conferences are among the largest international meetings in the world.
Moreover, climate change and environmental damage are urgent issues across the globe, as their effects are already being felt. For this reason, there is a need to adapt more quickly and comprehensively, and achieve a better world for us all, through a strategy of sustainability and climate neutrality.
As the consequences of climate change are felt by everybody, but above all by the most vulnerable people, all citizens should engage and take action through initiatives that promote environmentally friendly and sustainable development policies. Therefore, civil society organisations (CSOs) play a primary role in raising awareness of citizens on climate change, approaching the green transition actions in a participatory process.
ALDA’s work in the field of environment and climate change focuses on specific topics, such as climate change in urban and rural areas, flood risk mitigation, environmental governance, biodiversity conservation, and sustainable agri-food systems. In this framework, ALDA contributes to enhancing environmental governance both at the local and international levels, through an intense process of dialogue and communication among policymakers, civil society actors and practitioners.
Following last year’s edition of the Conference, nations are expected to demonstrate at COP27 that they are in a new era of implementation by turning their commitments under the Paris Agreement into action. Within the Climate Action goals of the Conference, what is ALDA’s role and how is it contributing with its work?
ALDA’s commitment can be seen in the implementation of various projects!
ALDA’s initiatives and projects in line with COP27
Starting with “Climate Of Chage”, whose motto is “End climate change, start #ClimateOfChange!”, being a Pan European campaign to build a better future for climate induced migrants, the human face of climate change. The project engages young EU citizens in support of policies and development actions to tackle climate change as a driver of irregular migration and forced displacement worldwide.
Within the project, one objective was the collection of signatures for the petition, that was delivered to policy-makers during the COP27 by 5 Youth Ambassadors. The petition hitted the incredible number of 105.113 signatures, a result that was possible thanks to the thousands of people that joined the movement.
“READY” project aims to strengthen the socio-ecological awareness and capacity building of its young beneficiaries. Through the environmental issue, the young beneficiaries will develop skills in campaigning, project management, communication, advocacy etc.
The newly implemented project “SHARED GREEN DEAL”, moreover, aims to stimulate shared actions on Green Deal initiatives across Europe, by providing Social Sciences and Humanities (SSH) tools to support the implementation of 8 EU Green Deal policy areas, at the local and regional level.
Moving on to another project, “LIFE BEWARE” focuses on the achievement of a global strategy for climate adaptation to flooding risk, increasing water infiltration and storage in urban and rural areas, by actively involving local communities.
Among the other projects, “NEVERMORE” is determined to support excellence in research on climate science and climate policy. It aims to develop an integrated common assessment framework, tailored to the needs of different stakeholders and end-users (public and private actors, decision-makers and citizens).
ALDA is active within the COP27 topics with many other projects and initiatives, all to be discovered. All of them are also directed to fulfil the objectives of the 2030 Agenda, each being focused on one or more SDGs, trying to turn them into concrete actions.
In the last couple of months, the project’s consortium has organized and implemented several initiatives to strengthen the dynamics of dissemination and, through the presentation of the Intellectual Outputs produced, reach more direct and indirect beneficiaries.
Right after the summer break, the partners met in Seville for the last Transnational Project Meeting where they discussed the development of the project’s activities and results, exchanged views on the situation in their respective home countries and talking together about the finalisation of intellectual outputs. Specifically, dissemination and communication issues were addressed. ALDA and the other partners created a plan for more efficient and effective dissemination of project outputs and management of the Facebook page.
Intellective outputs and interactive platforms for community workers
More recently, in the months of October and November, project’s partners have organized multiplier events in Italy (Lamezia Terme), UK (London) and Greece (Athens) to showcase the results produced. Moreover, the partners have hosted local pilot actions, with community workers, to test the effectiveness and the application of the Intellectual Outputs, in particular the e-Learning Platform for the Upskilling and Empowerment of the Target Group.
Lastly, on November 11th ALDA held an Interactive Webinar, with the collaboration of all partners, to present to a larger online audience the project itself and what has been produced in the last 2 years. The invite to the webinar was shared between ALDA’s and the other partners’ network. In this occasion the consortium was able to engage with associations working in similar fields and dealing with Erasmus+ projects.
The exchange of information and interaction between the participants made these experiences unique and useful for gaining further feedback and to implement the latest changes to the digital education platform.
The project is indeed coming to its finish line but given the great interest in the project we are trying to create all the conditions for a possible follow up and continuation of the collaboration.
The ReCAP project has officially started, and the Kick-off Meeting took place on 3&4 November 2022 in Porto (Portugal), where the hosting partner Rightchallenge welcomed the whole consortium in their headquarters.
The meeting has been a great opportunity for the ten partners to get to know each other in-person and work together to set the next steps of the project.
The ReCAP project has a valuable goal to reach: it aims at promoting social inclusion and civic engagement of youth from disadvantaged backgrounds who faced a further marginalisation from the socialisation places due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In particular, the project addresses young people with fewer opportunities, such as NEETs, people with a migrant background, minorities, youths from the LGBTIAQ+ community, and pays special attention to girls.
To face this challenge, the ReCAP project promotes the role of art and creativity as tools to face social exclusion, thanks to the great expertise of the participating organisations operating in the fields of art, creativity, social inclusion and gender issues.
The Kick-off Meeting has been a great opportunity for the partners to get to know each other in-person and work together to set the next steps of ReCAP
During this two-day meeting, ALDA, as project leader, introduced and explained the organisational, management and financial aspects of the ReCAP project, as well as the communication and dissemination strategy to be implemented. The partner Solidaridad Sin Fronteras (SSF) presented the first achievements obtained and the next steps of the Project Result 1 “Local context and needs analysis”, while La Piccionaia and CESIE introduced the main aspects of the second and third Project Results of ReCAP, which have to be carried out during the second phase of the action: the creation of a toolbox for youth workers and a roadmap definition of the local paths.
This Kick-off meeting represented a valuable experience for the whole consortium to share their ideas and discuss the next project activities, but also an opportunity to enjoy the charming city of Porto.
Do you want to expand your skill set in transdisciplinary teaching and training for students on sustainable development in cities? Are you a head of studies, (inter-)national trainer and teacher in higher education or vocational education and interested in education for sustainable development?
Then this event is for you to:
Gain expertise (learn from innovative concepts in the field)
Get inspired (join and learn from discussion on do’s and don’ts)
Share your ideas (bring in new aspects to broaden our views)
“Green Skills – Embedding innovative teaching formats in higher education” takes place on the 13 December 2022
The “Regional Centre of Expertise on Education for Sustainable Development” (RCE) at Vienna University of Economics and Business and the Erasmus+ Project “Green Skills for Cities” invite you to an online exchange on best practice case studies and teaching formats: “Green Skills – Embedding innovative teaching formats in higher education” which is taking place on the 13th of December, 2022 from 16:00-18:00 (CET) on Zoom.
Professionals working in the field and interested students are welcome to join. Sign up here and you will receive the Zoom Link via email.
