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.
On the 4th of April, the Vice-President ALDA Alessandro Perelli and the Director of the International Telematics University UNINETTUNO Professor Maria Amata Garito signed a cooperation agreement between the two institutions and launched their first common project, namely the new edition of the Master on-line in European Law and Policies.
Promoted by the International Telematics University UNINETTUNO in collaboration with the ALDA and the Italian Council of the European Movement. By combining the expertise of the network ALDA in the European context and the experience of UNINETTUNO in distance learning with six faculties and nine master’s degree courses and professional training courses and students from 40 different countries, the new cooperation agreement will lead to the development of other training opportunities tackling European themes and topics. In particular, besides the above mentioned Master, ALDA will develop a series of webinars focused on EU programs and funds, with special reference to the new programming period of the European Commission 2014-2020. Finally, ALDA and UNINETTUNO – through signing the agreement – have expressed their common interest to develop new and innovative transnational projects that are able to combine ALDA and commitment on European issues and the focus of UNINETTUNO on distance education.
The Association of the Local Democracy Agencies, LDA Osijek, LDA Sisak, LDA Verteneglio, Foundation for partnership and civil society development of the Istrian Region, AEGEE- Zagreb, Centre for Civil Initiatives (of the Network CEECN) are the initiators of the Croatian Alliance for the European Year of Citizens 2013. The first meeting took place in Zagreb on the 6th of November and confirmed this formal step. The Croatian Alliance for the European Year of Citizens 2013 will therefore officially registered within the National Platforms Alliances supporting the wide Alliance at the EU level.
The Secretary of ALDA, Ms. Paula Rauzan, Delegate of the LDA Sisak will coordinate the group of initiators. She was also accompanied by the Director of ALDA, Antonella Valmorbida and the Delegate of the LDA Osijek, M. Miljenko Turniski The initiators are now working for launching a vast campaign of mobilisation in Croatia that will engage, before the end of the month, the networks of civil society interested to work for the EYAC 2013. They will be proposed to work together to disseminate the Manifesto at the EU level and probably to adapt it to their national and local situation. It is also proposed to work on working groups and to develop common initiative to include more citizens of Croatia in EU policies. The Croatian Platform will be of particular interest because of the upcoming integration of the country into the EU. The Annual priority 2013 – Year of Citizens – will be then meaningful to launch a debate on European Citizenship for this new EU members. ALDA is also member of the EU steering Committee and Coordinator of WG1, as well as initiator of the Italian Alliance. Next 14th of November will take place in Rome (from 10:30 to 13:30 – Eurispes premises Via Orazio, 31) the second meeting of the partners. In this occasion will be adopted a declaration of intent of the Italian Alliance ECY 2013.
Oriano Otocan, ALDA President, and Antonella Valmorbida, ALDA Director and member of CIVICUS International Board, will be participating in the 2012 CIVICUS World Assembly (3 – 7 September 2012) in Montreal, Canada. In particular Mrs. Valmorbida will present ALDAs experiences on participatory governance at the workshop on “Good governance through citizen action” that will take place on 5 September (11.00-13.00), after the opening ceremony of the Assembly (9.00-9.30) and the first plenary session (9.30 – 10.45). In the panel also Mrs. Carmen Malena, Canada, Mehr Latif, Programme Manager, Asia Foundation, Pakistan and Mrs. Paola Margarita Q. Deles, Coordinator, People Power Volunteers for Reform, Philippines.
This session will share good practices and lessons in participatory governance from around the world and challenge participants to think beyond traditional forms of protest and activism to less familiar but potentially more impactful practices of ‘critical collaboration’ and participatory governance. As citizens, publicly denouncing injustices in society is an important first step towards seeking change, but it is not enough. Real change comes when citizens not only cry out in the streets, but claim their rightful place as active participants in processes of public governance and decision-making. In recent years, a wide and exciting array of ‘participatory governance’ approaches have been tried and tested around the world. From citizens’ juries, multi-stakeholder dialogues and integrity pacts to participatory budgeting, social audits and community scorecards, citizens and CSOs are creating a multitude of innovative ways to engage in ‘critical collaboration’ with government counterparts. The 2012 CIVICUS World Assembly will focus on defining a new social contract, through discussions on three key themes: changing nations through citizens, building partnerships for social innovation and redefining global governance. The 2012 Assembly will see the launch of a comprehensive, multi-stakeholder process, led by CIVICUS, on defining a new social contract, that will culminate in the presentation of recommendations to the United Nations in 2015. The World Assembly comes at a pivotal moment for citizens to redefine the relationships and conditions we want for a sustainable future in a changing world. Having a role in CIVICUS International Board, for ALDA means taking a further step to bring internationally the cause of its work: to improve citizens’ and civil society’s participation at the local level, working closely with local authorities, for development, democracy and respect of human rights.
CIVICUS Board of Directors has formally communicated that Antonella Valmorbida, Director of ALDA, has been welcomed as a new co-opted member of CIVICUS International Board. CIVICUS is an international alliance dedicated to strengthening citizen action and civil society throughout the world. The term of Antonella Valmorbida Board membership will be one year and three months, until the Board meeting in September 2013, when all of the current Board members’ terms will expire. Among the forthcoming engagements as member of CIVICUS Board is the attendance of the Board meeting in September during the CIVICUS World Assembly in Montreal, 3-7 September 2012.
CIVICUS, World Alliance for Citizen Participation, is an international alliance of members and partners which constitutes an influential network of organisations at the local, national, regional and international levels, and spans the spectrum of civil society. CIVICUS includes the following in its definition of civil society: civil society networks and organisations; trade unions; faith-based networks; professional associations; NGO capacity development organisations; philanthropic foundations and other funding bodies. CIVICUS has worked for nearly two decades to strengthen citizen action and civil society throughout the world, especially in areas where participatory democracy and citizens’ freedom of association are threatened. CIVICUS has a vision of a global community of active, engaged citizens committed to the creation of a more just and equitable world. This is based on the belief that the health of societies exists in direct proportion to the degree of balance between the state, the private sector and civil society. CIVICUS provides a focal point for knowledge-sharing, common interest representation, global institution-building and engagement among these disparate sectors. It acts as an advocate for citizen participation as an essential component of governance and democracy worldwide. CIVICUS seeks to amplify the voices and opinions of ordinary people and it gives expression to the enormous creative energy of the burgeoning sector of civil society.
The itinerary tour “On Albert Londres’ footsteps” will take place in August 2012 in several Balkan countries. This events is dedicated to promote reporting journalism among dispriviledged youth from France and Balkan countries. On 13 June, the France Balkans Network gathered in Saint-Denis, France, to discuss this forthcoming activity of the network. This project is organised within the multilateral decentralised cooperation programme for good governance in South-East Europe supported by the French Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs. The lead partners are the County Pays Vichy Auvergne and ALDA, the Association of Local Democracy Agencies. The main objective of this project is to revive Albert Londres’ (1884-1932) experience, born in Vichy, father of modern journalism and reporting, during his numerous investigation trips in the Balkans at the beginning of the 20th century. His story is aimed at stimulating the taste of adventure, curiosity and openness to other cultures among young people with talent for reporting but who do not have the opportunity to travel much and put their knowledge in reporting. By enabling local authorities, civil society organisations and territories from France and the Balkans to meet and exchange on joint projects, this programme supports the values of peace and intercultural dialogue, as well as promotes European integration of all the countries from South East Europe. Other partners which are involved in this adventure are the Regional Council of Auvergne, the Regional Council of Lower-Normandy, Maison de l’Europe in Caen, the General Council of the Hautes Alpes, CRET Hautes Alpes, the city of Dijon, the City of Saint-Denis and their counterparts from Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia and Romania as well as the Local Democracy Agencies in Serbia, Croatia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Montenegro, Albania, the French and Macedonian ALDA offices as well as two Italian partners. Regional and national journalists and several associations (France Television, the National Association for the promotion and defence of press youth initiative, the Association of European Journalists) are also partners in the operation, which receives funding communities, the MAE, Foundations and probably Europe. Then forty young French and Balkan bloggers, young and amateur journalists aged between 18 and 30, were selected to travel in the Balkans for two weeks and report about the current political, social, economic and environmental situation in the Balkans via different means of reporting (old and new technologies) and reflect upon the overall situation in Europe. In preparation to this meeting, ALDA organised a meeting on 6 June with the Local Democracy Agencies involved in the project.
A meeting of municipalities and communities from the Region of Lower Normandy who cooperate with the Macedonian municipalities will take place on April 25 in Caen. The meeting will gather the officials and representatives from the Lower Normandy communities, but also representatives of the Regional Council of Lower Normandy, as well as representatives of the organisation Horizons Solidaires and the representatives from ALDA Skopje office that are in charge of technical support for the cooperation of cities. Participants will have the opportunity to discuss the progress of each municipality in the cooperation and will give an update on administrative and financial matters. They will also discuss the opportunities in establishing new links and introducing other municipalities in the cooperation. One part of the meeting will focus on the tourism component, as a part of the Decentralised cooperation between the Region Lower Normandy and Republic of Macedonia, and on the role of the municipalities from both regions in tourism development. In the framework of the Decentralised cooperation between Lower Normandy and Macedonia, there are currently seven active town twining’s, and more pairings are planned in the future. The town twinning segment builds up contacts and friendship with communities from the two territories and promotes better understanding. The Programme for Decentralised cooperation is coordinated by ALDA.
The increased involvement of Local Authorities (LAs) and Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) in EU development policy generates the need for the establishment of a new alliance among them in order to capitalise and improve their experiences and methods of actions. On 28th of March 2012, in the Committee of the Regions premises in Brussels, will be launch WTD – Working Together for Development with the International Conference ”Local authorities and civil society: a partnership for development”.
During the last two decades, LAs gained a significant expertise in terms of conflict prevention, decentralisation and confidence building in development, revealing themselves as real catalysts for change. In strong cooperation with CSOs, LAs confirmed decentralised cooperation methodology as one of the most relevant tools to promote a shared and bottom-up approach to development, inside and outside Europe. ALDA, which has been one of the first European actors promoting this practice through the network of Local Democracy Agencies, is launching a new alliance between LAs and CSOs interested in having a voice heard in Europe as for policy making about development cooperation. We will be pleased to involve your institution or organisation in this new challenging European endeavour, thus the president of ALDA is honoured to invite you all in Brussels. The Conference will gather the main European stakeholders in the field of development and aims at debating on the opportunities LAs have to work together with CSOs to foster a bottom up approach to development and to plan a join strategy to make their efforts more efficient. WTD, Working Together for Development, is a multi-annual development alliance granted within the framework of the European Commission NSA & LA Programme in the Objective III. It has been conceived by ALDA in cooperation with 21 international partners and associates coming from 16 different countries from enlarged the wider Europe. It involves both Associations of Local Authorities and NGO networks, and aims at improving their capacities to act as development agents inside and outside Europe, in partnership with EU and national institutions. WTD adopts a multi-stakeholder approach and focuses on creating strong partnerships between Local Authorities and NGOs. It has a special particular focus on Eastern and South Eastern Europe.
“The European Year of Citizens, suggested by the European Commission for the 2013, today focused on rights, mostly on right to move and work in the Union, should have a wider perspective, and promote European citizenship and identity, including social and cultural aspects”. This is the main proposal of ALDA about the EYC 2013, expressed during the public hearing promoted by the European Economic and Social Committee, in Brussels. The European Economic and Social Committee is drawing up an opinion on the proposal of the European Commission and would like to give every European citizen, NGO, enterprise, trade union etc. an opportunity to contribute to its opinion, which will be sent to the European Parliament, Commission and Council once it has been adopted. A first NGOs meeting was held in Brussels in EESC on the 27th of January and ALDA was represented by Mr. Marco Boaria. Mrs. Antonella Valmorbida, ALDA Director, attended to the public hearing that was held the day before. “We are interested in an Alliance which main aims should be promoting the participation of a wide spectrum of civil society organisations working to promote European citizenship and implement the European Year of Citizens 2013. ALDA supports the idea of organising quickly “decentralised” groups of support at the national level”, stated Mrs. Valmorbida. ALDA think that the activities of the “year” should be done even more on new members States, future member countries (those of the Enlargement process), and the countries of the ENPI Interregional Programme, since they are the direct beneficiaries of the effects as neighbours of Europe. ALDA proposes that the programme of the 2013 European Year of Citizens works mainly with small and local events and not only focusing on high level discussions, engaging civil society and local authorities and promoting an open debate on the future of participation mechanisms to strengthen European identity and The European Project. ALDA proposes also to reach political objectives in terms of citizens’ participation (and mechanisms for facilitating this) with legislative initiatives, best practices at the community level, etc. with the EYAC 2013. The group, in preparing the Year, should set these high objectives, planning the Year in this direction, considering the upcoming European Parliament Elections in 2014. For further information please visit the EESC website
LDAs Mostar and Central and Southern Serbia – Niš signed a partnership agreement with the Association of Fenomena from Kraljevo (Serbia) for the implementation of project “Promotion of the European Charter for equality between women and men at the local level”, during the first project meeting that took place on 11-12 January 2012. The Project, funded by the European Commission under the IPA Civil Society Facility: Partnership Actions-Empowerment of Women, will be implemented during the 2012. The Association Fenomenon, as the leading organisation in the project, will implement the activities in cooperation with other organisations: Centre for Local Democracy LDA from Nis, Serbia; ANIMA – Center for Women and Peace Education from Kotor, Montenegro, Association of Citizens for Local Democracy Agency Mostar in Bosnia and Herzegovina and The Kvinna till Kvinna Foundation in Stockholm, Sweden. The overall project objective is to contribute to the development of policies, measures and budgeting to improve gender equality in Serbia, Montenegro and Bosnia and Herzegovina. The specific objective is to create conditions for development of policies, measures and budgeting to improve gender equality, development of local action plans to implement the European Charter for equality in cities and municipalities participating in the project.
The celebration for the 15th anniversary of the LDA of Sisak (HR) coincides, for a not accidental case, with the eve of Croatian access in the big European family, and the awarding of the “12 stars label” to the Municipality for its efforts in ELDW, the European local democracy week, by the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe. The official celebration will take place the 4th of November, with an international conference on “The Road of Croatia towards the EU: the role of Croatian Local Democracy Agencies (LDAs)”, organised in the framework of the ELDW, ) by the LDA of Sisak, in cooperation with ALDA, the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the CoE and the the Municipality of Sisak (9.00-13.30 City Hall Sisak). The Conference will be attended by many national and international experts and representatives of European and national institutions as well. Among them Ms Barbara Toce, Member of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities and Vice Mayor of Pedaso (Italy), Ambassador Henrik Ofstad, Royal Norwegian Embassy in Zagreb, Ambassador Paul Vandoren, Head of the EU Delegation to Croatia, Mr. Dinko Pintarić, Mayor of Sisak, Mr Per Vinther, President of ALDA. In these 15 years, starting from the ruins of the conflict, the LDA has been a promoter of many initiatives whose aim was primarily to promote the participation of citizens and their associations and to strengthen the democratic debate with local authorities. These are the values which Croatia has signed up to get access to the European community and some credit goes also to the work done by the ADL of Sisak. During last 15 years LDA Sisak has implemented more than 100 projects that have directly involved over 15.000 people. Established in 1996 as a pilot project of Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of Council of Europe and since 2006 working as a domestic organisation, Local Democracy Agency Sisak enforced itself as one of the key actors in civil society development in Sisak and Sisačko-Moslavačka County. From its very beginnings LDA Sisak is implementing projects aiming to protect human rights and democratic society development, promotes values of tolerance and non-discrimination, multiculturalism, cooperation, partnership and active citizenship. In addition to the international conference, Sisak was selected by ALDA to host the Annual LDAs Delegates meeting and the Annual Meeting of the Lead Partners Representatives of the LDAs (3 – 5 November). The Association of LDAs is confident that the regular meetings and discussions among the Delegates and the Lead Partners of the LDAs could contribute to the development of all the network of the Agencies, in particular with regards the concept of partnership in the framework of the multilateral decentralised cooperation and the area of intervention and interest of each LDA.
The new Local Democracy Agency Armenia will open on 28th of October in Gyumri. It is the second LDA in the South Caucasus area and the thirteenth LDA opened by the Association of Local Democracy Agencies (ALDA) with the support of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe. “Decentralisation of power and the development of administrative capacities at the local level, together with a capable and vivid civil society, represent a fundamental step in the process of democratisation, stability and development of Armenia”, says ALDA President, Per Vinther. On occasion of the official opening ceremony, ALDA organises a conference to gather Local Authorities, NGOs, citizens, and international representatives that are actively involved in local governance issues to discuss and learn about best practices of involving citizens in public life. The opening conference will take place in the City Hall of Gyumri and will be also be part of the European Week of Local Democracy.
In an effort to support the process of democratisation, stability and development of Armenia ALDA and the Congress decided to establish the Local Democracy Agency in the country. The opening plan has been developing since 2008. It is a long term project and it will utilise the expertise of ALDA and the other LDAs and the network, which gather about 160 members, including Local Authorities, Associations of Local Authorities and non-governmental organisations, coming from more than 30 countries. Partners of LDA Armenia will come from three countries: the Rhône-Alpes Region (France), the Friuli Venezia Giulia Region (Italy), the International Committee For The Development of Peoples CISP (Italy), the Union of Communities of Armenia, the Urban Foundation for Sustainable Development (Armenia), the Journalists’ Club Asparez (Armenia), and the Armenian Municipalities of Gyumri, the host city, and Ijevan. The role of the international partners will be to provide core financial support, participate in activities where they have the skills and capacities, to encourage their own partners to participate in the work of the LDA and to promote the work of the LDA in their own community and encourage wider participation. Gyumri is the second largest city in Armenia, situated in the North of the country and has been selected as host since it will provide a good basis to allow the LDA to work on a national level. The Municipality of Gyumri provides an office and rooms for the LDA in a building which already hosts other public associations and NGOs in Gyumri. “Furthermore the vibrant civil society in Gyumri and the possibilities to improve the situation for cooperation between civil society and local authorities are also very important factors”, stresses President Per Vinther. “In addition”, says Mr Vinther, “Gyumri is also twinned with the Georgian city Kutaisi which provides a strong basis for developing the cooperation between both cities”. The first LDA in the Caucasus is based in Kutaisi, Georgia since the year 2006. The LDA will facilitate the participation of civil society in the decision-making process at the local level, increase the interest, awareness and capacities of citizens to take part in the decision-making process at the local level and increase the awareness and skills of the local communities and local authorities to address the needs of their citizens. So a practical exercise of policy sharing between citizens and local authorities should also be facilitated. The LDA will support capacity building of civil society and local authorities and it will implement its activities at the local level with trainings, study visits and other participative methods. Acting as a promoter of democracy and local self-government, the Local Democracy Agency will also promote human rights and sustainable development. The realisation of all objectives will be reached by implementing projects with local authorities and NGOs using the international partners support. The LDA will aim to serve as a bridge between Europe and Armenia and will bring Armenian practice to Europe and European experience to Armenia. Finally the LDA will also work to ensure cross border cooperation in South Caucasus and will work to promote peace and understanding in the South Caucasus region. “There are plans to set up an LDA in Azerbaijan in the near future as well. So the LDA in Armenia will also become part of a network of LDAs in South Caucasus that can promote cooperation and mutual understanding between the countries in South Caucasus” announces Per Vinther.
ALDA will take part in the International conference for the European Year of Volunteers on “Italy – Central and South Eastern Europe: Volunteerism and Institutions in comparison”, 7-9 October 2011 – Gorizia (I). Mrs. Antonella Valmorbida, ALDA Director, will take the floor on the last day, after the presentation of the results of the working groups, together with Anica Mikus Kos, Slovenska Filantropija President, Andrea Waxenegger, University of Graz, President EUCEN (European Network of University Centers for Long Life Learning), and Luca Jahier, the Economic and Social Committee, President Group III.
The conference is promoted by the Friuli Venezia Giulia Region and organised by the regional CSV in collaboration with CSVnet – National Coordination Centres for Voluntary Service; it has also received the patronage of the Ministry of Labour and Social Policies, European Commission Representation in Italy CEV – European Volunteer Centre, Brussels. The conference will be an opportunity to continue the comparison between volunteerism and institutions in Italy and in Central and South Eastern Europe, focusing on issues such as diversity and social inclusion, young people and participation. The aim is to draw a roadmap for future advocacy activities and common planning. The event represents an important moment to engage and support existing realities of volunteering of those countries which are not members of the European Union yet. The conference will be attended by over 100 Italian and foreign volunteers, institutional representatives and leaders of voluntary organisations, the Centers for Voluntary Service and Volunteer Centers, coming both from Italy and other countries such as Albania, Austria, Bosnia, Bulgaria, Croatia, Kosovo, Macedonia, Montenegro, Romania, Serbia, Slovenia and Turkey. The Conference will be opened, the first day, by a plenary session titled: “Which role for volunteering in the Europe of the future”. The second day will be dedicated to working groups, accompanied by the interventions of Italian and foreign associations introduced by the relations of Joachim Ott, Acting Head of Unit, Directorate General Communication, Unit Policy for Citizens of the European Commission, and Martijn Pakker, Director CEV – European Centre for Volunteering.
Starting from July 4 until July 8, 2011, Macedonian and French professionals will work on discovering and practicing the technics of renovation of traditional buildings in Pont Farcy, Lower Normandy. This practical workshop on renovating ancient buildings with natural and ecological materials will be held in the Norman farms and sites, where the experts from the two countries will demonstrate their skills in reconstruction using traditional methods. The experts will work not only on the implementation, but also on the basic theory knowledge regarding preparation of building sites, renovating and constructing stone walls, cob walls, etc. while using the traditional (natural) materials, easy to practice individually. More information on this specific workshop and building heritage activities can be found at www.balkansheritage.eu. This practical workshop is organised in the framework of the Decentralised cooperation between the Lower Normandy region and Republic of Macedonia, in the component 5 – Sustainable Tourism and Cultural Heritage, project coordinated by ALDA. For further information please consult the webpage of the Cooperation http://crbn-mk.courriers.info/
With three days of exhibitions, debates and concerts, the city of Brindisi has commemorated the first landing of Albanian citizens fleeing towards freedom. From 11th to 13th of March was held the exhibition “The hospitable city: Albania – Brindisi twenty years later“. It was March 7th, in 1991, when thousands of Albanians fleeing from a country devastated by a severe economic and political crisis landed in the port of Brindisi.
Twenty years have passed and the city of Brindisi recovered the memory of this historical page, still current. The program, developed through an extensive course of action, has decreased the city in an atmosphere of reflection and commemoration. Moments of entertainment and discussion, including art installations, events of the narrative, allegorical band marches through the streets of the historic center, documentaries and special interest, conference-seminar on immigration and the concert of an artist of great appeal, have read, with the lens of history, those days of March that shook nationally and internationally the public attention.
“The City hospitable” proposed to rediscover a dramatic period in the history of the Balkan country and also the great welcome offered by citizens and institutions in Brindisi, which was able to alleviate the suffering of countless lives embarked on an adventurous journey, revealing an extraordinary spirit of cohesion.
Twenty years later, today those people are integrated and vital into the civil society of the city.
The members of the Governing Board of Asael, the Association of municipalities of Aragon Region (Spain) that was dissolved in late 2009 swept away by a scandal, former President Jesus Alone in the head, will be liable personally for debts left. ALDA, with its other partners, decided to take legal action on the basis of the Spanish Law on Associations (the “Ley Organica 1 / 2002, de 22 de marzo, reguladora del Derecho de Asociacion). “We are forced to choose the legal way -said Antonella Valmorbida, Director of ALDA-because all our efforts to resolve the issue amicably have not been successful. The Aragon institutions we questioned, as Asael was an association of local authorities, ignored our calls or answered that the issue does not concern them. A rubber wall has been raised around Asael and its administrators that were all mayors of Aragon towns”.
But the Spanish Law on Associations is clear and says that administrators are responsible of debts of their Association debts, caused by malicious reasons, and also for culpable negligence, and that they have to pay with their personal assets. “It’s clear-stated the Director of Alda, AntonellaValmorbida- that during the Sol management of Asael, in recent years none of the administrators has exercised effective control, to avoid accumulating debts and that European funds were not used for the purpose for which they were assigned to Asael, to support project activities”.
The projects were developed in the years 2008-2009 and were Bandair, Emanzipar and Eclau. The other ALDA members partners of the project managed by Asael were the province of Reggio Emilia (Italy), the City of Bydgoszcz (Poland), Baltisfem (Lithuania), the Local Councils’ Association, Association of Municipalities (Malta), the Institute of Enterpreneurship, an NGO (Greece), the Association for the development of mountain communities (Bulgaria). The credit of ALDA and its partners amounts around to 115.000 (ALDA 30,180, City of Bydgoszcz 31,000, Baltifem, 24,000, Institute of Enterpreuneurship, 9,700, Province of Reggio Emilia 9,000, Association for Development of Mountain Municipalities, 9,000, Local Councils’Association, 1,800). This is an amount of money that Asael has to pay to its partners for activities under the project, personal taxes, social contributions. Some of them could have lots of serious financial difficulties if they will not be paid.
“We believe that the situation has been largely overlooked bye very one here in Aragon – still says the Director of ALDA, Antonella Valmorbida – by the risk that it may have in relations with the European Community. The Commission’s representative office in Madrid is aware of what happened and shares our position. TheCommission’s anti-fraud office is investigating possible embezzlement of which has been discussed in newspapers in the region. We are willing to go all the way to guarantee our rights, and we believe that it’ll be hard that any other European project could have partners entities such as the Aragonese Famcp, one of which vice president is the current President of Asael, whose responsibilities, if not for Sol’s management facts, is now due to elude any response.”
Asael’s former partners do not understand how institutions and political forces in Aragon do not exercise all is in their power to success fully resolve the issue, which also includes former employees of Asael remained without payment.
“We know that the former president of Asael, JesusSol, was very close to the President of PAR, Jose Angel Biel, who is vice president and spokesman of the regional government, and that the majority of members of Municipality member of Asael were led by mayors of the PAR. Can the PAR, which will celebrate its congress in the next days – still says Antonella Valmorbida – ignore the moral issue internally? And do the other parties in government and in the opposition not have the heart to safeguard the image of the region of Aragon in Europe? And how do they believe that, at the upcoming May elections, they can nominate again those outgoing mayors responsible for this failure?”
These are questions which the public of the region should demand answers, because the ethics of elected representatives and the institutions they governed has been called into question.
“We regret being forced to give public evidence of this situation – concluded the Director of ALDA, AntonellaValmorbida-but silence would be complicit in unlawful conduct. And we are even more regretful for the thirty years of history of Asael, its efficient staff and the president himself Sol, who we always had, until these facts have emerged, a very good account on. Asael was our partner and Sol was a member of our Board. It’s a real shame that things have had this outcome.”
The next 10th and 11th of March will take place in Sarajevo “NEXPO 2011” , the first Local Government Fair including participants from South Eastern Europe. ALDA is actively involved in the programme of this event with a stand and the participation of its President, Per Vinther, in the first panel on Good Governance and EU Integration (see http://nexpo.nalas.eu/).
The stand will mostly present the last activities of ALDA on local governance and citizens participation as well as the activities of the Local Democracy Agencies from Mostar, Prijedor and Zavidovici. “NEXPO 2011” is organised by NALAS, network of associations of local authorities of South East Europe, and more than 1,000 people will be participating, representatives from local municipalities, associations and international organisations.
A clear definition and extension of the competences of local authorities, appropriate local and regional financial means and autonomy, improvement of governance through increased transparence and participation and strengthening of capacities for public services. These are the four central needs of local authorities in the Western Balkans indicated by Keith Withmore, President of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities, in his conclusion speech of the conference on the European perspective of the Western Balkans and the contribution of local and regional authorities that took place in Paris, in the French Senate, on 18th and 19th of February. Mr Keith Whitmore underlined also the involvement of the Congress in the Balkans (citing explicitly the LDAs and their existence since 1993 and ALDA’s work).
The conference united representatives of local authorities and other stakeholders of European decentralised cooperation. It was an excellent occasion for French local authorities and authorities from the Western Balkans to meet and exchange their views on the strategies and priorities of European integration.
A central point of reflection was the role of local authorities’ international cooperation in the integration process. Further subjects discussed included the role of good local governance and public local policy for European integration. The pause of enlargement is a chance to rethink the relationship between the EU and the Western Balkans, underlined the debate, and the governments in the Balkans have to act now, and at the same time, the EU has to speed up the accession procedures and propose viable political solution to problems such as the Kosovo issue. Many participants also demanded a greater implication of local authorities in the accession process.
Per Vinther, President of ALDA, was present at the conference and informed about its activities in decentralised cooperation in one of the workshops. The project of decentralised cooperation between Lower Normandy and the Republic of Macedonia was at the centre of attention. The conference was organised by the French Association of the Council of European Municipalities and Regions (AFCCRE) in cooperation with the municipality of Dijon and the Community of Greater Dijon.
In cooperation with the The Franco-German Youth Office OFAJ and memorial centresOradur-sur-Glane in France and Dachau in Germany, LDA CSS implemented three cycle seminar entitled “War and Propaganda: An Approach to History in Europe”.
After a seminar in Dachau, this year youth groups from Germany, France and Serbia met in Oradour, France and Nis. Each seminar has been led by wellknown national historians, experts on each specific topic. Young people had the opportunity to question the relationship between propaganda in the Second World War and the 90s conflicts in the former Yugoslavia while investigating transnational historiography.
Across the EU, migrant people remain underrepresented in democratic processes, often excluded from decision-making and civic life. The Citizenship Academy project addresses this democratic gap by empowering migrant people as active EU citizens and strengthening participatory democracy from the local to the European level.
The project brings together partners in Spain, Italy, France, and Romania to deliver action-based training and civic campaigns focused on EU rights, responsibilities, and political engagement.
Through Citizenship Academy, migrant people will co-create citizen-led initiatives that respond to key EU debates and local challenges such as housing, integration policies, and equal treatment.
OBJECTIVES
Specific objectives of Citizenship Academy:
1. To develop educational training and campaigns on EU values, rights and responsibilities, as well as participatory processes to promote migrants’ active engagement.
2. To build citizen-led initiatives in response to current EU debates, nourished by local representatives, NGOs and political parties, facilitating cooperation between citizens and public authorities.
3. To create civil society networks of migrant rights defenders and promoters for the engagement of democratic and civic participation.
On 12 March 2026, ALDA delivered a dedicated training workshop on the Citizens, Equality, Rights and Values Programme (CERV) and other European funding opportunities at the invitation of the FIBGAR Foundation in Madrid, Spain. Hosted at the headquarters of Greenpeace Spain, the session brought together local civil society representatives and professionals eager to strengthen their capacity to access EU funding.
The training was delivered in Spanish by ALDA Project Designer, Alma Bustamante, ensuring accessibility and practical relevance for all participants.
This workshop is part of a broader training offer developed by ALDA to support its members and partners in navigating European programmes. Drawing on the expertise of over 30 staff members, ALDA delivers tailored, practical, and hands-on sessions designed to strengthen project development capacities. These trainings not only explain funding frameworks such as CERV, but also equip participants with the tools and confidence needed to transform ideas into successful project applications.
ALDA’s training sessions empower local actors to transform ideas into competitive EU-funded projects.
The Citizens, Equality, Rights and Values Programme (CERV) plays a crucial role in promoting citizens’ engagement, equality, rights, and democratic participation across Europe. However, many organisations, particularly at the local level, face challenges in understanding its priorities, identifying suitable calls, or building competitive proposals. ALDA’s training sessions directly address these challenges by combining policy insights, concrete examples, and interactive exchanges.
This initiative builds on a successful series of workshops launched in 2025. The first sessions were organised in collaboration with the FNADAC in Paris, France and the Merkury Foundation in Krzyżowa, Poland. These events aimed to raise awareness of the CERV programme while encouraging the development of local projects aligned with its priorities. They also provided a platform for participants to exchange experiences and explore potential partnerships.
Further sessions were organised in Brussels, Belgium in cooperation with the ECIT Foundation and in Valletta, Malta with the Local Councils’ Association, confirming the growing interest among local authorities and civil society organisations in strengthening their engagement with EU funding opportunities.
Building on this momentum, ALDA continues to expand its training offer and invites its members and partners to take full advantage of this resource. Whether you are looking to better understand the CERV programme, explore other European funding opportunities, or empower your team with practical project development skills, ALDA can design and deliver a workshop tailored to your needs.
Hosting a training session also represents an opportunity to strengthen networks, promote collaboration, and position your organisation within a broader European ecosystem of engaged stakeholders. By bringing together local actors, these workshops contribute to building stronger and more resilient communities committed to democratic participation and active citizenship.
To explore tailored training opportunities and enhance your organisation’s capacity to access EU funding, please contact ALDA Campaign and Policy Officer Alexandre Météreau at alexandre@alda-europe.eu.
The ALDA network continues to grow and diversify, welcoming six new members during the latest Governing Board Meeting held online on 13 April 2026. This expansion reflects ALDA’s ongoing commitment to promoting inclusive, participatory, and resilient local governance by engaging a wide range of actors from across Europe and beyond.
The newly admitted members bring extensive expertise in fields such as migration, youth empowerment, cultural innovation, gender equality, and territorial development, further enriching ALDA’s thematic hubs and reinforcing its mission to promote democratic values at the local level.
A diverse and impact-oriented membership
The new members represent a dynamic mix of civil society organisations, public authorities, and social enterprises, each contributing unique perspectives and operational experience.
Based in Verona, Italy, One Bridge To operates along the Balkan Route, providing humanitarian aid and support to migrants, refugees, and people on the move. Established in 2016, the organisation combines direct assistance with awareness-raising activities, including educational programmes and public events that amplify the voices and stories of affected communities. Its strong engagement at the grassroots level aligns closely with ALDA’s focus on inclusion and human rights.
The Provincia di Caserta, located in the Campania region, represents a key public authority covering 104 municipalities and approximately 900,000 inhabitants. With competencies spanning environmental protection, infrastructure, education, and local development, the Province plays a strategic role in supporting territorial governance and enhancing public service delivery.
Founded in Vicenza in 2024, Bucce Studio is a social cooperative born from the merger of two local cultural organisations. It supports artists and communities through participatory processes, cultural regeneration, and EU project development. Its work contributes to strengthening the sustainability and inclusiveness of the cultural sector, fostering collaboration and innovation at the local level.
Daktilo84 (D84), based in Türkiye, is a non-partisan civil society organisation dedicated to promoting pluralistic democracy. Through research, civic education, and public dialogue, D84 enhances participatory governance and policy development. The organisation has previously collaborated with ALDA in the WE ACT project, contributing to strengthening women’s political participation and media visibility.
TGS Eurogroup APS is an association rooted in the Salesian tradition, active across Northeast Italy. Since the early 2000s, it has developed programmes focused on European citizenship education, youth mobility, and intercultural exchange. By enabling young people to engage with European institutions and opportunities, the organisation plays a vital role in fostering active citizenship and shared European identity.
The Public Association Social Technologies Agency (STA) is a leading NGO in Kyrgyzstan, with a long-standing commitment to gender equality and civic education. Founded in 1995, STA has implemented numerous projects addressing women’s rights, youth leadership, and environmental issues. Today, it remains a key actor in strengthening the women’s movement and advancing inclusive policies at the national level.
Strengthening ALDA’s mission
The integration of these new members highlights ALDA’s continuous expansion as a global network of local democracy stakeholders. By bringing together organisations with complementary expertise and geographic reach, ALDA enhances its capacity to address complex societal challenges through collaborative and decentralised approaches.
Their involvement will contribute to advancing key thematic priorities, including Gender, Inclusion & Human Rights, Youth Empowerment & Education, Environment & Climate, Digitalisation & Innovation, and Citizens Engagement.
As ALDA moves forward in implementing its strategic vision, the inclusion of new members represents not only growth in numbers but also a strengthening of its collective impact. These organisations will play an essential role in shaping future initiatives, supporting partnerships, and delivering tangible results for communities across Europe and neighbouring regions.
Strasbourg (France), 2 April 2026 – The meeting of the ALDA Governing Board brought together Board members and Secretariat staff in a hybrid format, reaffirming the organisation’s strategic direction and its growing role in promoting democratic resilience, decentralised cooperation, and local governance across Europe and beyond.
The session was opened online by ALDA President Nataša Vučković, who framed the discussions within the broader international context, highlighting the increasing importance of local democracy in times of geopolitical uncertainty. The meeting was chaired by Roger Lawrence, ensuring a structured and forward-looking exchange among participants.
Strategic vision for 2026: Local Democracy that Delivers
At the core of the discussions was the adoption of the 2026 Programme and Budget, anchored in the overarching theme “Local Democracy that Delivers.” This strategic orientation reflects ALDA’s ambition to advance a positive and results-oriented narrative of democracy, emphasising tangible impact and resilience in local governance systems.
The Governing Board acknowledged the evolving European policy landscape, particularly in view of the upcoming Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF), and underlined ALDA’s proactive engagement with policymakers and stakeholders. Key thematic priorities include digital transformation, artificial intelligence, and the strengthening of democratic institutions, alongside continued support for enlargement processes, particularly in the Western Balkans.
A significant focus of the meeting was ALDA’s ongoing decentralisation strategy, aimed at empowering geographical and thematic hubs with increased autonomy, resources, and operational capacity
This transformation is accompanied by:
The diversification of funding sources
The expansion of ALDA’s geographical scope, including engagement beyond its traditional areas of operation
The development of a Centre of Expertise to capitalise on institutional knowledge and strengthen impact measurement
The Governing Board also reviewed the progress of ALDA Italia and ALDA+, highlighting their role in testing new operational models, strengthening financial sustainability, and expanding partnerships at local and regional levels.
Strengthening Membership and Governance
With a growing network of over 300 members, ALDA continues to consolidate its role as a key actor in participatory democracy and local governance.
The meeting showcased the diversity of ALDA’s project portfolio, including innovative initiatives such as:
Hatedemics, a platform addressing hate speech through digital tools and artificial intelligence
These initiatives illustrate ALDA’s ability to adapt to emerging challenges while maintaining a strong focus on democratic values and local empowerment.
Looking ahead: General Assembly and strategic priorities
Preparations for the upcoming General Assembly in Malta were discussed extensively, including the organisation of an Extraordinary General Assembly to address Statute changes.
The Governing Board meeting in Strasbourg marked a key milestone in consolidating ALDA’s strategic direction, reinforcing its commitment to decentralisation, innovation, and democratic resilience.
As global challenges continue to evolve, ALDA positions itself not only as a project-based organisation, but as a centre of expertise and a catalyst for democratic transformation, capable of delivering concrete impact across diverse contexts.
CLIMART-D. Art for Democracy in Climate Action responds to the challenge of bridging civic participation and climate action, by promoting the creation and transnational circulation of contemporary artworks produced by young European artists exploring the question “Why do we need democracy for climate action?”. Through interdisciplinary artistic capsules, participants will use co-creation, dialogue, and mentorship to develop works that reflect democratic values such as inclusion, equality, and shared responsibility. These creations will be presented in interactive and participatory exhibitions that aim not only to showcase art, but also to open public dialogue and foster civic reflection through artistic experience.
Activities will take place in three partner countries (Germany, Italy, and Portugal), including workshops, training sessions, co-creation moments, and a series of physical and online exhibitions. The goal is to enhance the role of art as a tool for critical reflection and active participation on issues of environmental sustainability and social justice.
OBJECTIVES
To empower young European artists to collaboratively create interdisciplinary artworks.
To build artistic, democratic, and environmental literacy through training, mentorship, and structured reflection
To foster international mobility and dialogue through public participatory exhibitions and digital platforms.
To support inclusive artistic practices by integrating Deep Democracy methods and hybrid (online & offline) collaboration tools.
Republic of Moldova.Eight civil society organisations have been selected to receive grants under the European Union-funded INSPIRED Moldova project, marking a significant step towards strengthening local cooperation and promoting sustainable civic engagement across the country.
Following a competitive call for proposals, the selected organisations will translate knowledge and experience into concrete, community-driven actions, implementing innovative initiatives aimed at enhancing local development and fostering dialogue between civil society and public authorities.
With support coordinated by ALDA, these initiatives will contribute to strengthening mechanisms for public consultation and dialogue between civil society and local authorities. In doing so, they aim to promote more inclusive, transparent, and participatory policymaking processes, while increasing civic engagement, particularly among underrepresented groups.
A key component of the project is the exchange of European best practices. Through a series of international study visits in Denmark, Romania, Slovakia, Czechia, and Italy, participating organisations will gain first-hand insights into innovative approaches to local governance.
These exchanges will facilitate the transfer of knowledge and support the alignment of local practices with European standards, fostering sustainable and effective governance models.
The selected organisations have been recognised for their strong commitment to promoting democratic values and applying European best practices at the local level. Their projects are expected to contribute to building more resilient communities, where citizens are actively involved in shaping public policies and local development processes.
INSPIRED Moldova, running from 2024 to 2027, aims to create a more enabling environment for civil society in the Republic of Moldova. By empowering civil society organisations to actively participate in political dialogue at local, national, and digital levels, the project supports the country’s broader democratic development and European integration path.
Building on the momentum of Moldova’s EU accession process, the initiative facilitates dialogue on the conditions necessary for a thriving civil society, as well as on the reforms linked to accession negotiations. Through targeted capacity-building, the project strengthens the role of CSOs as key actors in democratic governance, enabling them to act as catalysts for inclusive and participatory decision-making.
Particular attention is given to the involvement of underrepresented groups and women, ensuring that diverse voices are included in policy discussions. In this way, INSPIRED Moldova contributes not only to improving governance processes, but also to reinforcing democratic resilience and social cohesion.
By supporting civil society and supporting meaningful dialogue, INSPIRED Moldova plays a key role in advancing inclusive governance and accelerating the country’s path towards European integration.
Varna, Bulgaria – 26–27 March 2026. The city of Varna became a dynamic hub of multistakeholder dialogue, hosting an international and action-oriented event within the framework of the FOSTER project. The two-day meeting focused on how to transform urban spaces into greener, more inclusive environments that respond to the needs of all inhabitants.
Designed as a participatory and collaborative process, the event aimed to co-create concrete proposals for the transformation of urban areas into vibrant, accessible green spaces. Organised by the hosting partner UBBSLA, the initiative brought together project partners alongside local authorities, civil society representatives, and urban practitioners. Through a simulated multistakeholder roundtable, participants explored the specific urban challenges faced by Varna and jointly identified solutions to enhance the quality of life across its neighbourhoods.
This inclusive approach promoted meaningful dialogue between diverse actors, enabling participants to engage directly with different perspectives. The discussions went beyond problem identification, focusing on the development of practical and actionable recommendations for policies and practices. These contributions will feed into the city’s Green City Action Plan, supporting the long-term objectives outlined in Varna’s Green Urban Transition Plan 2030.
Within the broader framework of the FOSTER project, the Varna Local Path plays a key role in advancing governance approaches that can better anticipate and respond to climate-related challenges at the local level. Since the project’s launch in September 2024, partners have been working to strengthen capacities in strategic foresight while promoting inclusive, multistakeholder co-design processes.
In the case of Varna, this work builds upon a comprehensive needs assessment, which identified key priorities such as improving overall quality of life, expanding green infrastructure, and ensuring accessibility for all citizens.
At the same time, several structural challenges were highlighted, including high urban density, underutilised public spaces, and limited availability of green areas.
A particularly impactful moment of the event was the guided study visit across the city. This field-based activity allowed participants to experience firsthand the architectural and infrastructural barriers that limit mobility. These challenges affect not only persons with disabilities, but also elderly citizens, parents with strollers, and individuals facing temporary mobility constraints. By grounding discussions in real-life conditions, the visit underscored the importance of accessibility as a central component of urban sustainability.
Building on these observations, participants collaboratively developed proposals for immediate actions, practical interventions, and long-term policy measures aimed at improving accessibility and inclusiveness in Varna’s urban green spaces. The process highlighted how inclusive urban planning is essential to ensuring that environmental transitions benefit all members of society.
The event concluded with a dedicated session among project partners, focusing on the final phase of the FOSTER project. Following a plenary exchange on the outcomes of the Local Paths, participants engaged in a peer-learning session to share feedback, insights, and lessons learned across different contexts.
Looking ahead, partners initiated discussions on upcoming project milestones, including the online dissemination event scheduled for 9 June 2026 and the final conference, which will take place in Vienna on 17 September 2026. Both events will be organised by Foster Europe, with further details to be shared in the coming weeks.
By fostering collaboration, strategic foresight, and inclusive dialogue, the FOSTER project continues to support cities like Varna in shaping greener, more resilient, and accessible urban futures.
Strasbourg (France), 1 April 2026 – ALDA has signed a new Memorandum of Co-operation with the Secretariat of the Council of Europe, further consolidating its partnership with the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities, the political assembly that established ALDA in 1999 and today represents 130.000 local and regional authorities across all 46 member States.
The agreement renews the framework signed on 5 June 2002, marking a significant step in a long-standing relationship dedicated to strengthening local and regional democracy in Europe and beyond. Grounded in a shared commitment to human rights, democracy, and the rule of law, the Memorandum sets out a common objective: to foster citizen participation, civic engagement, and responsible governance at the local and regional levels, ensuring that democratic principles are translated into tangible action.
“We think that the local level is the place where you live democracy in concrete terms. Through the activities of the Congress and ours, the local space is a place of resilience. We think this is where democracy as a slogan can be implemented, through a true and trustworthy dialogue with the public institutions.”
The Memorandum provides a structured framework for cooperation, including reciprocal participation in meetings, co-organisation of events, joint analytical work, coordinated fundraising initiatives, communication activities, and the exchange of expertise.
Through this renewed partnership, ALDA reaffirms its mission to advance participatory democracy across Europe and its neighbourhood, strengthening the role of local and regional authorities as essential actors in democratic life.
Strasbourg (France), 2 April 2026 – The LDA Kharkiv Partner Meeting brought together European and Ukrainian stakeholders in a hybrid format, marking a significant step forward in reinforcing decentralised cooperation and supporting Ukraine’s recovery. The meeting provided a strategic platform to consolidate partnerships, align priorities, and advance the operational development of the Local Democracy Agency (LDA) Kharkiv.
At a critical moment for Ukraine, the discussion reaffirmed the central role of decentralised cooperation in promoting and supporting resilience, strengthening local governance, and ensuring that recovery efforts are grounded in the needs of communities. Participants shared a common commitment to supporting the Kharkiv region through concrete, coordinated, and long-term actions.
A clear vision for LDA Kharkiv
A key highlight of the meeting was the formal introduction of Valentyna Smachylo as the newly appointed delegate of LDA Kharkiv. Presenting her strategic vision, she outlined a forward-looking and operational approach to positioning the LDA as a practical hub for local development and international cooperation.
Her vision places strong emphasis on supporting municipalities, civil society organisations, and local communities across the Kharkiv region through project development, capacity-building, and international partnerships. Key priorities include reinforcing participatory governance, enhancing community resilience, and supporting vulnerable groups affected by the war.
Importantly, she stressed the need to rapidly consolidate the LDA from an institutional perspective, ensuring it becomes fully operational and capable of engaging effectively with international partners.
The meeting was further enriched by the contribution of Tetiana Yehorova-Lutsenko, President of UAROR and Chair of the Kharkiv Regional Council, who reaffirmed the strong commitment of regional authorities to the LDA initiative. She highlighted both the challenges faced by the Kharkiv region and its remarkable resilience, underlining the importance of sustained cooperation with ALDA and international partners.
This perspective was echoed by Maksym Kolinko, representing the Kharkiv Regional Council, who confirmed the Council’s readiness to actively support all initiatives related to LDA Kharkiv, reinforcing the robust institutional backing behind the project.
Violeta Moskalu, President of PromoUkraine, contributed a valuable perspective on the importance of academic cooperation, youth exchanges, and university partnerships. She emphasised that these dimensions are essential for fostering long-term resilience and supporting Ukraine’s reconstruction beyond immediate recovery needs.
From coordination to action
The discussion also featured contributions from Marcello Raimondi and Luis Vanella, representing the European Action for Nonviolent Peace Movement (MEAN), who presented ongoing initiatives in support of Ukraine. Their work combines humanitarian assistance with peacebuilding actions, promoting nonviolent engagement and strengthening connections with local communities.
Across all interventions, a clear message emerged: the need to move swiftly from coordination to concrete action on the ground. In this context, LDA Kharkiv is expected to play a pivotal role not only as a platform for dialogue, but as an operational actor capable of delivering tangible support to communities.
Communication and visibility were also identified as key priorities, essential to building trust at the local level and expanding international partnerships.
ALDA expresses its sincere gratitude to all partners for their active participation and continued commitment. Special thanks are extended to the Grand Est Region for hosting the meeting in Strasbourg, and to Christian Debève, President of the International Relations Commission, for his valuable support and engagement.
With strong institutional backing, a committed network of partners, and a clear strategic direction, LDA Kharkiv is now entering a crucial phase of implementation. The shared objective remains clear: to deliver concrete, lasting impact for communities across the region and contribute to a more resilient, democratic, and cohesive Ukraine.
From 19 to 21 March 2026, the Circular Design Alliance (CiD) project—of which ALDA is a partner—organised the symposium “What Goes Around Comes Around” in Vilnius. The event took place at the National Gallery of Art and other venues across the city.
The event brought together a global network of architects, urban planners, researchers, and cultural practitioners to address the transition towards a circular built environment. By bringing critical discourse in urbanism and architecture into dialogue with artistic practice, the event approached circular design not only as a strategy of material reuse, but as a transformative framework for rethinking value, labour, energy, and continuity over time.
The conference explored practices that foreground time as a foundational concern of design, work with existing structures, cultivate regenerative approaches, and seek to repair relationships between architecture, territory, and society.
The first day opened with a workshop and discussion titled “How Continuous Education Can Enable Circular Construction”.During the session, participants reflected on the current challenges faced by circular design practitioners. Partners of the Circular Design Alliance (CiD) project presented the outcomes of the Continuous Education Programmes implemented over recent months.
These discussions enabled participants to exchange experiences, identify existing gaps in professional training, and explore how continuous education can better support architects, designers, and construction professionals in adopting circular practices. The session also emphasised the importance of strengthening interdisciplinary collaboration and knowledge exchange to accelerate the transition towards more sustainable and circular built environments.
On the second day, the conference continued at the National Gallery of Art with keynote presentations on circular architecture and urban transformation.
The session “Planning for Long-Term Transformation” explored how circular design principles can guide sustainable urban development and the future of the built environment. Speakers shared perspectives from architectural practice, urban governance, and spatial research, highlighting the need to integrate circular thinking into long-term planning processes. The discussion stressed the importance of designing adaptable buildings, promoting material reuse, and aligning architectural innovation with supportive urban policies
The second session, “Matters of Time,” further explored how temporal perspectives influence architectural design, building lifecycles, and material use. Through practical examples, speakers illustrated practical strategies such as building transformation, adaptive reuse, and material recovery. These approaches demonstrate how extending the lifespan of buildings and embedding flexibility into design can significantly reduce environmental impact while preserving cultural and material value.
In the closing keynote,“It’s About Time: The Architecture of Change,” Saskia Van Stein, Artistic and Managing Director of the International Architecture Biennale Rotterdam, reflected on the role of architecture in addressing contemporary environmental and societal challenges. She highlighted the need to move beyond short-term thinking and embrace systemic change in how buildings are designed, used, and transformed over time.
Alongside the conference, the National Gallery of Art hosted the exhibition “Invisible Labour” which will remain open until 19 of April 2026.
The symposium highlighted the growing momentum behind circular approaches in architecture and urban development, reaffirming the importance of collaboration, continuous education, and innovation in shaping more sustainable and resilient built environments.
In this context, the Circular Design Alliance (CiD) project exemplifies circular design in practice by fostering collaboration, continuous education, and knowledge exchange among architects, researchers, and cultural institutions. Initiatives such as this symposium demonstrate the project’s commitment to strengthening expertise and building the networks needed to advance circular practices across the built environment.
Period:
01/01/2026 - 31/12/2027
Countries involved:
Austria Belgium Bosnia and Herzegovina Croatia France Greece Italy North Macedonia
Bridging Beliefs brings together local authorities, religious associations, CSOs, and citizens from nine European countries to strengthen democratic participation and social cohesion through structured interfaith and interconvictional dialogue. At a time when religious intolerance and societal polarisation pose growing challenges across Europe, the project creates sustainable, inclusive spaces where faith-based perspectives can engage constructively with civic life and local governance. Through capacity-building, non-formal education, and transnational exchange of best practices, Bridging Beliefs equips religious communities and institutions alike with practical tools and methodologies to make interfaith and intercultural dialogue a meaningful and lasting part of democratic decision-making.Ultimately, the project envisions a replicable European model where religious and cultural diversity is embraced as a source of strength — contributing to more cohesive, peaceful, and democratic societies.
OBJECTIVES
Overall Objective: To foster peace education, democratic engagement and social inclusion by enhancing structured interreligious and interconvictional dialogue at the local and European levels.
Specific Objectives:
To increase the opportunities for representation and meaningful participation of religious and convictional communities in European societies.
To facilitate continuous, structured, and meaningful dialogue between religious communities and local authorities.
To raise public awareness and promote civic engagement on the value of interfaith dialogue, religious freedom, and pluralism as essential elements for social harmony.
Santa Croce del Sannio (Benevento), 22 marzo 2026 – Una mattinata di teatro e approfondimenti ha animato il borgo sannita in occasione della Giornata Mondiale dell’Acqua 2026, quest’anno dedicata al legame tra accesso alle risorse idriche e disuguaglianze di genere.
L’iniziativa “Giornata Mondiale dell’Acqua 2026: prospettive di genere dal Sannio”, promossa da Paese dell’Acqua APS in collaborazione con ALDA Italia APS, ha richiamato istituzioni, arte, cittadinanza, esperte ed esperti in un confronto che ha intrecciato dimensione locale e scenari globali.
La giornata è iniziata con la rappresentazione teatrale“Alla fontana. Piccola commedia d’acqua e di paese”, messa in scena presso la Fontana monumentale di Piazza Mercato dall’Associazione Giuseppe Maria Galanti APS. Un momento evocativo, capace di restituire il valore storico e sociale della raccolta dell’acqua, un tempo occasione privilegiata di incontro tra le donne.
A seguire, il Teatro Don Angelo Zeoli ha ospitato il convegno pubblico moderato dalla giornalista di LabTv Maresa Calzone. Dopo i saluti istituzionali del vicesindaco Andrea Sodano, il convegno ha preso il via con una serie di interventi che hanno approfondito il rapporto tra acqua e genere.
Georgia Tramacere, deputata al Parlamento europeo, ha offerto una lettura europea del tema, arricchita da esperienze concrete maturate a livello locale durante il suo incarico da vicesindaca ad Aradeo, nel Leccese. A seguire, Martina Rogato, consulente in sostenibilità e parità di genere, ha sottolineato come a livello globale le crisi idriche gravino soprattutto su donne e ragazze, impegnate nella raccolta dell’acqua, con ripercussioni su tempo, sicurezza e istruzione.
Di grande rilievo anche l’intervento di Libera Esposito, professoressa associata di geologia applicata all’Università degli Studi del Sannio, che ha proposto una lettura storica del rapporto tra donne e acqua, dalle leggende antiche alle scienziate e leader moderne. Carmine Finelli, vicepresidente dell’Associazione Paese dell’Acqua APS, ha poi spiegato come il diritto all’accesso all’acqua e ai servizi igienico-sanitari sia sancito a livello internazionale e risulti fondamentale per la parità di genere.
Momento significativo della giornata è stato l’annuncio ufficiale della prossima apertura del Centro di interpretazione delle acque dell’Alto Tammaro. Situato presso Palazzo Vitelli a Santa Croce del Sannio, il centro mira a valorizzare il patrimonio idrico del territorio, inserendosi nel più ampio progetto “Tracce”.
L’evento rientra nell’ambito del Progetto locale di rigenerazione culturale e sociale “Tracce”promosso dal Comune di Santa Croce del Sannio e dal Comune di Circello finanziato con la Misura PNRR M1C3 – Intervento 2.1 – Attrattività dei borghi storici. Un’iniziativa che conferma come anche piccoli centri come Santa Croce del Sannio possano inserirsi nel dibattito internazionale su risorse idriche e giustizia di genere.
From September 2025 to March 2026, the project “Towards a Local Democracy Agency (LDA) Belarus in Exile” advanced a structured, multi-sited consultation process across Wrocław, Vilnius, and Kraków, culminating in Warsaw at the Strategic Foresight Conference for Belarus on 27–28 March. Co-organised within the framework of the Beehive Consortium, the conference marked a key moment in rethinking Belarus’s democratic trajectory in a context of prolonged political crisis, regional insecurity, and sustained civic displacement.
The two-day conference led by the Belarus Beehive 2.0 programme (funded by the European Commission) in cooperation with ALDA (supported by the German Marshall Fund), provided a high-level platform for Belarusian and international experts, policymakers, and civil society leaders to explore long-term scenarios for democratic transformation.
Exile as a structural reality, not a temporary condition
In the policy dialogue panel “Belarus in Transition: Civic Resilience, Integration, and Local Democracy – Challenges & Perspectives”, the Secretary General of ALDA stressed a fundamental shift in approach:
“Belarusian exile can no longer be treated as a temporary emergency, but as a structural reality requiring long-term democratic investment!”
Building on field consultations with Belarusian communities in Poland and Lithuania, the intervention underscored a clear message emerging from the project: the transition from emergency support to sustainable democratic infrastructure is now imperative.
European institutions already provide significant instruments to support civil society, including funding schemes and mobility mechanisms, however, the discussion highlighted a persistent gap – the local translation of these tools into accessible, participatory mechanisms at municipal level.
In this context, ALDA’s Local Democracy Agency model was presented as a practical bridge between institutions, municipalities, and civic actors. By connecting diaspora and exiled Belarusian communities with local authorities and transforming funding into participatory governance processes, LDAs aim to move beyond assistance frameworks towards active democratic co-production.
Working group: local governance in practice
The conference also included a dedicated working group addressing practical dimensions of participation and governance. In Working Group 1 on Sub-national Governance & Exile Engagement organised by ALDA, Belarusian participants engaged directly with municipal representatives from Gdańsk, Wrocław, and Kraków, as well as with the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe.
Polish local authorities expressed readiness to further develop engagement mechanisms with Belarusian communities, particularly in areas of civic participation and local integration frameworks. The exchange reinforced the importance of municipal-level cooperation as a cornerstone of effective inclusion policies.
Integration, participation, and the limits of current systems
Findings from six months of consultations with Belarusian communities under the “Towards a Local Democracy Agency (LDA) Belarus in Exile” project revealed a persistent structural gap between a strong willingness to integrate and institutional readiness to include.
administrative instability limiting long-term access to housing, banking, and planning;
underutilisation of skills due to unresolved diploma recognition issues;
information gaps regarding access to local participation mechanisms.
Beyond these structural issues, the consultations also highlighted growing risks of social isolation, emotional fatigue, and fragmented support structures within exile communities.
Drawing on ALDA’s experience coordinating a network of 19 Local Democracy Agencies, the only conclusion we can draw is that integration without participation is not sustainable.
Two priority pathways were identified to address this gap. First, the need for co-creation mechanisms between municipalities and Belarusian civil society actors in designing integration policies. Second, the establishment of structured civic spaces capable of enabling sustained participation in local governance processes.
The proposed Local Democracy Agency Belarus in Exile was presented during the Warsaw event as such a platform, serving simultaneously as a coordination mechanism, a capacity-building instrument, and a bridge towards future democratic governance in Belarus. As emphasised in the discussion, Belarusian communities in exile represent not only a group requiring support, but a strategic civic resource. Investing in their capacities is an investment in both the future democratic Belarus and the broader resilience of European democratic systems.
Building on the findings of the project “Towards a Local Democracy Agency Belarus in Exile”, which served as a preparatory phase for the establishment of the LDA Belarus in Exile initiative, ALDA will continue to work closely with interested Belarusian, Polish, and other international partners to advance the initiative and strengthen democratic practice for Belarusians at the local level.
The proposed Local Democracy Agency Belarus in Exile seeks to respond to this need by transforming fragmented initiatives into coordinated action, and by reframing exile from a condition of isolation into a space of preparation for democratic renewal.
In this sense, the Warsaw Strategic Foresight Conference for Belarus marked not only a moment of reflection, but also a step towards the gradual institutionalisation of a new model of engagement – one in which local democracy is both a lived practice in the present and a strategic horizon for a future democratic Belarus.
Period:
01/01/2026 - 31/12/2027
Countries involved:
Bosnia and Herzegovina Croatia Italy Kosovo* North Macedonia Portugal
FAIR GAME tackles women’s disengagement in sports by building a network of local authorities and associations to promote gender equality and access to sports. It addresses barriers like stereotypes, social norms, limited infrastructure, and unequal domestic work. Partners engage communities, provide training on gender mainstreaming, exchange best practices, and test pilot actions to boost female participation. Policy co-design with local stakeholders ensures long-term impact and lasting change.
On 26 March 2026, the University of Granada hosted the final conference of the HATEDEMICS project, with more than 100 delegates from all over Europe attending. They included NGO employees, fact-checkers, researchers, public officials, and young activists – people who deal with hate speech and disinformation on a daily basis on different levels and contexts, and they all brought the same questions and motivations.
The event officially marked the end of two years of EU-funded work carried out in six Member States of the EU – Italy, France, Poland, Malta, Spain, and Estonia. Two years of building structured frameworks to detect and analyse harmful content, developing AI-based tools to assess hate speech and disinformation risks, crafting human-validated counter-narratives, and designing training resources grounded in EU values – all of it tested in real contexts and with real communities.
Yet, for those in the room, “end” was perhaps the last word that came to mind. Online hate speech and disinformation are notabstract policy issues. On the contrary, they determine the results of elections, silence minorities, and radicalise young people, and they’re getting worse: AI-generated content is spreading faster than ever before, while fact-checking capabilities are diminishing in an online world in which two-thirds of the global population is now connected, two opposite trends evolving simultaneously.
HATEDEMICS has always been about getting tools and frameworks into the right hands, not just creating them
The programme moved between reflection, success stories, and hands-on experience. The day started with a keynote from the Council of Europe, followed by two panel discussions that brought the kind of honesty that rarely makes it into official reports – the first on how the Hatedemics journey went from research to action, the second one on how to build a safer digital public sphere. Participants then heard the presentation of the HATEDEMICS Platform, a tool suite that brings together the expertise of all project partners, followed by the impact stories shared by practitioners from across the consortium.
The afternoon took on a different energy, turning the day into an interactive and participatory workshop where people worked with the tools directly and thought collectively about how to adapt them to their own realities. After a presentation of the Educational Toolkit and its contents, the platform was then tested by the participants. The workshop was designed for both students and experts, so that it could reach and train a wider audience. But the most important moments were the ones in between – the side conversations, the practitioners from different countries realising they were facing the same challenges, the young activists who came in skeptical and left with something they could actually use.
HATEDEMICS has always been about getting tools and frameworks into the right hands, not just creating them and the handover took place during the conference. This project ended, but not the fight against hate speech and disinformation.
If you want to know more about all the work carried out, check out the project website, or follow us on social media!
Peja, Kosovo* – 25 March 2026. The city of Peja hosted the international conference of the EU-funded project #FairGame: Gender-equal Access to Movement and Exercise. Organised by the Municipality of Peja and LDA Kosovo, the event brought together local authorities, European partners, and sports professionals to address one of the most pressing challenges in sport today: women’s participation and equality.
Opening the conference, Xhenet Syka, Director of Culture, Youth and Sport at the Municipality of Peja, welcomed participants and outlined the objectives of the #FairGame project, focusing on removing barriers to women’s participation in sport while fostering European cooperation.
The first panel, “Local Challenges & Barriers to Women’s Participation in Sport”, highlighted cultural, social, and structural obstacles faced by women in Kosovo and beyond. Speakers included Ardita Bala, Executive Director of the Women Wellness Center / Safe House; Armenda Filipaj, founder of Women’s Football Club Prishtina, who presented the establishment of Peja’s first women’s football team; and Erina Berisha, a Kosovan basketball player. The discussion emphasised the role of local institutions and encouraged an interactive exchange with participants. It also marked the official announcement of the creation of the first women’s football club in Peja.
The second panel, “European Perspectives on Gender Equality in Sport: Policies, Practices and Cooperation”, broadened the discussion to the European level. Maurizio Camin, member of ALDA’s Governing Board, stressed that European values must evolve from coexistence to co-creation, highlighting resilience and community-building as key elements.
“It is time to change the modalities of co-existence… We need to rediscover the feminine point of view… In order to change the paradigm, we need to start from schools and include gender in education from a young age.”
Katica Janeva, Director of ALDA Balkans, emphasised the importance of dialogue and mutual learning:
“Openness and dialogue are essential. Projects supported through broader programmes create valuable opportunities to exchange practices, understand progress, and move forward together.”
Roberto Sani, City Councillor at the Municipality of Trento, underlined that the persistence of the gender gap in 2026 remains unacceptable, calling for stronger inspiration from younger generations.
The panel explored EU priorities under the CERV Programme, shared best practices from across Europe, and reinforced the importance of cross-border cooperation in advancing gender equality in sport.
In the afternoon, participants visited the National Judo Centre in Peja, celebrating the legacy of Olympic champion Majlinda Kelmendi. Her achievements continue to inspire women and girls in sport. Participants met with athletes and technical staff, gaining insight into how role models can reshape perceptions and create new opportunities.
By bringing together local and European perspectives, Peja positioned itself as a platform for dialogue on gender equality in sport. The conference combined policy discussion with cultural exchange, reinforcing the idea that sport is not only about competition but also about inclusion, inspiration, and shared values.
This event was organised within the framework of the project #FairGame: Gender-equal Access to Movement and Exercise.
On March 27, ALDA Winter School 2026 took place at Hotel Trettenero in Recoaro Terme, bringing together local administrators, legal experts, civil society activists, and water management professionals for an afternoon of free, open training on one of the most pressing challenges of our time: water as a common good.
Under the title “Acqua come bene comune: democrazia locale e partecipazione dei cittadini per la tutela delle risorse idriche”, the event explored how local communities can move from environmental awareness to concrete collective action in the governance of water resources. The session was held under the patronage of the Comune di Recoaro Terme, the Provincia di Vicenza, and the Unione Montana Pasubio Piccole Dolomiti.
From awareness to action: a multi-stakeholder dialogue
The heart of the afternoon was the panel “Dalla consapevolezza all’azione: comunità e governance dell’acqua”, which brought together three speakers with complementary perspectives: legal, civic, and operational, creating a rich and grounded dialogue between territories, experts, and local communities.
Claudia Marcolungo, environmental law scholar at the University of Padova, opened the discussion by addressing the legal and institutional framework around water rights. She highlighted the complexity of overlapping regulatory layers – international, national, and European – and the challenges this creates for effective protection. Recognising water as a human right, she argued, requires both legal courage and cultural openness: a right that belongs to people regardless of citizenship or institutional recognition, but one that is still difficult to enforce within formal legal systems. Marcolungo also stressed the structural rigidities that affect environmental governance in Italy, where competences are shared across multiple levels, the state, regions, provinces, municipalities, and technical bodies such as river basin authorities, often leading to fragmentation. When it comes to EU directives, the risk lies not just in transposition gaps, but in losing sight of key principles during implementation. What is needed is clarity, resources, and the political courage to act.
Anna Maria Panarotto, representative of the Mamme NO PFAS movement, brought a very powerful testimony. The movement was born from five mothers determined to understand the contamination of their land by PFAS, highly persistent chemical compounds, and to protect not only their own children, but entire communities. Their story is one of civic persistence: studying the science, keeping public attention alive, and refusing to accept filtered water as a substitute for accountability. Panarotto described the indifference they still encounter as the greatest obstacle, alongside the difficulty of reaching national ministries and industry bodies. Yet she was equally clear about what makes civic engagement meaningful: the willingness to engage in calm, mature, non-violent dialogue: “it happened, and we want it never to happen again”. Participation has a cost, she acknowledged, but so does silence.
Paolo Ronco, Head of Research and Innovation at Viacqua SpA, provided a concrete picture of the water situation in the Vicenza-Veneto area. Despite abundant rainfall, the region is experiencing near-chronic water stress: aquifer levels have dropped significantly over recent decades, soil impermeabilisation prevents groundwater recharge, and the area ranks among the world’s highest per-capita water consumers, particularly in food production. Ronco introduced the Svolta Blu initiative, a governance and financing model designed to mobilise non-public resources for water efficiency through a local credit system that connects producers and buyers of environmental credits at the Vicenza-Veneto scale. The message was clear: public funding alone is insufficient, and new models of shared governance are essential.
The session also featured a presentation by Debora Visentin from Viacqua SpA on the Contratto di Fiume Retrone, a voluntary strategic planning instrument that integrates multiple territorial plans across governance levels. By bringing together institutional actors, technical bodies, and third-sector stakeholders, the River Contract aims to rebuild what was described as a “hydraulic society”, a community that is aware of its water resources and collectively committed to caring for its territory.
What truly made a difference on this occasion was the encounter between different perspectives and the mutual enrichment this brought to all parties involved, a testament to how networking is the very foundation of local democracy and participation in the common good.
Looking ahead: the launch of ALDA Winter School 2027
The closing session of the day marked an exciting moment for ALDA’s training programme: the official launch of the ALDA Winter School 2027. The announcement confirmed the continuation of this formative series dedicated to local democracy and civic participation, a flagship initiative that sits at the intersection of ALDA’s work on green and sustainable territories and its broader mission of promoting active citizenship across Europe.
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On 4 March 2026, ALDA, in cooperation with the University of Novi Sad and At Clave, successfully organised the third citizen engagement workshop within the framework of the EU-funded FIC-FIGHTERS project. This initiative aims to improve the management of phosphogypsum (PG) stacks through sustainable waste management practices, promoting circular economy principles across Europe and beyond.
The event, entitled “Voices for Change: Exploring Solutions for the PG Stack in Prahovo”, marked another important step in strengthening participatory approaches and local democracy in environmental governance.
The Prahovo Case Study
The phosphogypsum stack in Prahovo, Serbia, represents one of the six case studies of the FIC-FIGHTERS project. Located along the banks of the Danube River, Prahovo is a small industrial town characterised by its proximity to a significant industrial complex.
The PG stack, situated near the river, raises several environmental concerns among local residents. These include potential water contamination, pollution of surrounding agricultural land, and airborne dust affecting air quality. Such challenges have a direct impact on both the ecosystem and the daily lives of the community.
The workshop gathered 15 local citizens, creating a safe and inclusive space for dialogue.
Participants were encouraged to share their experiences and perspectives on how the PG stack affects their territory, while also contributing to the co-creation of possible future scenarios.
The workshop demonstrated the essential role of citizen participation in shaping sustainable and inclusive environmental solutions. Through guided discussions and technical insights, participants engaged in a constructive exchange that combined local knowledge with expert input.
Several critical issues emerged during the discussions:
Environmental pollution affecting agricultural land, the waters of the Danube River, and air quality due to PG dust
Social and economic impacts on the local community and neighbouring areas
Insufficient monitoring and control of industrial activities by local authorities
Limited transparency and inadequate communication regarding the risks associated with the PG stack
These concerns underline the need for stronger governance mechanisms and improved communication between stakeholders.
Future Scenarios and Citizens’ Expectations
Participants expressed a shared vision for a healthier environment and a more sustainable future for their community. Key expectations included:
Enhanced citizen involvement in environmental decision-making processes
Revitalisation of affected areas through sustainable practices
Greater confidence in the potential reuse of phosphogypsum within a circular economy framework
The workshop highlighted a strong willingness among citizens to actively contribute to shaping local solutions.
Conclusion and Next Steps
Participants welcomed the opportunity to engage in meaningful discussions on an issue directly impacting their lives. The high level of awareness and engagement demonstrated the importance of inclusive platforms for dialogue and knowledge exchange.
Looking ahead, the next workshop will take place in Kutina, Croatia, in May 2026, focusing on another phosphogypsum case study. With a comprehensive agenda of activities, the FIC-FIGHTERS project continues to strengthen local democracy and participatory processes.
ALDA remains committed to fostering citizen engagement and supporting communities in addressing environmental challenges through collaborative and sustainable approaches.
