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.
From 20-23 April 2026, ALDA took part in the Global Sustainable Islands Summit 2026 in Gran Canaria, Spain, as part of the MED-Hubs consortium, joining a truly global community working towards more sustainable and resilient island and coastal territories.
This year’s Summit gathered participants from 67 countries and territories, making it one of the most geographically and professionally diverse editions to date. Across three days, 110 speakers, including government representatives, private sector leaders, researchers, and civil society organisations, contributed to discussions and exchanges shaping the future of island sustainability. The event confirmed the growing importance of international collaboration and the strength of a network bringing together actors committed to turning ideas into action.
For ALDA, participating in such a global setting represented an important opportunity to connect with stakeholders, policymakers, innovators, and development actors from around the world.
Our participation was mainly linked to the MED-Hubs project and its mission of promoting innovation in the blue economy. Throughout the Summit, ALDA and the consortium maintained a shared presence through the MED-Hubs networking stand, creating space to promote the project, exchange ideas, and build new connections.
One of the key highlights was the Global Blue-Tech Innovation Showcase organised by MALTAccelerate and delivered in partnership with the MED-Hubs Initiative and its network of organisations. The session featured startups presenting innovative solutions addressing challenges and opportunities across marine and coastal ecosystems to an audience of policymakers, investors, and development partners.
A particularly important contribution from MED-Hubs and the consortium was the support provided to the selected startups participating in the showcase, with MALTAccelerate playing a driving role both as a MED-Hubs partner and as a co-sponsor of GSIS 2026. Through this joint effort, ALDA contributed to creating visibility and opportunities for innovators to pitch their ideas, connect with key stakeholders, and engage with an international ecosystem focused on sustainability and blue innovation.
Beyond the showcase itself, the Summit offered several discussions that were particularly relevant to ALDA’s work and mission. Among them, Blue Governance for a Changing Ocean explored themes such as marine spatial planning, fisheries transitions, sustainable aquaculture, maritime innovation, and governance approaches for resilient ocean economies.
Another particularly valuable discussion was Island Governance for 2030: Policy, Collaboration & EU Alignment, which addressed governance challenges, EU frameworks, and opportunities for stronger collaboration across territories.
These conversations strongly resonated with ALDA’s work on local governance, participatory approaches, citizen engagement, and sustainable territorial development. They also reinforced the importance of creating stronger links between policy, innovation, and community-led solutions.
Participating in GSIS 2026 was a valuable opportunity to strengthen partnerships, exchange ideas, and position ALDA and MED-Hubs within an increasingly global conversation on sustainability and innovation. We look forward to building on the connections created during the Summit and continuing to support initiatives that bridge local action and international collaboration.
Restorative Outreach for Youth and Territorial Engagement
Montebelluna – Last Tuesday, experts from Italy, Finland, and Ireland gathered to present the outcomes of 18 months of transnational cooperation aimed at transforming conflict into opportunities for youth inclusion.
The final event of the project ROUTE+ (Restorative Outreach for Youth and Territorial Engagement) took place at the “Einaudi Scarpa” Higher Education Institute (Luigi Einaudi ITS Campus). Co-funded by the European Union, the initiative brought together partners from Italy, Finland, Ireland, and France to strengthen restorative approaches within educational, judicial, and community contexts.
After a year and a half of collaboration, the partnership presented the main milestones achieved throughout the project.
ROUTE+ aimed to strengthen the capacities of educators and public actors while promoting an educational culture based on dialogue, relationship-building, and harm repair.
Restorative practices were explored through different national perspectives. The Finnish partners focused primarily on the educational system, while the Irish experience addressed the judicial dimension more directly. The Italian partners, on the other hand, concentrated on the role of local communities and territorial support systems.
During the morning session, participants presented the main outputs developed within ROUTE+, including training programmes adapted to different national contexts and the publication of an e-Toolkit. Combining theoretical approaches with practical experiences, the toolkit aims to encourage the wider adoption of restorative tools within local communities.
Speeches and Speakers
The event welcomed prominent experts from the fields of education and restorative justice, who shared their experiences and technical insights. Opening the session and the subsequent stakeholder discussion was Tim Chapman, international expert, former President of the European Forum for Restorative Justice until 2022, and lecturer at Ulster University.
Chapman remains a key figure in the field thanks to his contribution to the implementation of restorative justice practices in Northern Ireland, demonstrating how these approaches can be effective even in contexts marked by violence and social division. He also contributed to drafting the Council of Europe’s guidelines on restorative justice in criminal matters.
The event continued with presentations from representatives of each pilot country and concluded with a round table discussion involving local stakeholders, focusing on the future development of restorative practices in the region.
Today’s event does not simply mark the end of a technical journey,” the partners emphasised, “but rather celebrates a more human vision of justice — one capable of turning conflict into an opportunity for collective growth and stronger communities.
L’8 maggio 2026, in occasione della Giornata dell’Europa, Villa Fabris ha ospitato un ricco programma di iniziative promosso da ALDA Italia APS, con il patrocinio e il contributo del Comune di Thiene. La ricorrenza è legata alla Dichiarazione Schuman del 9 maggio 1950, considerata l’atto di nascita del processo di integrazione europea, e rappresenta un momento simbolico dedicato ai valori di pace, cooperazione e solidarietà tra i popoli europei.
Nel pomeriggio, alunne e alunni di Thiene hanno partecipato a giochi e attività formative sull’Unione europea. Si è iniziato con una caccia al tesoro e con dei quiz sui Paesi membri e sui gruppi politici europei. Dopo una spiegazione sul funzionamento del Parlamento europeo, è stata organizzata una simulazione semplificata di dibattito parlamentare, pensata per avvicinare i più giovani ai meccanismi della democrazia europea in modo partecipativo e coinvolgente.
La serata si è poi aperta con il talk “Thiene e l’Europa – Prospettive a confronto”, moderato da Marco Scorzato, vice caporedattore del Giornale di Vicenza. Sono intervenuti Paolo Graziano, docente di Scienze politiche presso l’Università di Padova ed esperto di politiche europee, e Marina Maino, assessora ai bandi europei del Comune di Thiene. In apertura, il saluto di Antonella Valmorbida, Segretaria Generale di ALDA. Al centro del confronto il ruolo dell’Unione europea nei territori, le opportunità offerte dai fondi comunitari e le sfide che attendono l’Europa sui temi della pace e della coesione sociale.
A concludere la serata, un aperitivo a cura di ENGIM Sanga Bar e lo spettacolo teatrale e musicale “Fola de Raisa – Racconti di radice” di Eleonora Fontana e Davide Peron, dedicato alle tradizioni popolari locali del primo Novecento. Un momento culturale che ha evidenziato come la valorizzazione delle proprie radici possa rappresentare un punto di partenza per costruire una cittadinanza europea più consapevole.
Un evento che ha unito educazione civica, dialogo e cultura locale, rafforzando la relazione tra comunità e valori europei.
The meeting, initiated by LDA Odesa Region in cooperation with ALDA, aimed to strengthen international humanitarian cooperation and reinforce solidarity and local democracy initiatives in the Odesa region.
Discussions focused on the current humanitarian situation and the most urgent needs of vulnerable groups, including internally displaced persons, veterans, people with disabilities, and children affected by the war.
Particular attention was dedicated to several strategic priorities for local communities and institutions, including:
preparation for the winter period;
ensuring stable water and heat supply;
strengthening energy resilience for communities and social institutions;
developing sustainable solutions in the field of water management;
rehabilitation programmes and mental health support;
support for children and families, including opportunities to organise solidarity and rehabilitation stays for Ukrainian children in Italy.
Representatives of the Odesa Regional Military Administration expressed their sincere gratitude to the Italian partners for their continued solidarity with Ukraine, their concrete support to local communities, and their willingness to contribute to humanitarian initiatives in the region during this challenging period.
The meeting also reaffirmed the importance of international partnerships and people-to-people cooperation in supporting Ukrainian communities affected by the war. Through initiatives such as this, ALDA and LDA Odesa Region continue to facilitate dialogue, cooperation, and coordinated action between European civil society organisations and Ukrainian local authorities.
As Ukraine continues to face the consequences of the war, strengthening long-term partnerships, reinforcing local resilience, and supporting democratic local governance remain essential priorities for ensuring sustainable recovery and community wellbeing.
On 6 May 2026, the city of Luleå, Sweden, hosted the final event of the NEVERMORE project, a moment to reflect on four years of intensive collaboration and activities. The event, co-organised by ALDA, was held in a hybrid format to engage stakeholders across Europe and welcomed more than 300 participants, both online and in person.
Valeria Fantini, ALDA Project Manager, opened the event alongside the host, Lina Widenmo from Energikontor Norr, warmly welcoming participants. Following the opening remarks, Project Coordinator Alessia Torre from Fondazione Bruno Kessler (FBK) and Technical Lead Ivan Ramos from CARTIF Technology Center presented the core vision of NEVERMORE, highlighting how transnational collaboration and technical integration have been essential in translating complex climate science into concrete solutions.
The morning session, titled “Reading the Signs”, was led by Stelios Karozis from the National Center for Scientific Research Demokritos (NCSRD). He emphasised a key project principle: the challenge today is no longer simply collecting climate data, but localising it and transforming it into evidence-based policy decisions capable of generating tangible territorial impact.
This practical approach also guided the presentation of the advanced models developed by the consortium. Gonzalo Parrado from the University of Valladolid demonstrated the WILIAM Integrated Assessment Model and its ability to simulate complex interactions within food systems, while Sara Barilari from CARTIF explored the Local SD (System Dynamics) Model through analyses of crop sensitivity and water demand, showing how technology can support more resilient agricultural resource management.
Alongside physical modelling, the project developed digital solutions to strengthen the dialogue between science and policy. Sara Barilari and Chiara De Notaris from the Centro Euro-Mediterraneo sui Cambiamenti Climatici (CMCC) presented the ICT Toolkit, designed to bridge the gap between academic research and policy-making. Within the toolkit, instruments such as the Catalogue Explorer and the Case Study Tool provide practical support for decision-makers, while the Storylines presented by Chiara offer tailored scenarios to strengthen local adaptive capacity. The session also introduced the innovative Gamification Tool, aimed at raising awareness and fostering public engagement through interactive approaches.
The success of NEVERMORE, however, extends beyond technology and lies strongly in the power of participation. Eleonora Mencarini from FBK chaired a dedicated session on social impact and co-creation, showcasing the vital role of the project’s Local Councils. Throughout the project, these councils actively involved citizens, experts, and local decision-makers across five key European case studies: Sitia (Greece), Trentino (Italy), Norrbotten County (Sweden), Murcia (Spain), and the Danube Delta (Romania).
A powerful testimony to this participatory framework was shared by the Mayor of Aledo, Javier Andreo, who presented concrete examples of how local communities collaborated directly with researchers to shape the project’s outcomes.
The collaborative spirit of NEVERMORE was further highlighted during an afternoon panel featuring sister and mission projects such as DISTENDER, KNOWING, SPONGESCAPES, and PATHWAYS2RESILIENCE, all contributing to the broader EU Mission Adaptation framework and underscoring the importance of European synergies.
The event concluded with final reflections and closing remarks from Alessia Torre, who expressed sincere gratitude to all consortium partners, researchers, and local stakeholders for their dedication and commitment throughout the project.
The event proved highly participatory both online and in person, with several Q&A sessions moderated by Manal Snidi, ALDA Communication officer, promoting exchanges between researchers, policymakers, practitioners, and citizens.
The Luleå meeting does not mark the end of NEVERMORE, but rather the beginning of a new operational phase: from today, the project’s tools and resources are available to all those committed to building a more sustainable and climate-resilient future.
To explore the project’s results and access materials and MOOCs, please visit the official website of the NEVERMORE project.
Young emerging artists from Germany, Italy and Portugal are invited to apply for the new open call launched by the European cooperation project CLIMART-D – Art for Democracy in Climate Action. The initiative brings together art, democracy and climate action through an international collaborative programme focused on participatory digital artistic creation.
This project invites artists to explore a central question: Why do we need democracy for climate action?
Climate action is not only a scientific or technological issue, but also a democratic one. Participation, dialogue, inclusion and collective decision-making are essential to addressing today’s environmental challenges. Through CLIMART-D, art becomes a space to critically and creatively investigate these connections, opening new possibilities for public engagement and collective reflection.
Selected artists will join two transnational “Artist Capsules” composed of participants from Germany, Italy and Portugal. Over several months, the groups will collaboratively develop participatory digital artworks exploring democracy, climate action, collective responsibility and social change. The artistic outcomes will then be presented in public exhibitions across Europe, as well as through an international online exhibition platform.
The call is open to artists aged between 18 and 35 who are based in or near Würzburg (Germany), Vicenza (Italy) or Braga (Portugal). Applicants from diverse artistic disciplines (including visual arts, theatre, music, digital media arts and interdisciplinary practices) are encouraged to apply, especially those interested in collaborative creation, civic participation and socially engaged art.
The programme will run from June 2026 to April 2027 and will include online collaboration, mentoring sessions with international experts, and three in-person meetings in Portugal, Italy and Germany. Public exhibitions will take place in Braga, Vicenza, Copenhagen and Würzburg between January and April 2027.
Applications must be submitted by 24 May 2026 through the official application form.
More information on the call can be found at this link.
CLIMART-D also launches a call for international mentors
Alongside the open call for emerging artists, CLIMART-D is also seeking two international mentors with expertise in climate action and democratic participation.
The project invites experienced artists, facilitators, researchers and practitioners working at the intersection of art, democracy and climate action to accompany and support young artists throughout the programme.
Mentors will contribute through:
Capacity-building activities on climate action and democracy;
Research and concept development support;
Guidance during international meetings and online mentoring activities.
Activities will take place both online and in person across Portugal, Italy and Germany between June 2026 and April 2027.
The mentorship programme represents a key component of CLIMART-D’s collaborative methodology, fostering intercultural exchange, participatory learning and creative experimentation across Europe. For more information and to apply, please send your CV in English and contact details to: silvia.pasetto@aldaintranet.org
A retribution will be provided to mentors, and travel, accommodation and food expenses for the three international meetings will be covered by the project.
Applications for mentors are open until 26 May 2026.
The third and final day of the ALDA Assembly and Festival 2026 “Local Democracy that Delivers” brought together local authorities, civil society organisations, researchers, practitioners, and international experts for a dynamic programme of discussions, workshops, and collaborative sessions focused on the future of democracy at local level.
The final day explored some of the most pressing challenges and opportunities facing democratic governance today — from artificial intelligence and youth participation to EU enlargement, water governance, and partnership-building.
AI, Democracy and Participation: Challenges and Opportunities for Local Governance
The day opened with a high-level discussion on the relationship between artificial intelligence and democracy, building on ALDA’s growing work within the Digital & Innovation Hub and recent initiatives such as the March 2026 workshop “Ethical AI in Local Governance”. Moderated by Denys Tkachov, Member of the ALDA Scientific Committee, the session explored how AI is already transforming local governance, citizen participation, and public services, while also raising critical concerns around bias, disinformation, polarisation, and democratic accountability.
Opening remarks by Nataša Vučković, President of ALDA, highlighted the importance of ensuring that technological innovation remains human-centred and aligned with democratic values. Participants discussed the implications of the EU AI Act, the role of initiatives such as the Democracy Shield, and practical experiences from ALDA projects including Hatedemics and Media4EU. Experts including Patrick Molinoz, Alexis Prokopiev, Marco Guerini, Nino Tvaltvadze, Eszter Hartay, and Ivana Velkova contributed to discussions on democratic safeguards, ethical digital transformation, and the need for inclusive AI governance frameworks.
The session concluded with reflections on the creation of an ALDA AI Task Force and future international cooperation opportunities linked to global discussions on AI and democracy.
Designing ALDA’s Youth Political Agenda 2026–2028
At the same time, ALDA’s Youth Empowerment & Education Hub led a participatory session dedicated to shaping ALDA’s Youth Political Agenda for 2026–2028. Facilitated by Alexandre Météreau, ALDA’s Coordinator of the Youth Hub & Policy Officer,the session focused on strengthening the political voice of ALDA’s network on youth participation, civic engagement, and education at European level. The discussion featured contributions from Ana Maria Rodrigues, Deputy Mayor of Valongo and ALDA Youth Hub Co-Chair; Rareș Voicu; and Miriam Teuma, CEO of Malta’s Youth Agency.
Participants worked collectively to identify advocacy priorities, map strategic alliances, and establish the foundations for a structured Youth Hub Advocacy Committee, reinforcing ALDA’s commitment to youth participation in democratic processes.
Local Democracy Shaping Europe’s Next Enlargement
Another key session of the day focused on the future of EU enlargement and the role of local authorities in supporting democratic transformation and European integration. Moderated by Katica Janeva, Head of Unit Western Balkans, the panel brought together speakers from the Western Balkans, Ukraine, Moldova, and European institutions to discuss how local governance reforms, decentralisation, and multilevel cooperation can strengthen democratic resilience across candidate countries.
The session highlighted the importance of cooperation between local authorities, civil society, and European institutions in supporting democratic reforms and strengthening local governance capacities throughout the enlargement process.
Building Partnerships and Networking – Meet, Connect, Collaborate
The afternoon continued with an interactive networking and project design session led by ALDA’s Fundraising and Project Design Department. Facilitated by Marco Boaria, Executive Director and Deputy Secretary General of ALDA, Anna Ditta, Head of the Fundraising & Project Design Department and ALDA project designers Deborah Anzile, Silvia Anselmi, Alma Bustamante, and Linda Rombolà, the workshop encouraged participants to transform shared territorial challenges into collaborative project ideas.
Through participatory exercises, matchmaking activities, and project pitches, participants explored opportunities for future partnerships, funding, and cross-sector cooperation.
From Blue Economy to Local Democracy: Engaging Communities in Water Governance
The Environment & Climate Hub hosted a session dedicated to participatory approaches to water governance and sustainable blue economy development. Introduced by ALDA Project Manager, Valeria Fantini and moderated by Alice Fantin, the discussion explored how local communities can play a central role in shaping environmental governance and sustainable resource management. Speakers included Alessandro Silvestri, Elisa Volpin, and Dženana Dedić, who shared experiences related to innovation ecosystems, community-led water governance, and the preservation of water heritage.
AI in Local Governance Training: From Smart Cities to Wise Cities
The final workshop of the day returned to the topic of artificial intelligence with a practical training session entitled “Wise Cities, Not Just Smart Cities: Turning AI Challenges into Local Opportunities.”
Led by Denys Tkachov and Kirsi Verkka, ALDA Advisory Board member, the interactive training encouraged participants to reflect on how AI can strengthen democratic participation, transparency, inclusion, and trust at local level. Through simulations, debates, and thematic workshops connected to ALDA’s thematic hubs, participants worked on concrete democratic challenges linked to civic engagement, migration, youth participation, gender equality, climate transition, and territorial development. The session also contributed to the drafting of ALDA’s emerging Local Democracy AI Manifesto.
Strengthening International Cooperation
Another important milestone of the final day was the official signature of two Memorandums of Understanding between ALDA and ICLEI Europe, as well as with ACTE, Association Civic Tech Europe.
These agreements mark an important step in reinforcing strategic cooperation and building new synergies around sustainable local development, democratic innovation, citizen participation, and territorial cooperation. By strengthening partnerships with key European networks, ALDA further expands its collaborative ecosystem and its capacity to support local authorities and civil society actors across Europe and beyond.
Closing Remarks
The third day, and the ALDA General Assembly and Festival 2026 as a whole, concluded with closing remarks by ALDA Secretary General, Antonella Valmorbida, who thanked participants, speakers, partners, and members for their active engagement throughout the event.
She highlighted how the discussions, ideas, and collaborations developed over the three days demonstrated the strength and diversity of the ALDA network, reaffirming the organisation’s collective commitment to democracy, participation, cooperation, and local governance.
As the Festival came to a close, one message clearly emerged: local democracy continues to be one of the strongest spaces for resilience, innovation, and hope in Europe and beyond.
The evening of 13 May 2026 marked a particularly significant moment for ALDA. In the prestigious setting of the Mediterranean Conference Centre in Valletta, and within the framework of the ALDA General Assembly and Festival 2026 “Local Democracy that Delivers”, ALDA officially launched its new Centre of Expertise on Participative Local Democracy.
This milestone represents a new chapter in ALDA’s journey, building on nearly 30 years of experience in promoting local democracy, citizen participation, and civil society empowerment across Europe and beyond. Since its establishment, ALDA has implemented more than 600 projects in over 45 countries, becoming one of the leading international networks working to strengthen participatory governance and build more inclusive, transparent, and resilient local democracies.
The new Centre aims to become a transversal platform connecting ALDA’s thematic and regional hubs, while reinforcing the organisation’s advocacy, training, project implementation, and knowledge-sharing capacities. The initiative will also strengthen links with the Local Democracy School and support the launch of a dedicated alumni network, further expanding ALDA’s democratic community.
The event was opened by Antonella Valmorbida, Secretary General of ALDA and Mario Fava, President of the Local Councils’ Association Malta, who highlighted the importance of strengthening democratic participation at local level in a time marked by growing social and political challenges.
During her intervention, Antonella Valmorbida underlined how local democracy today represents one of the strongest spaces of democratic resilience:
At a time when democracy is facing increasing pressure both from within and outside Europe, local democracy remains one of the strongest spaces of resilience. Through this Centre, ALDA aims to bring together experiences, practices, and people committed to strengthening participatory democracy and inclusive governance.
The event also featured video messages from Roberta Metsola, President of the European Parliament, and Anu Juvonen, Executive Director of Demo Finland and President of the European Partnership for Democracy, both reaffirming the importance of civic participation, democratic innovation, and multilevel cooperation in safeguarding democratic values across Europe and globally.
The event gathered a distinguished panel of high-level speakers from international institutions, local authorities, academia, and civil society organisations worldwide. Among them were Nataša Vučković, President of ALDA and Director of the Center for Democracy Foundation; Enrique Bravo-Escobar, Senior Programme Officer for Core Strategy and Engagement and Democratic Governance and Participation Lead at the National Endowment for Democracy; Maddalena Alberti, Director of ADL a Zavidovići; Liao Da-Chi, President of the Taiwan Foundation for Democracy; Roger Tafam, Mayor of Bafoussam and President of IOPD Africa; Nazlı Akyüz, Chairperson of the EU and Foreign Relations Commission of the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipal Assembly; Tetiana Yehorova-Lutsenko, President of the Kharkiv Regional Council and President of UAROR – Association of Regional Councils and Districts of Ukraine; Kirsi Verkka, Citizens Engagement Officer of the City of Helsinki; and Paolo Graziano, Professor at the University of Padova, Faculty of Political Science.
Through the launch of the Centre of Expertise on Participative Local Democracy, ALDA strengthens its long-standing commitment to democratic innovation, citizen participation, and inclusive governance. More than a new initiative, the Centre represents a collective space for knowledge, exchange, and action, designed to connect experiences, empower local actors, and reinforce democratic resilience across Europe and beyond.
The second day of the ALDA General Assembly and Festival 2026, “Local Democracy that Delivers”, officially opened with the Ordinary General Assembly of ALDA. The Assembly represents a key moment for the Association and an important opportunity to collectively reflect on the future of local democracy in Europe and beyond.
The session kicked-off with welcoming remarks from Nataša Vučković, President of ALDA, Antonella Valmorbida, ALDA Secretary General, and Mario Fava, President of the Local Councils’ Association Malta and co-organiser of the event. ALDA President introduced the Manifesto for a Local Democracy that Delivers, a strategic and political document reaffirming the importance of local governance, citizen participation, and democratic resilience in an increasingly complex global context.
The opening session also featured high-level institutional contributions, including a video message from Glenn Micallef, Maltese Commissioner responsible for intergenerational fairness, youth, culture and sport alongside speeches by Patrick Molinoz, Vice-President of the Region of Bourgogne-Franche-Comté – Member of the European Committee of the Regions and Konstantinos Koukas, Vice-President of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities and Rapporteur on the New Democratic Pact for Europe at the Council of Europe. Their interventions highlighted the essential role played by local authorities and civil society organisations in safeguarding democratic values, fostering participation, and responding to today’s societal challenges.
As highlighted by Konstantinos Koukas:
The link between the Congress and ALDA is both historic and strong. The Congress supported the creation of the first Local Democracy Agency in 1993, laying the foundations for a network dedicated to rebuilding trust and fostering democratic governance at local level. This founding vision remains highly relevant today.
He further stressed the importance of democratic innovation in strengthening citizens’ trust in institutions:
Democratic innovation is not an abstract concept. It is needed to bring governance closer to citizens, make it more responsive, and build trust. This is exactly what ALDA has been promoting for years. Through its network of Local Democracy Agencies, ALDA has supported participatory governance, civic engagement, and cooperation between local authorities and civil society.
Throughout the morning, ALDA members reviewed and approved the organisation’s institutional and financial documents, including the Minutes of the 2025 General Assembly, the 2025 Activity Report, the Treasurer’s Report, and the Programme and Budget for 2026. A video presentation showcased key achievements and activities carried out throughout 2025 across ALDA’s network, regional hubs, and thematic hubs, reflecting the association’s continued growth and impact in promoting local democracy and citizen participation across Europe and neighbouring regions.
Particular attention was devoted to the implementation of ALDA’s 2024–2028 Strategy, presented by Antonella Valmorbida, Secretary General of ALDA. The presentation outlined the organisation’s strategic priorities for the coming years, with a focus on democratic resilience, youth engagement, inclusive governance, civic participation, and strengthening cooperation between local authorities and civil society ecosystems.
The Extraordinary General Assembly followed the Ordinary one, and addressed amendments to ALDA’s Statute, reinforcing the Association’s governance framework and supporting its continued evolution as a growing international network.
One of the most significant moments of the Assembly was the approval of the Manifesto for a Local Democracy that Delivers, reaffirming ALDA’s collective commitment to democracy, participation, inclusiveness, and multilevel cooperation. The document emphasises that democracy must deliver tangible results for citizens and that local governance remains one of the most effective levels for rebuilding trust between institutions and communities.
The event also marked the official signature of membership with UAROR – Association of Regional Councils and Districts of Ukraine, represented by its President Tetiana Yehorova-Lutsenko. This important step further strengthens ALDA’s longstanding commitment to supporting democratic resilience, decentralisation, and local governance in Ukraine.
The Assembly concluded with the delivery of membership certificates to new members joining the ALDA network, further expanding a community that today counts more than 300 members across over 45 countries.
Through this General Assembly, ALDA once again reaffirmed its role as a key actor promoting local democracy, citizen participation, and cooperation between local authorities and civil society, at a time when democratic values require renewed commitment and collective action.
Yesterday marked the vibrant opening of the ALDA General Assembly and Festival 2026. Under the overarching theme of “Local Democracy that Delivers”, more than 200 delegates, experts, and local administrators from over 28 countries gathered at MICAS, Malta. The event kicks off three days of debate and participation that will shape perspectives on local democracy across Europe and the world. From the very outset, the assembly has demonstrated that “being together” is not merely a choice, but a strategic necessity for building resilient communities.
Shared Experiences: Housing and Gender Inclusion
The morning sessions addressed the fundamental rights that underpin stable societies. The Territorial and Local Development Hub delved into the housing crisis, shifting the focus from simple “affordability” to the broader concept of “livability.”
“People do not always aim to own, but they aim to live in a lively, vibrant, safe, and healthy place,” noted Matthew Zerafa, CEO at the Malta Housing Authority and member of the Housing Advisory Board of the EU Commission, highlighting that housing serves as the gateway to all other rights. This dialogue was guided by Rebecca Marconi, Project Manager at ALDA and further enriched by the expertise of Daniela Ciaffi, TeLD Hub co-chair and Vice-President of Labsus; Mikel Berra, Project Officer for Digital Metropolis at Àrea Metropolitana de Barcelona; Mihai Cebotar and Bogdan Cazacu of Primăria Municipiului Chișinău; Daniela Patti, Managing Director of Eutropian; and Siro Ciarimboli, Research Collaborator at the Istituto per la Ricerca Sociale (IRS).
Simultaneously, the Gender, Inclusion, and Human Rights Hub broke down the “invisible barriers” within institutions through a dynamic workshop format that encouraged peer-to-peer exchange. Participants explored practical toolkits for equity, reinforcing the message that inclusion must be embedded across every department. This session featured key insights from representatives of the Diputaciò de Barcelona, alongside Camilla Vedovato, Dorothee Fischer, Marzia Cescon, and Sara Afendi.
Migration, Youth, and Resilience: from apathy to empowerment
In the afternoon, the Migration Hub championed a rights-based approach where local authorities act as the primary engines of integration. The discussion featured Geraldine Guille from the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA), Jordi Cuadras of the Fons Catala for Cooperation and Development (FCCD), Dr Cristiana Di Pietro from LUMSA University, Palina Brodzik, Director of the Free Belarus Centre, and Mohammed Mustafa from ALDA. “Migration governance works best when grounded locally and built on a multi-stakeholder approach,” Cuadras emphasised.
In the Youth Empowerment & Education Hub, the tone was one of urgent transformation. While Katica Janeva, ALDA Coordinator for the Western Balkans, warned of the dangers of institutional apathy in that region, and Fanny Dabertrand, from the European Commission, explained the youth programmes, voices from Yuliya Ralko of the Belarusian National Youth Council “RADA”, and Giulia Sostero, Project Manager at ALDA for the ASWAT Hub, highlighted how young people are innovating even in exile or under crisis. They demanded a seat at the table not as a symbolic gesture, but as genuine partners.
A powerful highlight was the Ukraine Hub, which reframed the war-torn nation not just as a recipient of aid, but as a source of innovation. Ukrainian partners presented practical governance adaptations developed under fire, offering inspiration for European municipalities on how to maintain services and democratic integrity during extreme crises.
Eco-anxiety and Collaboration Opportunities
A significant portion of the day at MICAS was dedicated to the psychological and social impact of the environmental shift. The session explored eco-anxiety and how to prevent it from turning into “climate paralysis,” noting that 93% of EU citizens now view the climate crisis as a serious threat. To combat this, Lizzy Catherine Galiazzo of ALDA Italia introduced the project “Let’s change the air, not the planet,” funded by the Italian Buddhist Union (UBI), which uses art and performance to engage youth. Carlotta Segre of the European Buddhist Union (EBU) presented the Eco Dharma Network and its upcoming 2027 retreat, while Francesca Lippi of the Gozone Association explained the Living Lab Model, a co-design approach that builds community resilience by reconnecting people with nature.The day also featured a specialised session on “Unlocking Opportunities,” focusing on the practicalities of funding and strategic partnerships. This session was guided by Elena Riboldi, Membership Officer; Maddalena Alberti, ALDA Governing Board Member and Chair of the Migration Hub; Maria Vittoria Traforti, Director and Deputy Secretary General Assistant; Denys Tkachov, Member of the ALDA Scientific Committee; and Lianne Cassar, Executive Secretary of LCA.
Strengthening the Democracy Shield
In a dedicated and detailed session on Local Democracy Resilience, a high-level panel examined how local governments can withstand modern threats. Antonella Valmorbida, Secretary General of ALDA, closed the thematic sessions by introducing the concept of the “Democracy Shield.” She stated that “the local level is the place where we can have less polarisation… there is a civic dimension to the democracy shield,” framing local proximity as the ultimate defence against disinformation and external interference.
The discussion featured a prestigious panel including Mrs Shandana Mohmand from the Institute for Development Studies (UK), Mr Etienne Soulat of the German Marshall Fund, and Mr Sergio Arredondo, Secretary General of FLACMA. They were joined by Mr Aliou Gning, Mayor of the Municipality of Sandiara in Senegal; Mr Martin Muehleck from the European Commission’s Ukraine team; Mr Taras Dobrivskyi, Executive Director of the All-Ukrainian Association of Local Governments; Mr Arije Antinori, an expert on radicalisation and AI; and Mrs Dzenana Dedic, Delegate of the Local Democracy Agency Mostar.
Looking Ahead Day 1 proved that the ALDA network is ready to deliver. As the Festival continues, the focus remains on a democracy that doesn’t just promise, but acts and delivers.
From 6 to 8 May 2026, Marco Boaria, Deputy Secretary General of ALDA, and Anna Bustamante, Project Designer Latin America, took part in the X Conference of the Observatory of Decentralised Cooperation EU–Latin America and the Caribbean, held in Barcelona and promoted by the Diputació de Barcelona (ALDA Governing Board Member). The event represented a key opportunity to deepen exchanges and reinforce strategic relations with Latin American institutions, organisations and local authorities, within the framework of ALDA’s growing engagement in the region.
The participation of ALDA’s delegation comes as part of the ongoing development of the Latin American geographical pathway that the Association has been progressively strengthening in recent years. The conference gathered representatives of local and regional governments, civil society organisations, academia and international institutions from both Europe and Latin America, creating an important platform for dialogue on the future of decentralised cooperation in a rapidly changing global context.
Particular attention throughout the conference was devoted to two major thematic priorities for the Latin American continent: gender equality and environmental sustainability. Discussions highlighted the urgent need to reinforce local public policies capable of addressing social inequalities, climate challenges and democratic participation through strengthened territorial cooperation between Europe and Latin America. These priorities strongly resonate with ALDA’s current strategic orientations and with the activities being developed under its Latin American engagement.
The mission also provided an important occasion to further consolidate relations with the Diputació de Barcelona, one of the leading European institutions in the field of decentralised cooperation. Several exchanges focused on the possibility of developing future joint strategies and collaborative initiatives between the Province of Barcelona and ALDA in the coming years, particularly regarding cooperation with Latin American local authorities and civil society actors.
The Observatory itself represents one of the most relevant international reference spaces for decentralised cooperation between the European Union and Latin America. Created in 2005, it has become a major hub for analysis, training, exchange of practices and policy reflection on territorial cooperation and international action by local governments.
More information about the Observatory, including the conference programme and all reference documents discussed during the event, can be found on the official website of the Observatory of Decentralised Cooperation.
Additional information on the 2026 Barcelona Conference is available here.
On 30 April 2026, the Matemù Centre in Rome hosted the presentation of an innovative and vital tool for inclusion and professional guidance: the new Online Course on the Italian Labour Market.
This educational initiative was developed within the AMIL Project (Alliance Multi-stakeholder for Migrants Integration and Labour), and the course, initially planned as in-person only, will be fully accessible on Speha Fresia’s “Accademia” platform from June 2026.
The Goal of the Initiative
This educational proposal aims to guide third-country nationals through a structured and informed pathway towards employment. At the heart of this distance-learning journey lies an extremely practical and visual key concept: the “Work Roadmap“. The world of employment is a complex environment, and finding a job is not a random event but a dynamic process requiring planning, awareness, and a well-defined strategy. For this reason, the AMIL course structures the entire guidance process around five fundamental questions specifically designed to help candidates build a genuine, personalised «Action Plan» for successful integration into the workforce.
Shaping the Action Plan – 5 questions to be answered
Can I Work? Before starting an active search, it is crucial to have full awareness of one’s legal, physical, and basic preparation status. The module reminds participants that regular employment requires essential conditions: no health issues preventing activity, a residence permit that allows work, a valid identity document, a tax code, and a stable address. Furthermore, it highlights the need to have a bank account for receiving wages and, fundamentally for integration, a certified level of Italian language proficiency of at least A2, combined with reading and writing skills.
What Kind of Work Can I Look For? Guidance is based on identifying industries or companies potentially interested in their skills. This choice will depend on strictly personal factors, such as their hourly availability and willingness to travel, their level of education, and their complete skill set.
Who Can Help Me Find a Job? The course advises against acting in isolation, suggesting instead to evaluate offers in the local area by studying existing opportunities. It teaches how to actively leverage one’s personal network and to rely on the support offered by various public and private structures dedicated to employment services.
While Waiting to Find a Suitable Job for Me, What Can I Do? The AMIL project strongly emphasises the importance of continuous updating and lifelong learning. This waiting period must not be passive but must be a dedicated time to increasing one’s education level, enriching professional skills, and improving one’s citizenship status.
What Do I need to Do When I Find Work? Since every role fits within an «organised system», the course explains the importance of thoroughly understanding national laws, tools, and the specific rules of the environment one is entering. The concluding actions of this pathway consist of informed signing of the contract, integrating into the company structure, and finally, starting to work.
Answering these five questions with honesty and clarity allows for creating a clear and constantly updateable map of one’s professional life.
The course is free and in Italian with a virtual tutor available in the following languages: Arabic, French, English, and Spanish, to facilitate accessibility for all interested parties.
Are you ready to map your route towards a new professional future?
ALDA’s Migration hub recently convened a members’ consultation meeting to contribute to the development of its Migration Flagship 2026, bringing together local authorities, civil society organisations, and migrant-led initiatives from across Europe. Since 2024, ALDA has been structuring this process through annual consultations on key migration issues with its members, combined with the mapping of their expertise through targeted surveys. On this basis, ALDA updates its flagship strategy each year to reflect members’ priorities, respond to emerging European developments, connect EU-level policies with local realities, and integrate findings from EU-funded projects.
As part of this annual consultation process, ALDA Migration Hub and Maddalena Alberti (GB member and Migration Hub Chair) invited members to contribute their insights at a particularly crucial moment for EU migration and anti-racism policies. The consultation focused on the implications of the forthcoming EU Migration and Asylum Strategy 2026–2030 and the EU Anti-Racism Strategy 2026–2030, both expected to introduce significant policy shifts.
Discussions highlighted a growing tendency towards securitisation, digitalisation, migration diplomacy, and labour-market-oriented approaches, often at the expense of rights-based and inclusion-focused frameworks. Members stressed that anti-racism efforts remain largely non-binding and insufficiently connected to migration governance, while the implementation of the EU Pact on Migration and Asylum is already generating administrative uncertainty, reduced individual assessment in asylum procedures, and an increase in situations of legal limbo.
Across different national contexts, members also pointed to concrete challenges, including reduced funding for integration services, fragmentation of local coordination systems, and increasing pressure on municipalities tasked with border management. At the same time, examples of good practices—particularly in linking integration to housing, employment, and community-based initiatives—demonstrated the continued potential for inclusive local governance.
Participants emphasised that migrant people should not be treated merely as beneficiaries, but as active stakeholders in policy design and implementation.
In this regard, migrant-led networks were recognised as key actors in bridging information gaps, supporting civic participation, and countering miscommunication, particularly in sensitive areas such as return policies.
The consultation also raised important concerns regarding the expansion of digital border systems and the use of AI in migration management. Risks related to transparency issues and reduced human oversight were identified as critical areas requiring closer monitoring and advocacy.
Looking Ahead
ALDA will build on these insights to strengthen its role as a coalition platform, promoting local-based approaches, fostering multi-level cooperation, and supporting the meaningful inclusion of migrant-led organisations in governance processes.
👉 The outcome of this consultation will directly feed into ALDA’s Migration Flagship 2026 and ongoing EU advocacy work.work.
In March, at Casa di Giorgia – a center that welcomes migrant women, either alone or with children – an 8-session training cycle was held focused on labour market integration.
The activity was implemented within the framework of AMIL – Alliance Multi-stakeholders for Migrants Integration and Labour, the project that promotes sustainable integration pathways for third-country nationals through the MEIC methodology (Migrants Economic Integration Cluster).
CIES Onlus, the lead partner of the project, presents below the features and implementation methods of this pathway.
The training programme, completely free of charge, is aimed at strengthening the employability of migrant women through activities and creative workshops. To facilitate participation, the AMIL project chose to carry out the activities directly within the centre, responding to the needs of the beneficiaries.
The pathway was structured into three main areas:
An employability workshop dedicated to exploring the essential tools for entering the labour market in Italy.
A personal empowerment pathway, aimed at self-awareness, the recognition of strengths and areas for improvement, and the definition of strategies to achieve personal goals.
An artistic-expressive workshop, designed to develop soft skills that are valuable in the professional sphere.
This last workshop transformed the space into an environment of expression, connection, and shared imagination. Through simple tools such as painting and decoupage, it was possible to create an accessible setting even in the presence of language barriers, allowing participants to express themselves without the need for words. Visual language made it possible to share complex experiences, encouraging the emergence of emotions and spontaneous dialogue among participants.
The pathway accompanied women from diverse backgrounds and countries – including China, Brazil, Pakistan, Cuba, and several African countries – in a progressive narrative journey that passed through personal roots, lived experiences in the present, and aspirations for the future.
All workshops were conducted using an interactive and non-formal approach, which made it possible to overcome language barriers and foster active and inclusive participation. The deepest value of the experience emerged in its relational dimension. A strong capacity for mutual care developed, expressed through spontaneous gestures of welcome and attention, transforming the workshops into an authentic space of human and social exchange.
Final Thoughts
The experience confirms how, in reception and integration pathways, the connection between people, empowerment, and the construction of future perspectives are central. In particular, it highlights the fundamental role of non-formal education and interaction as tools to overcome linguistic and cultural barriers. It also represented also a valuable exchange for trainers and operators of the centre, offering the opportunity to closely observe the daily dynamics of the reception context and training activities.
THE:PLACE – Türkiye Hand in hand with Europe: Programme for Local Authorities and Civil society Exchange is a multi-year programme funded by the Mercator Foundation and managed by ALDA and MAD – Center for Spatial Justice.
This programme is now open for applications from Civil Society Organisations based in Türkiye, the EU and the enlargement countries (Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia and Ukraine).
It calls for collaboration with Local Authorities through an Associated partner commitment: if you are reading this as a Local Authority, we invite you to contact a Civil Society Organisation you would like to collaborate with and invite them to apply.
An Infoday has been organised to present the programme in detail on Monday May 18th at 14:00-16:00 CEST / 15:00-17:00 TRT to which you can register here.
The city of layered histories, Skopje, became the destination of the ProVote initiative on 28 April, when the international event “Strengthening Local Democratic Resilience” examined how communities can reinforce democracy amid disinformation, declining trust, and reduced civic participation.
Organised under the ProVote framework and supported by the European Union under the CERV Programme, the conference, facilitated by ALDA Balkans, brought together local authorities, civil society organisations, and international partners. Through interactive and multilayered approaches, participants shared experiences and explored strategies for rebuilding trust and safeguarding democratic values at the community level.
The EU’s ‘Democracy Shield’
The programme opened with welcoming remarks from Maria Kanellopoulou, First Counsellor at the Delegation of the European Union to North Macedonia, and Marta Sys, ALDA Governing Board Member. Their addresses focused on the importance of building resilient democratic structures in times of growing disinformation and public scepticism.
Ms. Kanellopoulou pointed to the Democracy shield, which adds to the European Union’s commitment to strengthen the information integrity within the EU and with the regional partners, and it also allows partners outside the youth to adapt in their fight against disinformation and malign interference.
This initiative is structured around three main pillars. First, one is to reinforce our situational awareness so we can respond and counter threats. Second is to strengthen our democratic institutions, protect free elections and free media. Lastly, to boost citizens’ engagement in democratic life and increase societal resilience which is part of what you will do also,
Ms. Sys focused on the critical role of youth participation and bottom-up approaches in strengthening local democracy. It was highlighted that ALDA has strong roots in the Balkans, where it was established, and continues to maintain close engagement with the region.
These kinds of events are very important to us because it gives us a chance to share ideas, experiences, find solutions to real problems, and to promote and push people for action. And this is what I mentioned. What ALDA does is very close to what Merkury Foundation does, supporting young people, primarily through local and regional youth councils and initiatives such as the “Youth Forum,” an annual event fully designed and implemented by young people where they recognise local challenges, propose solutions, and advocate for policy changes.
From Skopje to Cameroon
The morning sessions featured contributions from Katica Janeva, Director of ALDA Balkans, and Giulia Sostero, ALDA Head of Unit for Africa, Southwest Asia and Turkey, who shared ALDA’s experience in fostering democratic resilience.
Our work focuses primarily at the local level, supporting communities in practising even the most basic democratic activities, such as voting, a fundamental right of every citizen. This approach is equally relevant in the Western Balkans, where countries have been formally democratic for some time. Yet, many citizens often feel that democracy exists only on paper.
Sostero initiated a discussion on the concept and understanding of local democratic resilience, also presenting ALDA’s experience of over 30 years of work and more than 500 projects, to illustrate how democratic practices can be sustained at the local level even in contexts of shrinking civic space.
In Cameroon, despite operating in a “Not Free” civic space, a project reached more than 10,000 beneficiaries and strengthened neighborhood-level governance structures. In Tanzania, an information campaign on biometric voter registration reached nearly 88,000 people, demonstrating that electoral cycles can serve as entry points for deeper civic engagement.
The ‘Risk Triangle’: Disinformation, Distrust, and Polarisation
А panel presentation followed where ProVote partners presented lessons learned from their local contexts, Partenalia presented findings on disinformation, distrust, and polarisation as a “risk triangle.” Provincial Council of Jaén outlined participatory frameworks and youth engagement. RegioDev highlighted Belgium’s participatory practices, while Regionsjugendring Hannover emphasised youth work as democracy in action. UNCJR reflected on Romania’s election interference, stressing local communication and EU cooperation. Together, these contributions underscored the need for resilient local structures, civic trust, and cross‑border collaboration.
A central highlight of the agenda was the panel “Countering Disinformation and Rebuilding Trust at the Local Level”, moderated by Berta Stojkovska, with representatives from Estima,SEGA, Metamorphosis Foundation for Internet and Society, the Municipality of Karpoš, and Eurothink. Discussions addressed foreign propaganda, youth participation, and the impact of fake news on local authorities. Speakers emphasised youth legislation in North Macedonia as a step towards institutionalising engagement, while warning that disinformation is evolving and strategically driven, particularly in Southeast Europe. Risks linked to artificial intelligence; deepfakes, synthetic content, and filter bubbles were explored. Mr Nikolovski presented the #Media4EU project, focusing on the findings of Eurometer, that point out that the Internet, particularly social media, had become the primary source of political information for citizens, with over 90% relying on online platforms highlighting both opportunities for outreach and risks of misinformation.
Navigating the Digital Age: AI and Fake News
In the afternoon, participants joined the interactive workshop on AI literacy and fake‑news narratives “From Fake News to Civic Trust: What Can We Do Locally?”, organised by the Metamorphosis Foundation for Internet and Society. Through direct examples from Truthmeter.mk (Vistinomer), the session highlighted how hate speech and propaganda circulate online and across social media, drawing on the foundation’s experience as an external fact‑checking organisation for Facebook in North Macedonia.
Using interactive quizzes, the workshop sparked debate and hands-on learning about recognising AI‑generated distortions, manipulative narratives, and propaganda trends, encouraging participants to explore how local communities can strengthen resilience against evolving disinformation.
A Walk Through History
The day concluded with a Democratic Resilience Walk through Skopje, tracing sites that embody the city’s contested democratic journey. The walk began with the Skopje 2014 monuments, symbols of ideological and political narratives; juxtaposed with the civic defiance expressed through colours. It continued with the history of Woman Fighter Park and the Prometheus statue, before culminating at the Stone Bridge, a landmark built upon layers of history, destruction, and reconstruction. Together, these locations represent powerful examples of democratic resilience preserved in the collective memory of the city.
On 29 April 2026, ALDA contributed to the II International Cohesion Forum in Kyiv, Ukraine, a key high-level event bringing together international and local actors to advance cohesion and resilience as pillars of Europe’s future.
ALDA was represented by Antonella Valmorbida, Secretary General of ALDA, alongside Yuriy Stepanets, ALDA Representative in Ukraine, together with Olha Oliinyk, Delegate of the LDA Vinnytsia Region. Through their participation, ALDA reaffirmed its active role in strengthening local democracy and multi-level governance in Ukraine, contributing to both recovery and the broader European integration process.
Cohesion and resilience at the core of Europe’s future
Initiated by the Ministry for Development of Communities and Territories of Ukraine, the Forum brought together over 500 participants, including representatives of local and regional authorities, government officials, international organisations, civil society actors, and community leaders. Organised within the framework of the EU4Recovery initiative, a flagship partnership between the European Union and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Ukraine, the event builds on the success of its first edition in April 2025 and continues to serve as a key platform aligning national and international stakeholders around a shared vision of cohesion as a cornerstone of Ukraine’s resilience.
Under the central theme “Cohesion and resilience as key drivers of Europe’s future,” the Forum highlighted the fundamental role of coordinated governance, inclusive development, and international cooperation in addressing current challenges. It also featured the signing of memoranda of cooperation, an official award ceremony recognising outstanding communities.
ALDA’s contribution and recognition at the Forum
Within the Forum, Antonella Valmorbida took part in the panel discussion “Ukraine in Global Partnerships,”alongside high-level Ukrainian institutional representatives. The exchange underscored the crucial role of international cooperation and multi-level governance in ensuring effective recovery processes and fostering long-term democratic resilience.
ALDA’s presence went beyond participation. During the event, the organisation was acknowledged at the highest institutional level as a well-structured and reliable actor in supporting local good governance in Ukraine. In this context, Antonella Valmorbida presented a strategic document, opening the door to meaningful dialogue with a wide range of partners and organisations and reinforcing ALDA’s position as a key facilitator of cooperation.
Notably, ALDA was the only European association represented at the Forum—further highlighting its unique role and longstanding commitment in the country. This recognition reflects the organisation’s continuous efforts to strengthen local governance ecosystems, empower communities, and foster partnerships between Ukrainian and European stakeholders.
“We are proud to see ALDA recognised as a trusted partner in Ukraine at such a high institutional level,” stated Antonella Valmorbida. “Our participation in the Forum was not only an opportunity to share our experience, but also to reaffirm our commitment to supporting Ukrainian local authorities and communities. Through our network, tools, and expertise, we aim to contribute concretely to resilience, recovery, and the strengthening of democratic governance, while further promoting strong and coordinated European partnerships.”
Building partnerships “Shoulder to Shoulder”
In addition to its institutional engagement, ALDA actively facilitated concrete cooperation between European and Ukrainian local authorities. Within the framework of the Ukrainian flagship initiative “Shoulder to Shoulder: Cohesive Communities,” ALDA engaged partner municipalities Thiene and Zugliano, which agreed to establish partnerships with Ukrainian municipalities from both the eastern and western regions of the country.
The initiative, led by the Government of Ukraine, aims to strengthen unity, resilience, and cooperation among local communities in the context of recovery and reconstruction. It promotes direct partnerships between Ukrainian and European municipalities, fostering solidarity-based collaboration and mutual support.
The Mayor of Zugliano, Sandro Maculan, and the representative of the Municipality of Thiene Marina Maino, were present at the Forum, marking a significant step towards long-term cooperation.
Within this framework:
The Municipality of Zugliano established partnerships with:
Yavornytska Territorial Community (represented by Dmytro Ekzarkhov, Settlement Head)
Kalush Territorial Community (represented by Andrii Naida, Head of the Urban Territorial Community)
The Municipality of Thiene established partnerships with:
Shevchenkivska Territorial Community (represented by Oleh Pylypenko, Village Head)
Korosten Territorial Community (represented by Volodymyr Moskalenko, Mayor)
These partnerships represent a concrete example of decentralised cooperation, reinforcing links between communities and contributing to Ukraine’s recovery through peer-to-peer collaboration.
The II International Cohesion Forum once again demonstrated the critical role of collaboration across all levels of governance in addressing complex challenges and building a resilient future. For ALDA, the event represents another important step in strengthening its contribution to Ukraine’s recovery and its path towards European integration.
ALDA protagonist of the European 3rd Pillar
ALDA is actively contributing to Pillar 3 of the EU’s €50 billion Ukraine Facility, which focuses on accession-related support through capacity building, technical assistance, and the strengthening of governance systems. Through its long-standing expertise in local democracy, participatory governance, and project cycle management, ALDA supports local, regional, and national authorities, as well as civil society organisations, in enhancing their capacity to implement reforms, manage EU-funded programmes, and align with EU standards and the acquis.
This engagement builds on ALDA’s role in the Ukraine Recovery Conference 2025, where the organisation coordinated the local and regional dimension, highlighting the importance of decentralisation, good governance, and community resilience in Ukraine’s recovery. By fostering multi-level governance and inclusive decision-making processes, ALDA contributes to advancing Ukraine’s EU integration path and ensuring that recovery efforts are firmly grounded in democratic principles, accountability, and citizen participation.
On 24–25 April 2026, ALDA organised a two-day training workshop in Gyumri, Armenia, focusing on disinformation, resilience and civic participation. The activity was implemented within the framework of the Re-Elect project, supported by the New Democracy Fund and carried out in cooperation with the Local Democracy Agency Foundation Armenia.
The training brought together 30 participants, including local activists, women and young people, with the aim of strengthening their capacity to critically assess information and actively engage in democratic processes.
During the first day, participants were introduced to key concepts and practical tools to identify misinformation, disinformation, propaganda, fake news and hate speech. Particular attention was given to recognising manipulation techniques and understanding the mechanisms behind information campaigns.
The second day focused on fostering social resilience and enhancing civic engagement, with a dedicated emphasis on the importance of gender representation in democratic processes. Participants explored strategies to promote inclusive participation and strengthen their role within civil society.
Notably, many of the young participants will be voting for the first time in the upcoming parliamentary elections. In this context, the training provided essential knowledge to support informed and responsible decision-making.
Nino Tvaltvadze shared insights from her professional experience in governance, offering practical examples and highlighting the tangible impact of civic participation. Teona Macharashvili introduced analytical frameworks and tools to assess information campaigns, drawing on concepts from applied political psychology.
During the workshop sessions, participants worked in groups to apply the knowledge acquired, analysing real-life case studies of disinformation and manipulation. The interactive format encouraged open dialogue and exchange, creating a safe space to reflect on issues affecting women and youth, while fostering social cohesion.
“The training had a strong impact on me. It made me realise how important it is to treat information responsibly, verify sources, and avoid causing harm,” one participant shared.
This initiative highlights the importance of empowering citizens with the tools and knowledge necessary to navigate complex information environments and actively contribute to democratic life.
Together with its local partner, the Local Democracy Agency Foundation Armenia, ALDA will continue to strengthen citizens’ capacities and support inclusive democratic participation across the country.
