Day 2 – May 13
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.
