The TeLD Hub event within the framework of the Up2You Erasmus+ Project
Global aspirations for sustainable development require local action, and this vital message resonated strongly at the “Global Calls, Local Acts” event held in Paris, France on the 16th of July. Hosted by the ALDA TeLD Hub within the framework of the Erasmus+ Up2You project’s multiplier event, this occasion brought together a mix of cities representatives, academics, CSOs and grassroots activists to underscore the critical role of local communities in achieving the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The day began with a morning session, where members of the TeLD Hub engaged in a strategic dialogue. This meeting provided a platform to map out future action plans and collaborations. Discussions focused on fostering inclusive innovation and building a robust network to drive local development through citizens and community engagement. The emphasis was clear: to move beyond isolated projects and create a more integrated, synergistic approach to community-led change. Delving deeper into the hub’s priorities and core themes, the session underscored a shared commitment to ensuring that good practices are widely shared and scaled, preventing innovation from benefiting only a select few. The session laid the groundwork for the definition of a shared perspectives for the TeLD Hub and inaugurated the next events that will feature ALDA members interested in the Hub’s issues and initiatives and willing to contribute by providing specific knowledge and expertise.
The afternoon session, introduced by Rita Biconne, Head of Implementation Unit, open to the public focused on multi-stakeholders experiences and approaches applied for planning and realising local strategies for territorial development. It was opened by Marcos Diaz Ramirez, Economist at the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) Centre for Entrepreneurship, SMEs, Regions and Cities, who presented the OECD Programme on A Territorial Approach to the SDGs . According to the OECD study, the cities in OECD countries are making progress on most SDGs, but results vary significantly across goals and most cities are not on track in the achievement of all the SDGs by 2030. Dr. Diaz Ramirez emphasised that the success of these global goals hinges directly on the engagement of local and regional governments, and that measuring the distance and progress towards the SDGs at the city, regional, and national levels is crucial for formulating foresight policies and evaluating the impact of SDGs’ localisation.
This set the stage for Lorenzo Ianiro, ALDA Project Manager, who presented the “Living Communities Lab” methodology in detail. This multi-stakeholder framework, which has been tested in five pilot areas as part of the Up2You project, offers a practical blueprint for co-designing local strategies for territorial development.
The afternoon session also presented a roundtable discussion, moderated by ALDA’s project manager Rebecca Marconi. The panel featured a diverse range of voices: Pierre Musseau from La Coop des Communs, Daniela Ciaffi of Politecnico di Torino, Giulia Marra from Labsus, Lucie Romac representing YouthID, Elisa Betti from ARCO, Virginie Roquette from Cités Unies France and Marcos Diaz Ramirez from OECD. Their collective insights reinforced the central premise of the conference, namely that local communities are the foundation of sustainable development. The discussion explored various strategies for inclusive, community-led growth, touching upon the vital role of young people, the potential of creating the right conditions and infrastructure to enhance collaborative processes, and the role of the social and solidarity economy, collaborative pacts and decentralised cooperation as concrete opportunities to contribute to the SDGs’ localisation processes
The “Global Calls, Local Acts” event served as a powerful reminder that while the SDGs represent global aspirations, their true impact materialises through robust, bottom-up implementation and they can drive effective local policies for global sustainable change. The clear structure of the event, which transitioned from the TeLD Hub’s internal strategic planning to widespread public engagement, proved highly effective in collecting insightful input and complementary perspectives.
It not only facilitated in-depth discussions on future collaborations for the TeLD Hub but also disseminated crucial knowledge and fostered a wider dialogue among a broad spectrum of stakeholders.
The success of the event highlights a growing international consensus that achieving global sustainability requires stronger local actors. The TeLD Hub can play a strategic role in this by empowering local authorities, formalising collaborative networks and encouraging research and impact evaluation to help localise the SDGs.
