• A Roma Infoday Urbact IV, confronto su idee e strategie per il nuovo bando europeo

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    23/01/2023
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    Presentato a Roma il primo bando di URBACT IV dedicato alla creazione di Action Planning Network, ovvero reti di Città dedicate a migliorare la gestione dei Fondi UE attraverso la creazione di piani locali d’azione integrati attraverso il confronto tra pari con città europee e attori del territorio.

    L’evento, organizzato in Campidoglio in collaborazione con il Comune di Roma, ha visto la partecipazione di oltre sessanta rappresentanti di amministrazioni locali italiane interessate a promuovere come titolari o fare parte come partners di nuove reti del principale Programma Europeo sullo sviluppo urbano sostenibile.

    L’azione intensa di promozione del Programma in Italia realizzato dall’ANCI negli ultimi anni in qualità di Punto Nazionale URBACT è stata ricordata dall’Agenzia per la Coesione Territoriale, che in apertura ha riconosciuto il lavoro che l’ANCI ha condotto coinvolgendo numerose realtà in questa particolare specificità territoriale.

    La presenza nelle reti URBACT di Comuni di diversa dimensione demografica del nostro paese, dalle città capoluogo metropolitano, città medie e fino ai piccoli centri, è l’elemento caratteristico della partecipazione italiana al Programma URBACT.

    E’ stato evidenziato come partecipare alle reti di città promosse dal Programma URBACT è decisivo per accrescere le capacità amministrative di ciascuna città per la gestione dei Fondi UE e per la realizzazione di strategie e progetti di sviluppo urbano sostenibile, il tutto attraverso un’azione di rete e un metodo innovativo di scambio tra pari che ha prodotto valore aggiunto per funzionari e amministratori coinvolti.

    Nel corso della presentazione del bando di URBACT IV sono stati evidenziati i principali elementi di novità rispetto alla programmazione precedente, come ad esempio il focus su tre aspetti trasversali che tutte le reti dovranno tenere in considerazione in fase di proposta e di implementazione: transizione verde, uguaglianza di genere e digitale. L’inserimento di questi tre temi nelle proposte progettuali consolida l’impegno del programma su tematiche già al centro di azioni specifiche di capitalizzazione avviate in URBACT III, chiedendo alla città di identificare modalità innovative con cui questi temi intersecano le principali sfide dello sviluppo urbano.

    Le esperienze delle città italiane intervenute nel corso della presentazione del bando URBACT IV hanno messo in luce gli elementi-chiave del Programma URBACT che si è rivelato decisivo per accompagnare metodologicamente l’attuazione di interventi finanziati dall’UE e dal PNRR con un impatto concreto sui territori.

    E’ il caso di Casoria, partner della rete SubUrban, che ha avuto la possibilità di definire un piano integrato di interventi finanziati dal Programma integrato città sostenibile (Pics) in grado di recuperare ex aree dismesse trasformate già nel corso delle azioni di progetto in un nuovo parco pubblico, così da dare ai cittadini un risultato tangibile mentre le azioni di scambio con Anversa, Barcellona e Dusseldorf erano ancora in corso, così da motivare ulteriormente gli abitanti a partecipare al processo partecipativo. Salvatore Napolitano, dirigente del Comune ha sottolineato come “nei comuni del Mezzogiorno impegnati in processi di innovazione partecipata è necessario produrre dei risultati anche nell’immediato: grazie a URBACT ciò è stato possibile, restituendo nuovi spazi pubblici alla cittadinanza e nel contempo pianificando al meglio gli interventi del Piano Urbanistico Generale approvato a fine 2022”.

    Anche il Comune di Prato ha messo in evidenza il collegamento tra le azioni condotte sul tema dell’economia circolare con il progetto URGE a quelle avviate con altri programmi europei come UIA e Agenda Urbana per l’UE, riuscendo grazie ad URBACT a definire una serie di priorità operative e forme di organizzazione della macchina amministrativa capaci di essere elemento centrale per gestire al meglio le azioni sul tema.

    Perugia e Cesena si sono invece avvantaggiati delle conoscenze e del lavoro di rete sviluppato con le città europee partner per affrontare in maniera coordinata temi specifici come l’attrattività del territorio e l’eredità culturale arrivando alla definizione di un piano di marketing territoriale e la creazione di un brand utili per il rilancio sociale ed economico delle città. Il processo partecipativo ha consentito, a Cesena, di realizzare forme innovative di ascolto del territorio e riorientare gli interventi che saranno riqualificati grazie ai finanziamenti PNRR.

    Infine, l’esperienza di Roma che ha guidato due reti URBACT sul tema degli orti urbani ha consentito di testare forme di coordinamento tra diversi pezzi di amministrazione locale e municipi per valorizzare a livello sia internazionale che locale una buona pratica promossa in continuità dalle diverse amministrazioni che si sono succedute. “L’azione svolta con URBACT ha fornito elementi utili all’organizzazione di nuove forme di coordinamento sul migliore utilizzo dei fondi diretti e del PNRR, un’azione che in questi mesi sta proseguendo con la mappatura dei fabbisogni e l’integrazione tra diverse tipologie di fondi per rendere strumenti come URBACT utili al miglioramento della governance di sfide centrali per Roma” afferma Raffaele Barbato, direttore fondi UE e PNRR del comune di Roma.

    Dalle esperienze delle città emerge quanto URBACT negli ultimi anni sia stato importante per valorizzare nuove modalità di azione all’interno delle amministrazioni locali.

    La promozione di forme di gestione partecipativa delle sfide del territorio ha consentito alle città di realizzare interventi concreti con il supporto delle comunità locali, facendo ricorso a forme di intelligenza collettiva che hanno migliorato le modalità di intervento e promosso una forte attenzione su temi innovativi che hanno, più in generale, migliorato la qualità dell’azione amministrativa dei comuni coinvolti.

    I prossimi appuntamenti nazionali di presentazione del bando sono previsti a Torino il 1 febbraio (clicca qui per iscriverti)  e a Palermo il 2 febbraio (clicca qui per iscriverti)

  • Popolni partnerji?

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    15/02/2023

    Preverite, kako vzpostaviti močno partnerstvo za URBACT omrežje.

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    URBACT akcijska omrežja temeljijo na kakovostnih partnerstvih med mesti EU. V luči odprtega razpisa zaomrežja (SI), preberite nasvete, kako poiskati idealne partnerje iz mest za izmenjavo in učenje.

    Akcijska omrežja združujejo več partnerskih mest, ki sodelujejo v obdobju 2 in pol let. V tem obdobju naslavljajo skupni urbani izziv preko razvijanja dolgoročnih strategij in rešitev, ki ustrezajo njihovim lokalnim potrebam, končni rezultat česar je celostni akcijski načrt. Program URBACT določa merila o sestavi in uravnoteženosti partnerstev omrežja.

    Vsak predlog za omrežje mora vsebovati:

    - Od 8 do 10 partnerjev, med katerimi je ena občina ali lokalni organ kot vodilni partner, druge institucije pa kot projektni partnerji;

    - Uravnoteženo partnerstvo z mesti iz bolj razvitih, manj razvitih in regij v tranziciji, skladno s kohezijsko politiko EU;

    - Partnerji iz 27 držav članic EU ter Norveške, Švice, Albanije, Črne gore, Bosne in Hercegovine, in SeverneMakedonije so upravičeni do sredstev URBACT. V omrežjih lahko sodelujejo tudi mesta iz drugih držav na lastne stroške;

    - Informacije o upravičenosti so podrobneje opisane v razpisni dokumentaciji. Za pomoč se lahko obrnete na apn@urbact.eu ali vašo nacionalno URBACT točko na urbact@ipop.si.

     

    KAJ POMENI DOBRO PARTNERSTVO?

    Pomembno je, da si že v fazi prijave vzamete čas in se potrudite prepoznati potencialne partnerje. V okviru razpisa (razpisna dokumentacija, merilo 3) sta kakovost in ustreznost partnerstva visoko vrednoteni, saj tvorita35 % skupne ocene.

     Ocenjevalci so pozorni na:

     

    1. Urbani izziv je pomemben za vse vključene

    6. Opredeljena vrednost koristi sodelovanja v URBACT

    2. Ustrezna geografska mešanica držav članic EU

    7. Ustrezni in raznoliki deležniki za oblikovanje lokalne URBACT skupine

    3. Ustrezno strateško okolje

    8. Velik potencial za financiranje ukrepov

    4. Povezava z urbano razsežnostjo kohezijske politike

    9. Ustreznost veščin zaposlenih

    5. Pripravljenost in sposobnost sodelovanja

    10. Splošna skladnost

     

    Kaj to pomeni v praksi in kako lahko izpolnite merila za uspeh in ustvarite odlično skupino za prihodnje sodelovanje?

     

    RAZISKOVANJE POTENCIALNIH PARTNERJEV

    S prehodom iz programa URBACT III (2014-2020) v sedanje programsko obdobje bodo omrežja v popolnempartnerstvu začela delovati že v samem začetku. V preteklosti je manjše število partnerjev začelo sodelovati v prvih šestih mesecih projektnega obdobja (faza 1) in razširilo partnerstvo za naslednje dvoletno obdobje (faza 2). Začetek s polnim partnerstvom v programu URBACT IV pomeni, da je treba že v fazi prijave zagotoviti prave partnerje, kar bo omrežjem omogočilo hitrejše napredovanje.

    exploring partners

    Po naših izkušnjah je bistven element produktivnega partnerstva skupni interes in potreba v zvezi z določenim izzivom, pa naj bo to mobilnost, digitalni prehod ali kaj drugega. Vsak partner se mora tudi zavezati, da bo sodeloval pri vseh elementih programa URBACT. To pomeni polno sodelovanje na vseh sestankih, odprtost in poštenost ter pripravljenost in navdušenje za opravljanje nalog in podporo drugim. To pomeni tudi spoznavanje URBACT metode, krepitev lokalnih zmogljivosti in vključevanje medsektorskih tem programa URBACT, tj. digitalno, zeleno in enakosti spolov, v oblikovanje politik. Ključnega pomena je razmislek o tem, koliko svojega časa in truda boste lahko vložili v 2 in pol letnem časovnem obdobju.

    Vprašanje skladnosti in uravnoteženosti ne pomeni nujno, da so si vsi partnerji podobni ali enako razviti. Nekatera prejšnja partnerstva so bila sestavljena iz podobnih mest, kot so vsa glavna mesta v ACCESSmetropolah v RiConnectu; druga so vključevala vsa mala in srednje velika mesta v IPlace ali ESIMEC; ali celo uravnotežena po strukturi, kot v mreži Tropa Verde prenosno omrežje, ki je štela dve občini/ okrožja, dve veliki mesti in dve aglomeraciji/ metropoli.

    Prav tako smo bili priča uspešnim partnerstvom z mesti različnih velikosti, iz različnih regionalnih kontekstov in na različnih stopnjah razvoja. Vzajemno učenje ne poteka izključno enosmerno, od "dobro razvitih" do "manj razvitih" partnerjev. Vedno je mogoče odkriti zanimiva spoznanja z medsebojno izmenjavo in obiski na terenu, ki spodbujajo razmislek in inovativno razmišljanje. Pomembno je, da se jasno pokažejo razlogi za delo v tej sestavi, da imajo partnerji skupni interes za skupni izziv in da so to ugotovili že pred oddajo vloge.

    V pomoč pri tem procesu je vprašalnik za vse potencialne partnerje koristen način za zbiranje informacij, ki bodo potrebne za izpolnitev prijavnega obrazca, pa tudi za oceno, kakšne so natančne potrebe učenja in potencialni prispevki ter kaj želi vsak partner poudariti v svojem lokalnem celostnem akcijskem načrtu. Zgoraj navedena merila bi bila dobra podlaga. Poleg tega je enostavno vzpostaviti individualne ali skupinske klice, da se partnerji virtualno pogovorijo in si izmenjajo izkušnje. 

    To so vprašanja, ki se jim je v klicih s potencialnimi partnerji priporočljivo posvetiti:

    Ali imajo ustrezne vire?

    Ali je partnersko mesto zmožno prispevati ustrezna sredstva? Ali lahko najdejo ustrezno raven sofinanciranja? Ali lahko dodelijo ali zaposlijo ustrezno osebje za opravljanje nalog v okviru lokalnega projekta? Ali imajo finančno ekipo, ki lahko pravočasno pripravi poročila in razume revizijski nadzor? Ali so pripravljeni ustanoviti in voditi lokalno skupino ter spodbujati lokalne deležnike k sodelovanju na lokalni in nadnacionalni ravni? Dober pokazatelj je odzivnost potencialnega partnerja že na tej stopnji. Če morate drezati vanje, potem to morda ni dobro znamenje.

    Ali so odprti za učenje?

    Ali imate občutek, da je partnersko mesto željno novega znanja? Se želijo učiti in iskreno deliti svoje izkušnje? Kakšna je njihova osnovna raven razumevanja, na primer celostnih in na sodelovanju utemeljenih pristopov?

    Ali imajo politično podporo?

    Zelo pomembno je, da imajo partnersko mesto politično podporo. To je ena od znanih ključnih ovir pri izvajanju celostnih akcijskih načrtov. Če se partner tekom projekta umakne iz projekta, lahko to namreč povzroči nestabilnost in administrativne težave za omrežje. Kako lahko bodoči partnerji dokažejo, da so njihovi politični voditelji v celoti obveščeni in se z njimi strinjajo?

    Kaj točno želijo pridobiti s sodelovanjem v URBACT omrežju?

    Dobro je ugotoviti, kaj točno si mesta želijo od sodelovanja v URBACT omrežju. Je to denar? Strokovni razvoj? Priložnost za izboljšanje participativnih in celostnih pristopov? Priložnost, da razvijejo načrt, ki bo imel več možnosti za pridobitev EU in nacionalnih sredstev?  Prepričajte se, da partnerji razumejo, kaj URBACT počne in česa ne počne, ter da se prijavljajo na pravi razpis iz pravega razloga.

     

    ISKANJE POTENCIALNIH PARTNERJEV

    Kje najti primerne kandidate? Enostaven odgovor ponuja URBACT orodje za iskanje partnerjev.  Čeprav lahko platforma sproži številne virtualne izmenjave in omogoči prvi stik, se zavedamo, da veliko partnerstev poteka v živo. URBACT dogodki, zlasti festivali mest, so odličen način za navezovanje stikov z drugimi mesti in spoznavanje novih kolegov.

    finding partners

    Drug način, da se seznanite s predlogi in priložnostmi, je kontaktiranje Nacionalne URBACT točke. To so pravzaprav ambasadorji programa, ki predstavljajo program URBACT in o njem redno obveščajo v nacionalnih jezikih. Za širjenje informacij o razpisu organizirajo nacionalne informativne dneve, tako virtualne kot v živo, ki se jih lahko udeležite. Če ste dogodek slučajno zamudili, se še vedno lahko obrnete na ustrezno Nacionalno URBACT točko.

     

    PARTNERSTVO ZA VEDNO?

    URBACT partnerstva trajajo 2 in pol let in pogosto se je ob koncu zelo težko posloviti. Vendar je veliko primerov trajnih prijateljstev in nadaljnjih sodelovanj. Povezovanje s kolegi iz drugih evropskih mest, ki opravljajo podobno delo, se soočajo s podobnimi izzivi in so enako osredotočeni na spodbujanje sprememb, je nekaj izjemno koristnega in spodbudnega.

    Več omrežij ali delov omrežij je v preteklosti nadaljevalo sodelovanje v različnih oblikah in obsegu tako v okviru URBACT kot izven, na primer več kot 30 odstotkov mest iz URBACT III se je po koncu delovanja mreže prijavilo na program Obzorje 2020. Prvotno omrežje Electric Vehicles in Urban Europe je izkoristilo rezultate sodelovanja in nato nadaljevalo v več milijonov evrov vrednem demonstracijskem projektu.

    Številna mesta so sodelovala prek razvoja URBACT omrežij na področju tehnologije in digitalnega prehoda: od Techtowna do TechRevolution in celo nadaljevanje projekta TechRevolution 2.0. Podobno se je prvotno akcijsko omrežje PROCURE pozneje preoblikovalo v prenosno omrežje Making Spend Matter Both. V obeh primerih je pot nadaljevalo skupaj več mest, vključno z istimi vodilnimi partnerji.

    V drugih primerih so specifično tematiko uporabili kot rdečo nit in kot priložnost, da se mesta razvijajo in usmerjajo k novim ciljem. Tak primer je bil omrežje AGRI-URBAN, kjer se je veliko partnerjev usmerilo k priložnostim Obzorja 2020, medtem ko so drugi partnerji razvili URBACT prenosno omrežje BioCanteens in kasneje še omrežje BioCanteens 2. Omeniti velja, da je bil vodilni partner obeh mrež BioCanteens prvotno novopečeni projektni partner v omrežju AGRI-URBAN.

    Nekatera mesta, dejavna v URBACT omrežjih na področju ustvarjanja prostora (placemaking), so nadaljevala z izvajanjem projekta Erasmus PART-Y na temo mladinskih storitev in participacije upoštevajoč spolno enakost. Medtem ko je projektni partner iz izvedbenih omrežij CREATIVE SPIRITS nadaljeval svoj projekt s sredstvi Urban Innovative Actions, so partnerji iz prenosnih omrežij Re-growCities ustanovili povsem nov projekt z EuroTowns. Pred kratkim je bila nekaterim mestom iz akcijskega omrežja SibDev odobrena prijava za projekt Interreg Europe.

     

    Upamo, da vam bodo ti nasveti pomagali najti prave partnerje, ki se bodo potegovali za sredstvaprograma URBACT. Do takrat vam je za nasvet na voljo URBACT sekretariat in nacionalna URBACT točka. Ob tem obstaja več virov, ki vam  bodo v pomoč pri pripravi vloge, na primer vsi spletni seminarji in različna gradiva. In ne pozabite na rok prijave za URBACT akcijska omrežja – 31. marec 2013.

     

    Naslovna fotografija: Urban Jeriha

     

  • More than 50 project ideas from all over Europe at your reach!

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    More than 50 project ideas COVER
    02/02/2023

    Discover the new additions to the Partner Search Tool following the launch of the Action Planning Networks’ call.

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    It has not even been a whole month since the URBACT IV Programme has officially opened its first call for networks. Yet, there are already plenty of concrete proposals for cities to find potential partners* and, hopefully, embark on the 2.5-year action-planning journey.

    Whether you have a pitch for a network or if you are on the lookout for inspiration and peers, the Partner Search Tool is the place to find cities that share similar ambitions, challenges and vision. To prompt connections and spark exchange among aspiring-URBACT-beneficiaries, this platform was first released in the occasion of the European Week of Regions and Cities in October 2022.

    Today, with all the guidance for applicants, terms of reference and further material in different language available to all, the stakes to put your ideas out there and find partners are higher than ever. Get a taste of the most recent Partner Search Tool’s ideas coming from all corners of Europe from 5 January to 2 February.

     


     

    Welcome to cities from North Macedonia, Montenegro and Serbia

     

    A novelty for URBACT IV, the addition of five countries benefitting from the Instrument for Pre-Accession to the EU (IPA) as eligible partners for programme funds means new possibilities to a vast new territory. For the first time ever, cities from Albania, Montenegro, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Serbia and North Macedonia can apply to become URBACT Project Partners.

    Unsurprisingly, you can already find project ideas from IPA countries for the revitalisation of industrial sites, youth employment and green transition for digital transformation in the Partner Search Tool. The municipalities of Berane (ME), Sarajevo (BA) and Ohrid (MK) are all respectively looking for Lead Partners and other Project Partners to join their efforts. If approved, these cities will receive IPA funding for their participation in URBACT networks.

     

    Cities from the South are on the rise

     

    Very well represented in the Partner Search Tool, many new projects from Southern European cities have been published since the launch of the Action Planning Networks’ call.

    Take for instance Portugal, where you can find ideas ranging from green transition to social inclusion. The municipality of Serpa (PT) wants to work around the effects of industrial agriculture in urban centres, while the subject of urban mobility appears the intermunicipal community of Médio Tejo’s (PT) idea. In addition, a specialised development agency in Vila Nova de Gaia (PT) and the university of Lisbon (PT) are both keen to explore housing solutions: the first focusing in social housing, whereas the latter in intergenerational rooms.

    Also related to social cohesion, the municipality of Grevená (EL) wants to improve the urban livelihood and create more inclusive spaces, as in children-friendly cities. Still in Greece, the municipality of Heraklion (EL) is seeking partners to overcome barriers, so cities can re-discover their rivers – a project that explores the connections of urban planning and the green transition.

    Talking about green initiatives, this is a topic of predilection among Italian cities. The Union of Bassa Romagna Municipalities (IT) wants to lead partners to exchange knowledge on green infrastructures, while initiatives in Termoli (IT) and the Cagliari University (IT) want to respectively engage in climate and increase the use of bikes and soft mobility. When it comes to social inclusion, there are also very committed municipalities. The city of Bari (IT) aims at developing community libraries and the municipality of Cinisello Balsamo (IT) to use urban regeneration as an engine for social impact.

    In Spain, the range of topics is quite diverse. The council of Castelldefels (ES) aims at using the smart healthy city concept as a strategy, bringing elements from the digital transition to governance and health. The municipality of Avilés wants to bring together fellow cities that have a strong industrial background and seize this heritage to transform these areas and make such spaces greener. Finally, the municipality of Málaga is seeking partners to dinamise local start-ups ecosystems.

     

    Green is the colour of the season

     

    When it comes to issues related to the climate urgency, cities have plenty of creative ideas. Interested by the topic of water collection and fighting draughts, the municipality of Michalovce (SK) has published an idea about the richness of the rain. While the municipality of Wroclaw (PL) has expressed interest in taking forward two different projects, one on food self-sufficient production and another one on sustainable urban policies.

    Still in Poland, the municipality of Rzeszow aims to use mobility to achieve carbon neutrality. This is indeed a hot topic as other proposals suggest, as Liepaja’s (LV) municipal willingness to create sustainable mobility plans for small and medium-sized cities and Bucharest’s (RO) ambition to improve their urban logistic systems – an idea published by a specialised development agency. On a similar note, the municipality of Pilisborosjenõ (HU) invites other towns to revert the negative impacts of suburbanisation trends and the city council of Leitrim (IE) wants to make its town centre more pedestrian-friendly. These are all principles that are at the centre of the URBACT Knowledge Hub on mobility, the Walk'n'Roll initiative

    Far beyond the scope of how we perceive urban mobility, the city of Copenhagen (DK) is looking for peers to explore participative governance models, especially for data-based citizen engagement, in order to take coherent place based climate actions. In addition, two German proposals have also been recently added to the Partner Search Tool. The municipality of Munich (DE) invites other cities to go circular using the CCRI methodology, and the city of Essen proposes to test water-sensitive urban planning through green practical measures.

    It’s always an enriching experience to build from the existent. This is clearly the case for the municipality of Mechelen (BE), which was previously involved with the Resourceful Cities Action Planning Network (2019 - 2022). Now, this city wishes to carry on its legacy and lead a new project on hubs for circular economy. Another idea coming from Belgium, published by an NGO in Hannut (BE), aims at making cities more attractive and just by renovating the downtown areas.

     

    Building blocks of communities

     

    Although fewer in numbers – but with no less effective ideas and solutions to urban challenges – cities from the North are also looking for new partners. For example, the municipality of Malmö (SE) is particularly seeking to create new life and make communities thrive in a district that is reduced to a single function. The city wants spark a new sense of identity and cohesion for such places. 

    More related to participative governance and social cohesion models, three new ideas were published by French bodies. The county council of Seine Saint-Denis wants to transform its territory by welcoming and including migrants, whereas the urban agency of Saint Omer seeks to re-invent the involvement of citizens, by supporting them facing new challenges. With a similar approach, the metropolis of Lyon wants to delve into the multi-governance perspective – particularly the dialogue between the municipalities and city districts.

    At last, Czech cities’ ideas tend to lean towards themes as local governance. The city Usti nad Labem (CZ) is looking for partners to further explore how to build and strengthen communities using municipal reward systems. While the city of Ostrava (CZ) has published three different ideas: one about the access to adequate housing, another one on cultural development and a plea for city centre entrepreuneurs.

     

     

    You can find out more about all these ideas, as well the previously published ones, in the URBACT Partner Search Tool. Don’t wait any longer, you have more than 50 opportunities to join [u]s!

     

    Jois [u]s!

     

    * URBACT facilitates the sharing of knowledge and good practice between cities and other levels of government. The programme can fund eligible institutions from the whole territory of the European Union with its 27 Member States, as well as Norway and Switzerland, plus five IPA countries. Cities from other countries can take part in network activities at their own costs.

    Read more on the eligibility for the call at urbact.eu/get-involved

     

     

  • Action Planning -verkostohankkeiden hakukierros: Osallistu tiedotus-tilaisuuteen!

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    Digitaler URBACT-Infoday für Deutschland und Österreich
    20/01/2023

     

    URBACT IV-ohjelman Suomen yhteyspiste, työ- ja elinkeinoministeriö ja Kuntaliitto järjestävät 7.2.2023 tiedotustilaisuuden alkavan URBACT IV -ohjelman painopisteistä sekä Action Planning Networks hausta.

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    Tilaisuus järjestetään Kuntatalolla Helsingissä Toinen linja 14, neuvotteluhuone B3.3. Akaatti. Tilaisuuteen on mahdollisuus osallistua myös etänä. Ennakkoilmoittautuminen 2.2.2023 mennessä tämän linkin kautta.Tilaisuuden ohjelma:

    9.30-10.00Aamukahvi + purtavaa​

    10.00-10.05​ Tilaisuuden avaus ja tarkoitus​; Petri Kahila, Spatia​

    10.05-10.20 Uusi URBACT IV -ohjelma; Timo Hirvonen & Matti Fritsch, Spatia​

    10.20-11.00​ URBACT IV –ohjelman APN -haku​; Timo Hirvonen & Matti Fritsch, Spatia​

    11.00-11.40​ Keskustelua ja kysymyksiä​; Petri Kahila, Timo Hirvonen & Matti Fritsch, Spatia​

    11.40-11.50​ Kaupunkipolitiikan kommenttipuheenvuoro; Olli Voutilainen, TEM​

    11.50-12.00​ Kuntaliiton kaupunkipolitiikkatyö​; Henrik Lönnqvist, Kuntaliitto ​

  • URBACT IV -ohjelman ensimmäinen Action Planning -verkostohankkeiden hakukierros avoinna 31.3.2023 saakka!

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    Join [u]s logo for URBACT APN campaign
    20/01/2023

     

    Haku on suunnattu kaupungeille ja kunnille, jotka haluavat laatia omaan kehittämisteemaansa kohdistuvan toimintasuunnitelman ja työstää sitä yhdessä muiden eurooppalaisten kaupunkien kanssa.

    Join us banner

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    Action Planning -verkostohankkeet kohdistuvat kaupunki- ja kuntakehittämiseen, joten suomalaisen hakijan on oltava pääsääntöisesti kaupunki tai kunta. Kukin hanke keskittyy yhteen kehittämisteemaan. Hankkeen budjetti on noin 850 000 euroa ja siinä on mukana 8–10 kuntaa/kaupunkia. EU-jäsenmaiden lisäksi verkostohankkeisiin voi kuulua jäseniä ns. partnerimaista (Sveitsi ja Norja) ja ehdokasmaista (Albania, Bosnia ja Hertsegovina, Montenegro, Pohjois-Makedonia, Serbia).

    Hakua koskevat perustiedot näet tästä esitteestä.

    Katso tarkemmat hakuohjeet, tukiehdot ja hakijoiden tukikelpoisuutta koskevat tiedot tästä linkistä.

     

     
     
  • Aperto fino al 31 marzo il primo bando Urbact IV per la creazione di Piani d’azione integrati

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    18/01/2023

    Dal 9 gennaio e fino al 31 marzo 2023 è aperto il primo bando URBACT IV per la formazione di 30 reti per la creazione di Piani d’azione integrati (Action planning network). Il programma URBACT IV fa parte dell’Obiettivo di Cooperazione Territoriale Europea dei Fondi Strutturali per il periodo 2021-2027, è finanziato dal FESR e gestito dall’Agenzia Nazionale della Coesione dei Territori del governo francese (ANCT).

    Save the date: URBACT IV info day on 23th January in Rome - Italy

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    L’Anci ricopre il ruolo di Punto Nazionale del programma per l’Italia. La missione di URBACT è quella di favorire lo scambio e lo sviluppo di soluzioni integrate tra le città europee su sfide di interesse comune, attraverso un’azione di rete e di apprendimento reciproco che fa emergere esperienze e buone pratiche utili a migliorare le politiche urbane. In particolare, URBACT contribuisce direttamente al Policy Objective 5 della Politica di Coesione Europea 2021-2027 (Europa più vicina ai cittadini), supportando la definizione di strategie di sviluppo locale sostenibile.
    Per raggiungere tali obiettivi, URBACT finanzia reti transnazionali finalizzare a, agendo sulle competenze di amministratori, funzionari e attori locali coinvolti nel design e nell’attuazione di politiche di sviluppo urbano sostenibile in maniera integrata e partecipativa.
    Il bando finanzia la creazione di reti di città finalizzate alla creazione di Piani d’Azione locali integrati su un tema di interesse comune per migliorare il modo in cui lavorano le amministrazioni locali europee scambiando e individuando soluzioni ed esperienze alle sfide comuni. Per illustrare il bando saranno organizzati tre infoday a Roma, Palermo e Torino. Il primo dei quali si terrà il 23 gennaio a Roma, in Campidoglio, a partire dalle 10:00 (iscriviti qui per partecipare alla sessione mattutina: https://www.eventbrite.it/e/biglietti-infoday-urbact-iv-il-nuovo-bando-per-action-planning-network-512062060407 e qui per la sessione pomeridiana: https://www.eventbrite.it/e/biglietti-sessione-di-co-progettazione-tavoli-di-lavoro-tematici-512070886807).

    Chi può partecipare?
    Possono partecipare Comuni di ogni tipologia e dimensione, ma anche altre tipologie di enti come le agenzie locali pubbliche o semi-pubbliche (ad es. aziende di trasporto pubblico, etc.), livelli infra-municipali di governo locale (ad es. circoscrizioni, municipi, etc.), autorità metropolitane e agglomerazioni organizzate rappresentate da istituzioni politico-amministrative (ad es. Unioni di comuni, etc.). Possono partecipare inoltre partner non urbani, come università e centri di ricerca, provincie e regioni, autorità di gestione dei Fondi della Politica di Coesione.
    Possono far parte delle reti URBACT comuni dei 27 paesi membri dell’UE; di Svizzera e Norvegia (con copertura del 50% dei costi da parte delle rispettive autorità nazionali); di paesi in pre-accesso (Serbia, Bosnia-Erzegovina, Macedonia del Nord, Montenegro, Albania) con fondi IPA. Comuni di altri paesi del mondo possono partecipare interamente a proprie spese. Ogni rete può avere tra gli 8 e i 10 comuni partecipanti, con un massimo di 2 partner non-città e una copertura minima di 7 Paesi. Il primo bando ha un budget complessivo indicativamente di 25,5 milioni di euro, per un finanziamento massimo di 850.000€ per ciascuna delle reti finanziate.
    Leggi il testo del bando: 
    https://urbact.eu/get-involved
    Per maggiori informazioni visita il sito www.urbact.eu oppure contatta il Punto di Contatto Nazionale all’indirizzo urbact@anci.it

     

    https://www.eventbrite.it/e/biglietti-infoday-urbact-iv-il-nuovo-bando-per-action-planning-network-512062060407

  • Information Day-the launch of URBACT IV and the first call for Action Planning Networks!

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    New URBACT IV logo of Ireland
    06/01/2023

    The new URBACT IV logo for Ireland

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    On the afternoon of Tuesday 31st January 2023 at the Custom House, Dublin, we will launch URBACT IV and provide an overview of the call for Action Planning Networks.

    Come join us on the day to receive practical tips in getting started, and the opportunity to hear of testimonies from past URBACT project participants in Ireland!! At the event you will also hear from other speakers on the importance of integrated and sustainable urban development at the local, regional and national levels, as well as the value of participation in EU projects!

    The agenda will be paperless and will be communicated to registered attendees in advance! Please register here: https://t.co/xQcDvA0Ydy

  • Check out the most recent additions to the Partner Search Tool

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    05/01/2023

    The first URBACT IV call for networks was recently launched, yet many cities have already started sharing their own projects' ideas.

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    Join [u]s!

    Apply to the URBACT call by 31 March 2023!

    BREAKING ISOLATION

     

    Today social connections are fundamental when building communities. However, it is clear that many people are isolated and, contrary to what you might think, the people who are affected by this problem might not be the first ones you have in mind. Ever since the pandemic, the city of Agen (FR) has noted a particular rise in cases of loneliness among not only elder people, but also single-parent families and even youngsters. This project idea looks at building a partnership to focus in the question of the social bond between people. How can citizen participation promote social links among young and old, and how can citizens be involved to recreate ties and facilitate them? If your city faces a similar challenge, express your interest in joining this bid!

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    RESIDENTS OF THE FUTURE

     

    Urban shrinkage is a common phenomenon that many small and medium-sized cities struggle with. To tackle this issue, the city of Sibenik (HR) is looking for  partners who would like to join their project idea and explore new ways to increase city attractiveness. The overall objective is to invite and retain new investments and new residents. It can be particularly challenging for towns and smaller cities to redefine goals and practical measures to create more citizen-centric urban areas. The project also mentions how sustainable solutions can be reconsidered using digital transformation to enable green growth and improve local living conditions. That's a good example of how the URBACT IV crosscutting priorities (green - digital - gender) can be taken into account in a network idea and approached by network candidates. 

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    LIBERATING WOMEN

     

    Gender inequality can significantly impact work, travel, play, health and life in urban environments. Unfortunately, women and girls experience the majority of such inequalities, which are so often considered as an afterthought. To move away from stereotypes, to break habits embedded in all spheres, even the most unexpected, the metropolitan area of Clermont Auvergne (FR) has created a project idea to tackle such challenges. The goal is to free women at different urban scales and dimensions: public spaces, education, jobs, health... Policies in favour of gender equality are mainly focused on reducing exclusion, discrimination and unfair treatment by lifting women up. Join their effort to create awareness and empower women!

    READ MORE

     

    PARTICIPATION IN VULNERABLE COMMUNITIES

     

    Promoting mechanisms of public participation in vulnerable communities is at the heart of this network proposal. This project idea aims to constitute itself as a tool for the involvement of those who are usually not heard in the process of public consultations, co-decision-making, among other activities that are led by municipalities. The city of Oeiras (PT) seeks potential partners to leverage the social inclusion of residents, the feeling of belonging to the community, the involvement in issues that concern them as public spaces and common infrastructures. There's an interesting take on how the project can translate the Sustainable Development Goals 11 (Sustainable cities and communities) and 16 (Peace, justice and strong institutions) to the local conditions.

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    WELCOMING MIGRANTS

     

    Migration has been for a long time a hot topic in Europe and it will, most certainly, continue continue in the future. Despite common and individual efforts, countries still struggle with policies to welcome migrants, even if there are successful initiatives-led at local level. City authorities all over Europe are creating new ways of taking care of new-comers with dignity and building springboard territories, facilitating their inclusion is as much a social issue as it is one of territorial resilience to future global crises. The Seine-Saint-Denis County Council (FR) aims to exchange and learn from European peers to ensure migrants have their human rights respected and to facilitate their integration in urban areas. Does your share the same ambition? Express your interest in this project idea right now!

    READ MORE

     

     


     

    The call for Action Planning Networks opened on 9 January 2023! Still have questions about it? Then save the date for our webinars:

    Action Planning Network label

    17 January, from 10.00 to 11.00 CET: The call in a nutshell

    19 January, from 10.00 to 11.00 CET: How to build a strong partnership for an Action Planning Network

    7 February, from 10.00 to 11.00 CET: Exchange and learning during the network journey

    7 March, from 10.00 to 11.00 CET: Time to submit your application: tech & troubleshooting

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    The call for Action Planning Networks, which opened on 9 January 2023, gives cities from the EU Member States, Partner States, and five IPA countries (Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Serbia) the occasion to embark on a unique 2.5 years journey. Throughout this time, partners from approved networks will learn and exchange on a specific topic, experiment solutions and, ultimately, co-design integrated strategies to face challenges at local-level.

     

    While this all might sound a bit abstract, it is always easy to relate to concrete, real examples. The Partner Search Tool invites potential candidates – and beyond – to get a glimpse of what an URBACT network is about. In addition, the tool is very telling as to what are the current urban hot topics that municipalities and other structures are most interested in.

     

    See below what’s on the plate for cities!

     

  • The time to join the URBACT pool of experts has finally come!

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    13/12/2022

    The next call for URBACT IV Experts is finally open -- and will remain so until 2027.

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    Joining our pool of expert opens the door for a variety of expertise missions for supporting approved URBACT networks and the URBACT Secretariat. Validated Experts are most usually invited to contribute to the work developed by funded projects and cities.

    The current call for Action Planning Networks is a great occasion to support cities as a Lead Expert, someone who follows thoroughly their 2.5-year exchange and learning journey developing local Integrated Action Plans. Alternatively, experts can also be called out to do Ad-hoc missions to provide punctual inputs to either the beneficiary cities or the URBACT Secretariat, in order to contribute to programme activities – such as URBACT Universities, URBACT City Festivals, URBACT Knowledge Hub actions, as well as for the thematic and strategic programme support.

    Interested candidates can apply to either become a Lead Expert – able to perform the corresponding role with URBACT networks, in addition to ad-hoc missions – or become an exclusively Ad-hoc Expert who’s specialised in at least one of the three types of the following types of expertise:

     

    Expertise for the design and delivery of TRANSNATIONAL EXCHANGE AND LEARNING activities
    THEMATIC KNOWLEDGE with a  wide array of subtopics relevant for sustainable urban development in cities
    Methods and tools for INTEGRATED AND PARTICIATORY APPROACHES for the design and delivery of policies

     

    Lead Experts must be validated in all of the above, in addition to a specific skills category, which is crucial for maximising the impact of exchange and learning activities and knowledge production. Since they play such a vital role within the URBACT networks, they need to prove previous experiences when it comes to leadership and coaching approaches.

    Any candidate must show an adequate set of communication skills and face circumstances related to the hybrid working reality. These will be required for all experts in the pool, regardless of the missions they can perform. Such skills include relevant proficiency in English, ability to communicate complex concepts in accessible way, sufficient writing skills and the ability to work effectively with the use of digital tools.

    It’s important to note that any individual – not consortiums or consultancy agencies – can apply to become an expert at any point in time during this programming period (2021 – 2027). We need professionals with both academic and hands-on experience, especially city practitioners with proven practical and thematic knowledge. 

    During the past edition of the programme, URBACT III (2014 – 2020), 328 people have been validated as experts. In total, 45% of them had at least one mission commissioned by the programme. For URBACT IV (2021 – 2022) we aim to increase this rate by offering further opportunities to those who are validated in our pool. Since we have new priorities and criteria set for the years to come, the application form has been shaped to translate the programme’s needs, this means that URBACT III Experts will also have to go through the new URBACT IV validation process.

     

    Where to start?

     

    First of all, be sure to carefully read the guidance for applicants, then, you can proceed to complete (a long) application form.

    But take it easy! You can save the draft for your application as many times as you wish, before finally submitting it. To do so, you will be asked to create a website login. Were you an URBACT III Expert? You can still use your previous login information to access the URBACT IV application form.

    The validation process can take up to three weeks, including online interviews. Lead Experts for the next round of Action Planning Networks will be selected after the approval of the projects by URBACT's Monitoring Committee, in the summer of 2023.

     

     


     

    You have waited long enough, now it's time to join [u]s as an Expert!