Food Governance and Policies at local level

Programme 2021 - 2027 Interreg VI-B NEXT Mediterranean Sea Basin (NEXT MED)

Date of latest update: 2026-06-25

Description

Description (EN):

PROJECT TYPE: 3 - Governance Projects ~ MAIN INTERVENTION FIELD: 173. Enhancing institutional capacity of public authorities and stakeholders to implement territorial cooperation projects and initiatives in a cross-border, transnational, maritime and inter-regional context ~ SUMMARY: The FOODGaP project aims at providing a significant contribution for a better cooperation governance in the Mediterranean, thus grasping the extraordinary opportunity offered by this novel priority in the NEXT-MED programme. The project aim is to support local public authorities and stakeholders to adopt improved governance models for local food policies development in the Mediterranean. Food policies' focus is key to address complex and intertwined challenges threatening cities in both shores of the programme area (such as urbanization, resources depletion, food insecurity, import dependency, as the international crisis and COVID-19 demonstrated, rural-urban disconnections) and a coordination is needed both with local stakeholders and cross borders to reduce the pressures on local communities wellbeing, welfare and social and political stability. FOOD GaP objective will be achieved by: i. fostering local public authorities capacities to coordinate their efforts within their administrations and with the local actors (institutions, civil society, academia, and economic and social partners), ii. designing local participatory governance models, iii. piloting them by testing the improved services, embedded by the local food policies’ development, iv. establishing the Mediterranean Coalition for local food policies development. Ciheam Bari will lead the project with 4 local public authorities (Tyre, LB, the metropolitan City Mersin, TR, the Metropolitan city of Rome, IT, Houmt Souk, TN), EPLO, EL, and 5 Associate partners, representing EU and international networks and organizations. All together will contribute advocate for a city food diplomacy and create new avenues for extended collaborations within the programme area, other cities, international networks and higher policy levels. ~ KEEP KEYWORDS: Governance, partnership, Institutional cooperation and cooperation networks, Urban development

Expected Achievements (EN):

Management coordination Communication and dissemination CODE: SO1ER1 ~ SPECIFIC OBJECTIVE: To improve the institutional capacities of local public authorities and other stakeholders to adopt participatory governance models for local food policies in the Mediterranean ~ EXPECTED RESULT: -Increased local public authorities’ capacities to collaborate across-sectors and actors to develop local food policies -A transnational cooperation among local public authorities and stakeholders is strengthened and commitment agreed to develop local food policies in the Mediterranean CODE: SO1ER1 ~ SPECIFIC OBJECTIVE: To improve the institutional capacities of local public authorities and other stakeholders to adopt participatory governance models for local food policies in the Mediterranean ~ EXPECTED RESULT: -Increased local public authorities’ capacities to collaborate across-sectors and actors to develop local food policies -A transnational cooperation among local public authorities and stakeholders is strengthened and commitment agreed to develop local food policies in the Mediterranean CODE: SO1ER1 ~ SPECIFIC OBJECTIVE: To improve the institutional capacities of local public authorities and other stakeholders to adopt participatory governance models for local food policies in the Mediterranean ~ EXPECTED RESULT: -Increased local public authorities’ capacities to collaborate across-sectors and actors to develop local food policies -A transnational cooperation among local public authorities and stakeholders is strengthened and commitment agreed to develop local food policies in the Mediterranean CODE: SO1ER1 ~ SPECIFIC OBJECTIVE: To improve the institutional capacities of local public authorities and other stakeholders to adopt participatory governance models for local food policies in the Mediterranean ~ EXPECTED RESULT: -Increased local public authorities’ capacities to collaborate across-sectors and actors to develop local food policies -A transnational cooperation among local public authorities and stakeholders is strengthened and commitment agreed to develop local food policies in the Mediterranean

Project outputs: (1.1) Project Management procedures(EN)
(1.2) Project meetings(EN)
(1.3) Progress reports(EN)
(1.4) Project guide on reporting and financial procedures(EN)
(1.5) Procurement plan(EN)
(2.1) Communication Strategy and implementation(EN)
(2.2) Communication toolkit(EN)
(2.3) Inception and final video(EN)
(2.4) Poster(EN)
(2.5) Public events(EN)
(3.2) Capacity building programme(EN)
(4.1) Joint procedures to set up participatory governance models(EN)
(5.1) joint technical report of participatory governance models validated by pilot actions(EN)
(6.1) The Mediterranean food governance Coalition is formally agreed and established(EN)
Website: https://www.interregnextmed.eu/project-page/foodgap/about/

Thematic information

Governance, partnership Clustering and economic cooperation Community integration and common identity

Priority: (VI-B_MSB_4) Priority 4: A better cooperation governance for the Mediterranean

Priority specific objective: ISO6.6. Other actions to support better cooperation governance (all strands)

Priority policy objective (Interreg specific objective): PO6 (ISO1) A better cooperation governance

Type of intervention: 173 Enhancing institutional capacity of public authorities and stakeholders to implement territorial cooperation projects and initiatives in a cross-border, transnational, maritime and inter-regional context

Partners (6)

Lead Partner: Centre International de Hautes Etudes Agronomiques Méditerranéennes - Istituto Agronomico Mediterraneo di Bari

Partner’s ID if not PIC: 93047470724 | PROFIT MAKING: False ~ STATUS PUBLIC: True

Department: Knowledge Unit “youth entrepreneurship and innovation ecosystems”

Address: Via Ceglie 9 , 70010 Valenzano (Bari), Italy

Legal status: public

Organisation type: N.a.

Website: http://www.iamb.it

Total budget: EUR 257 360.00

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 229 050.40

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 89.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 28 309.60

صور

Name: صور

Partner’s ID if not PIC: 710760 | PROFIT MAKING: False ~ STATUS PUBLIC: True

Address: Old city, fishers port, near Al-SarayTyre, Lebanon

Legal status: public

Organisation type: N.a.

Website: http://www.tyremunicipality.com

Total budget: EUR 215 306.00

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 191 622.34

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 89.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 23 683.66

بلدية جربة حومة السوق

Name: بلدية جربة حومة السوق

Department: N/A

Partner’s ID if not PIC: 024646NNN000 | PROFIT MAKING: False ~ STATUS PUBLIC: True

Address: Place de l’indépendance , Houmt Souk Djerba, 4180 Houmt Souk Djerba, Tunisia

Legal status: public

Organisation type: Local public authority

Website: http://www.commune-houmtsouk.gov.tn/

Total budget: EUR 217 382.20

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 193 470.15

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 89.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 23 912.05

Città metropolitana di Roma Capitale

Name: Città metropolitana di Roma Capitale

Department: Dipartimento IV – Pianificazione strategica e governo del territorio

Partner’s ID if not PIC: 80034390 | PROFIT MAKING: False ~ STATUS PUBLIC: True

Address: Via IV Novembre, 119/a, 00187 Roma, Italy

Legal status: public

Organisation type: N.a.

Website: https://www.cittametropolitanaroma.it/

Total budget: EUR 223 292.00

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 198 729.88

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 89.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 24 562.12

ΕΥΡΩΠΑΪΚΟΣ ΟΡΓΑΝΙΣΜΟΣ ΔΗΜΟΣΙΟΥ ΔΙΚΑΙΟΥ

Name: ΕΥΡΩΠΑΪΚΟΣ ΟΡΓΑΝΙΣΜΟΣ ΔΗΜΟΣΙΟΥ ΔΙΚΑΙΟΥ

Department: Institute for Sustainable Development

Partner’s ID if not PIC: 997936415 | PROFIT MAKING: False ~ STATUS PUBLIC: True

Address: Athens, Greece

Legal status: public

Organisation type: N.a.

Website: https://www1.eplo.int/

Total budget: EUR 181 862.20

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 161 857.35

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 89.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 20 004.85

Contractors:

Name: Konstantinos Avgeris
VAT registration or tax identification number: EL043098324
Name: GEORGES FASSOULAKIS SCS
VAT registration or tax identification number: BE0722969209
Name: TSOUKALIS NIKOLAOS SPYRIDON
VAT registration or tax identification number: EL997936415
Name: ATHINAIKON RESTAURANT
VAT registration or tax identification number: EL081104579
Name: PAPADOPOULOS DIMITRIOS
VAT registration or tax identification number: EL034047338
Name: DIMITRA PSIMMENOU
VAT registration or tax identification number: 142639126

Mersin Büyükşehir Belediyesi

Name: Mersin Büyükşehir Belediyesi

Department: Department of Agricultural Services/Foreign Affairs and Projects Branch Office

Partner’s ID if not PIC: 6180006446 | PROFIT MAKING: False ~ STATUS PUBLIC: True

Address: Kültür Mah. 4304 Sok. No:1 Akdeniz/Mersin Akdeniz/Mersin, Turkey

Legal status: public

Organisation type: Local public authority

Website: https://www.mersin.bel.tr/

Total budget: EUR 225 371.00

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 200 580.19

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 89.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 24 790.81

Partners map

Partners and Projects info

Municipality of Tyre

Food Governance and Policies at local level

Partners and Projects info

Municipality of Djerba Houmt Souk

Food Governance and Policies at local level

Partners and Projects info

Metropolitan City of Rome – Dep IV Strategic planning and territory governance

Food Governance and Policies at local level

Partners and Projects info

EUROPEAN PUBLIC LAW ORGANISATION

Food Governance and Policies at local level

Partners and Projects info

Mersin Metropolitan Municipality

Food Governance and Policies at local level

Partners and Projects info

International Centre for Advanced Mediterranean Agronomic Studies - Mediterranean Agronomic Institute of Bari

Food Governance and Policies at local level

Lead partner

Project partner

Summary

Project name (EN): Food Governance and Policies at local level

Project acronym: FOODGaP~A_G_4.1_0185

Project ID: 00040

Project start date: 2025-07-08

Project end date: 2028-07-07

Project status: ongoing

Relevant linked projects:

FoodSHIFT2030 Horizon 2020 project (EN) | FoodSHIFT2030 project, funded by the Horizon 2020 programme, aims at favouring the food system transition toward 2030 through Food Accelerator Labs (Living Lab). Within its Food Accelerator Lab, led by CIHEAM Bari, food system innovators together with the policy-makers of the Metropolitan City of Bari co-designed the Manifesto for the food system transition, approved by the local authority last April 2022. The Manifesto will be soon translated into the food policy of the metropolitan city of Bari.
The LP will exploit the approach adopted to manage the participatory governance model, through the LL approach (EnoLL toolkit, backcasting methodology), for envisioning possible futures, and the advocacy plan adopted to formulate the Manifesto for the food system transition of the Metropolitan City of Bari and the local food policy developed and approved by the local public authority (Sept 2023).
Furthermore the CIBA2030 platform set up will be linked to the FOOGaP IT platform with the aim of sharing the contents and messages and increase the cost-effectiveness of the solution. (EN), FOOD4HEALTH, Interreg IPA CBC Italy Montenegro Albania programme 2014 – 2020, Ciheam Bari (EN) | The project aimed at enhancing and qualify typical products and consumer health protection (The Apulian Lifestyle, Agriculture and Quality) through the setting up of 5 Community Labs, (Living Labs) composed by the 4 helix actors, to demonstrate and transfer techniques and processes to support small local businesses to access the market in the cross-border area.
The project has been awarded as a best practice by the programme Managing Authority thanks the community lab established in Tricase where small producers benefit of a processing space. The community lab is also a governance practice as it is managed by an external organization selected by the Municipality of Tricase (LE):
within the Food4health interreg IPA project a programme dedicated to Digital Skills was developed. It addressed 14 enterprises and 30 young people from Albania (19), Montenegro (3), Apulia and Molise (8), graduated in different disciplines, from Economics to IT and Agrifood, have worked together, with the objective to consolidate and strengthen the participants' digital skills and the development of innovative projects based on the needs of businesses through the approach of open innovation and design thinking. These outputs will be scale out both as solutions and target beneficiaries that can be further addressed by the FOODGaP project. (EN), Grass Ceiling, Horizon Europe project (EN) | The Horizon Europe Grass Ceiling project, which aims to empower rural women and increase the number of socio-ecological innovations led by women in agriculture. The project will contribute to advancing the UN’s goals on gender parity, realise the EU gender equality strategy, and achieve the goals of the Green Deal, the Farm to Fork strategy, the Long-Term Vision for Rural Areas, and the European Pillar of Social Rights. The outputs that can be shared within FOODGaP build on the process adopted (LL) to favour a rural vision characterised by a gender approach. (EN), CRESCENTO, CiRcular Economy Skills Enhancement Network (Interreg- ADRION) (EN) | The CRESCENTO project stands up to the above challenges establishing an ADRION Transnational Cooperation Network on Circular Economy, defining an Education and Training programme concept and aligning partners towards the definition and development of a Joint Master’s programme on Circular Economy. The project’s overall goal is to raise competences and skills in Circular Economy, strategically relevant for a more Sustainable Adriatic-Ionian area, by: (i) networking local actors from academia, research, business and public sector and (ii) elaborating a Joint Master that includes internships and hands on training.The outputs from the CRESCENTO that can be leveraged for the FOODGaP project may include:
- Establishing a Transnational Cooperation Network: The networking model from the CRESCENTO can be adapted to create a network for local food policy development in the Mediterranean.
- The engagement approach used in the CRESCENTO can be applied to involve Mediterranean stakeholders in governance processes for local food policies.
- Training programs from the CRESCENTO Joint "Summer" School can be repurposed to build capacity for implementing improved governance processes in the Food Goal.
- Promotion strategies from the CRESCENTO can be used to raise awareness about the importance of local food policy development and encourage participation in relevant training programs. (EN), S3E “Southern European Entrepreneurship Engine” (Horizon Europe) (EN) | The S3E project aims to develop an engine of growth that will contribute to improve the connectedness and efficiency of the Southern European countries’ innovation ecosystems. It focuses on the acceleration of Deep Tech start-ups that, by providing solutions to a more sustainable society, can impact the economic growth in these countries.
The S3E outputs can be leveraged for the FOODGaP by:
- Uncovering Research Projects: The process and methodologies used in S3E to uncover research projects with market potential can be adapted for identifying innovative solutions and research relevant to local food policy development in the Mediterranean.
- Supporting Startup Development: The strategies employed in S3E to support the development of Deep Tech startups, including providing mentoring and networking, can be applied to support startups focused on sustainable food policies in the Mediterranean.
- Connecting Startups: The networking framework established in S3E to connect startups with larger companies can be utilised to facilitate collaborations between startups working on sustainable food policies and relevant stakeholders in the Mediterranean region. (EN), Dialogue4Tourism, Dialogue4Tourism: Institutional dialogue on Sustainable Tourism and Governance in the Euro- Med area (Interreg Med) (EN) | The overall objective of this project is to increase the coordination level and institutional capacity of public authorities, multi-level bodies, programmes, strategies and initiatives in the Mediterranean to make greener, smarter and more resilient the tourism sector for the flourishing of local communities, visitors, and nature, embracing the fourfold approach of the mission: circularity of tourism services, environmental neutrality, sustainable ecosystem services, and cultural and natural preservation of resources.
The outputs/results from the Dialogue4Tourism project can be utilised for the FOODGaP project in the following ways:
- Leveraging joint mapping and collaborative networks established in Dialogue4Tourism to inform strategies for local food policy development.
- Adapting coordination strategies and advocacy activities from Dialogue4Tourism to promote the importance of local food policy development. (EN), UrbanWins (Horizon 2020 Programme) (EN) | UrbanWins project studied how cities consume, produce and eliminate waste to develop and test innovative plans and solutions that were tested in eight pilot cities in six European countries, enhancing urban environmental resilience and guaranteeing progress towards more sustainable production and consumption patterns together with improvements waste recovery and recovered materials use. The project has produced a calculation model for designing waste strategies, and guidelines for drawing up programmes to introduce circular economies in cities, aiming to recycle waste and to use it to produce energy.
The output to exploit for FOODGaP project are participatory decision-making methodologies, Methodological guidelines for the construction of the Strategic Planning frameworks, best practices concerning waste prevention and management strategies (EN), GHG climate plan for the municipality of Djerba Houmt Souk. (EN) | Te study of the climate plan for the mitigation of greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) of the Commune of Djerba Houmt Souk, several lessons have been learned. The study of the climate plan enabled the Commune of Djerba Houmt Souk to become aware of the importance of the climate crisis and the urgent need to act. It also helps to involve and engage local players, such as municipal officials, businesses and citizens, in the fight against climate change. The GHG emissions inventory carried out as part of the study enables the municipality to identify the main sources of emissions, such as stationary energy, transport, agriculture, waste management, etc. This helps to target priority sectors for action. This helps to target the priority sectors for reducing emissions. The climate plan study provides the local authority with a clear vision and a roadmap for achieving its GHG emissions reduction targets. It enables long-term strategic planning, identifying the measures, actions and policies needed to implement sustainable, low-carbon practices.
The climate plan study often involves collaboration with external partners, such as international organisations, government agencies and environmental experts. This promotes the exchange of knowledge, best practice and funding opportunities for the implementation of climate actions. The climate plan study highlights the importance of strengthening the local authority's resilience to the effects of climate change. This can include adaptation measures such as water resource management, protection against extreme weather events and the preservation of local ecosystems. The outputs to exploit are: engagement of local actors methodology, data collection procedures, strategic planning and collaboration and partnerships international organisations, government agencies and environmental experts. (EN), ENHANCER, Enhancement of Entrepreneurship Capacities for Sustainable Socio-Economic Integration (EN) | The ENHANCER project has been funded by the European Union and implemented by the International Centre for Migration Policy Development (ICMPD). It is aimed to support regional development by supporting local production, women's participation in employment and supporting local production cooperatives. For this reason, it is aimed to ensure that the women's cooperative and the products they produce are at international standards and to increase their recognition. The output to exploit is women inclusion, support to local producers through organization's innovation (women' cooperative) (EN), Municipal Empowerment and Resilience Project (MERP Project) (EN) | The Municipal Empowerment and Resilience Project (MERP Project), ongoing, aims to strengthen the long-term resilience of subnational authorities in Lebanon as well as host communities, refugees and displaced persons affected by the Syrian Crisis.The budget is managed by UNDP according to the need of each Municipality.
Within the project, many activities have been done focusing on socio-economic impact of the local communities in the city, such as:
- Rehabilitation of existing storm water drainage, Improving infrastructure such as the rehabilitation and Expansion of the vegetable market in Tyre Municipality as important step for Increasing the economic activity/ Improving access to fresh produce/ Support for local farmers/ Enhancing community engagement/ Tourism and cultural exchange/ Environmental sustainability (Overall, expanding the vegetable market in Tyre can have a positive impact on the local economy, community well-being, and environmental sustainability. It can create opportunities for economic development, support local farmers, promote healthy eating habits, and enhance the overall quality of life in the region)
Expanding the vegetable market in Tyre can have several positive impacts on food governance and policies at the local level. Here are some ways in which this expansion can help: Improved Food Access, Support for Local Farmers (EN), TIB - Tourism in Balance (Interreg Europe Programme) (EN) | TIB project aims to enhance the effectiveness of local and regional strategies and policies by strengthening their contribution to achieving a balanced approach to tourism. The focus is on spreading tourism across a wider area and taking advantage of the opportunities offered by each city and region, maximising the positive impacts while minimising the negative effects. Through this collaborative effort, the six participating cities and regions aim to create a more sustainable and balanced tourism industry.
The output to exploit for FOODGaP project is stakeholder engagement strategy (EN)

Total budget/expenditure: EUR 1 320 573.40

Total EU funding (amount): EUR 1 175 310.31

Total EU funding (co-financing rate): 89.00%

Co-financing sources:

Investments, deliverables, policy contributions

(bullets are inserted automatically and may be incorrectly placed)

Contribution to wider strategies and policies:

Other The FOODGaP project has the ambition to be a flagship initiative toward improved governance models in the programme area and beyond and has a cross-cutting entry point with other Next-Med priorities and specific objectives. An enhanced social and institutional environment in fact facilitate the attainment of a green, social and digital transition, strongly claimed by the EU strategies.
Moreover, FoodGaP intends to complement the EUSAIR strategy and the WestMed Initiative by addressing the food system sustainability in a synergic way with the blue economy pillar, finally demonstrating the intimate connection between blue economy and rural development, as both determine the sustainable and inclusive growth in the area.
The project is complementary with the renewed Agenda for the Mediterranean above all considering the turmoils due to the recent Palestinian crisis. In this unexpected emergency, local communities need to mange humanitarian aid and cooperate with multi-level actors and across-sectors on equal footing. The renewed Agenda also relaunched the need of the untapped potential of Southern Mediterranean countries on key themes such as inclusive societies, and economies for all.
Moreover, the FOODGaP, is synergic with Union for the Mediterranean (UfM) EDILE initiative as it highlights the need to catalyze funding from regional and central public institutions.Actually, the project contrIbutes to the achievement of UN AGENDA2030 (SDG17,1,2,3,11,12), in terms of capacities and supports alliances with the civil society; food security, nutrition and poverty eradication in cities; inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable cities; sustainable production and consumption.
At the European level, the new Green Deal and its Farm to Fork strategy, the cohesion funds, the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD), the Territorial Cooperation programmes all prioritize the need for a coordinated governance, including cities, rural and coastal communities.

Programme Common Output Indicator:

RCO 116 - Jointly developed solutions, Measurement unit:
RCO 084 - Pilot actions developed jointly and implemented in projects, Measurement unit:
RCO 087 - Organisations cooperating across borders, Measurement unit:

Programme Common Result Indicator:

RCR 084 - Organisations cooperating across borders after project completion, Measurement unit:
RCR 104 - Solutions taken up or up-scaled by organisations, Measurement unit:

Information regarding the data in keep.eu on the programme financing this project

Financing programme

2021 - 2027 Interreg VI-B NEXT Mediterranean Sea Basin (NEXT MED)

Latest month of project-partner-call data publication

2026-06

No. of projects in keep.eu / Total no. of projects (% of projects in keep.eu)

59 / 59 (100%)

No. of project partnerships in keep.eu / Total no. of project partnerships (% of project partnerships in keep.eu)

392 / 392 (100%)

Notes on the data

There are discrepancies in this programme's financial data in keep.eu. Namely, in one or more cases, the sum of the project partners' budgets exceeds the total budget of the respective project. Interact is working with the Programme to correct those figures.

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Food Governance and Policies at local level

Description

Thematic information

Partners (6)

Partners map

Summary

Investments, deliverables, policy contributions

Information regarding the data in keep.eu on the programme financing this project

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