Connecting LOcal proximity networks Sustaining participatory govERnance

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

Date of latest update: 2026-09-12

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 need to reinforce social serivices and social rights in the MED area is urgent and particularly relevant in rural/remote/peripheral areas, increasingly suffering from depopulation and aging, often lacking of basic services’ provision or where the access to them is most difficult, leaving the population more exposed against both systemic shocks and ordinary life-cycle risks (ILO, 2022). CLOSER aims to promote joint actions in the Mediterranean for the promotion of participatory governance at local and regional level, by: a) the creation of territorial “proximity networks” in Italy, Spain, Greece, Palestine, Jordan and Lebanon engaging local social actors – alongside with the public authorities - as relevant stakeholders that often fill the gap in the existing public service’ provision; and b) their capacity building in becoming facilitators of participatory processes of local governance for the co-design and delivery of social services aimed at improving the wellbeing of the population. The trained local networks will jointly develop a strategical model of participatory governance that will be piloted in each of the 6 participating regions, for the provision of co-design bottom-up social services with a higher level of respondence to real needs of the involved contexts, thanks to the participation of all concerned actors and a consequent closeness of the delivered services to the individuals to whom they are directed. Participatory governance facilitates cooperation between stakeholders, transparency of institutional processes, direct engagement of the local population with a consequent higher co-responsibility and ownership of the decision-processes and sense of belonging, more effective and inclusive services’ delivery and improved territorial cohesion. The final goal is to connect and build the capacity of these networks in jointly designing solutions to provide social services, planned and delivered through participatory models of governance. ~ KEEP KEYWORDS: Governance, partnership, Institutional cooperation and cooperation networks

Expected Achievements (EN):

Management coordination Communication and dissemination CODE: SO1ER1 ~ SPECIFIC OBJECTIVE: Create local and cross-borders networks between public authorities, third sector organisations and other stakeholders involved in the governance of the social sector, for promoting cooperation and building their capacity in becoming facilitators of participatory processes of local governance ~ EXPECTED RESULT: At least 6 territorial proximity networks (1/country) created and connected in 1 cross-border network, with the participation of at least 30 public and private organisations cooperating across borders and at least 60 stakeholders trained in participatory local governance. CODE: SO1ER1 ~ SPECIFIC OBJECTIVE: Create local and cross-borders networks between public authorities, third sector organisations and other stakeholders involved in the governance of the social sector, for promoting cooperation and building their capacity in becoming facilitators of participatory processes of local governance ~ EXPECTED RESULT: At least 6 territorial proximity networks (1/country) created and connected in 1 cross-border network, with the participation of at least 30 public and private organisations cooperating across borders and at least 60 stakeholders trained in participatory local governance. CODE: SO2ER2 ~ SPECIFIC OBJECTIVE: Develop and implement a joint model of participatory governance based on the cooperation of territorial proximity networks at local and cross-border level, for the co-design and provision of social services for improving the wellbeing of the local population. ~ EXPECTED RESULT: 1 strategical model of participatory governance developed at EuroMed level, taken up and transposed in 6 local piloting actions (1/country) for the delivery of 1 co-designed social service per country aimed at improving the wellbeing of the population in remote, peripheral or less-served areas. CODE: SO2ER2 ~ SPECIFIC OBJECTIVE: Develop and implement a joint model of participatory governance based on the cooperation of territorial proximity networks at local and cross-border level, for the co-design and provision of social services for improving the wellbeing of the local population. ~ EXPECTED RESULT: 1 strategical model of participatory governance developed at EuroMed level, taken up and transposed in 6 local piloting actions (1/country) for the delivery of 1 co-designed social service per country aimed at improving the wellbeing of the population in remote, peripheral or less-served areas.

Project outputs: (1.1) Technical Manual on management, reporting and financial procedures(EN)
(1.2) Quality assurance Plan and tools(EN)
(1.3) Progress Reports(EN)
(1.4) Project’s progress meetings (PPM)(EN)
(1.5) External Evaluation(EN)
(1.6) Audit Report(EN)
(2.1) Communication Plan and tools(EN)
(2.2) Inception Video and Final Video(EN)
(2.3) Project Poster(EN)
(2.4) Communication Materials(EN)
(2.5) Online campaign(EN)
(2.6) Face-to-face dissemination activities(EN)
(3.1) E-platform(EN)
(3.2) Local Proximity Networks and Cross-Border Network(EN)
(4.1) Training Package(EN)
(4.2) International Study Visits(EN)
(5.1) Strategical Model of Participatory Local Governance(EN)
(5.2) Local Pilot Initiatives(EN)
(6.1) Social Impact Analysis and Assessment(EN)
(6.2) Guidelines of replicability and Memorandum of Understanding(EN)
Website: https://www.interregnextmed.eu/

Thematic information

Institutional cooperation and cooperation networks Governance, partnership

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: Centro per lo Sviluppo Creativo Danilo Dolci

Partner’s ID if not PIC: N 7465, Serie 18 | PROFIT MAKING: False ~ STATUS PUBLIC: False

Address: Via Roma 94, 90133 Palermo, Italy

Legal status: private

Organisation type: N.a.

Website: https://danilodolci.org/

Total budget: EUR 276 064.00

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 245 696.96

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 89.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 30 367.04

Contractors:

Name: Dell s.p.a.
VAT registration or tax identification number: IT12289830155

بلدية المختارة

Name: بلدية المختارة

Partner’s ID if not PIC: RL 2428127 | PROFIT MAKING: False ~ STATUS PUBLIC: True

Address: Moukhtara, Lebanon

Legal status: public

Organisation type: N.a.

Website: http://www.moukhtara.gov.lb

Total budget: EUR 233 190.00

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 207 539.10

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 89.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 25 650.90

النهضة العربية للديمقراطية و التنمية

Name: النهضة العربية للديمقراطية و التنمية

Partner’s ID if not PIC: 2010015003 | PROFIT MAKING: False ~ STATUS PUBLIC: False

Address: Complex 15, Zuhare Malhas St.Amman, Jordan

Legal status: private

Organisation type: N.a.

Website: https://ardd-jo.org

Total budget: EUR 255 336.00

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 227 249.04

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 89.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 28 086.96

جهود للتنمية المجتمعية والريفية

Name: جهود للتنمية المجتمعية والريفية

Partner’s ID if not PIC: RA 22 78 A | PROFIT MAKING: False ~ STATUS PUBLIC: False

Address: Palestine-Ramallah-Al-Masyoun, Yaffa StreetRamallah-Al-Masyou, Palestine

Legal status: private

Organisation type: N.a.

Website: http://www.juhoud.ps

Total budget: EUR 222 476.00

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 198 003.64

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 89.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 24 472.36

Contractors:

Name: CMYK Advertising Agency
VAT registration or tax identification number: 905073714
Name: Wattan Media Network
VAT registration or tax identification number: 562426114
Name: ALShayeb Audit &Accountancy
VAT registration or tax identification number: 852852367
Name: PARADIGM Consulting &training
VAT registration or tax identification number: 562573063

Universidad de Alicante

Name: Universidad de Alicante

Department: Servicio Oficina de Gestión de Proyectos Institucionales (OGPI) - Institutional Project Management Office

Partner’s ID if not PIC: ESQ0332001G | PROFIT MAKING: False ~ STATUS PUBLIC: True

Address: Campus de San Vicente SN - San Vicente del..., 03690 Alicante, Spain

Legal status: public

Organisation type: N.a.

Website: http://www.ua.es

Total budget: EUR 226 858.00

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 201 903.62

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 89.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 24 954.38

ΕΚΠΑΙΔΕΥΤΙΚΟΣ ΟΡΓΑΝΙΣΜΟΣ ΓΙΟΥΡΟΤΡΕΙΝΙΝΓΚ

Name: ΕΚΠΑΙΔΕΥΤΙΚΟΣ ΟΡΓΑΝΙΣΜΟΣ ΓΙΟΥΡΟΤΡΕΙΝΙΝΓΚ

Partner’s ID if not PIC: 008501801000 (G.E.MH.) | PROFIT MAKING: True ~ STATUS PUBLIC: False

Address: Veranzerou 1, 10677 Athens, Greece

Legal status: private

Organisation type: N.a.

Website: https://eurotraining.gr/

Total budget: EUR 230 798.00

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 205 410.22

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 89.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 25 387.78

Partners map

Partners and Projects info

Moukhtara Municipality

Connecting LOcal proximity networks Sustaining participatory govERnance

Partners and Projects info

Arab Renaissance for Democracy and Development

Connecting LOcal proximity networks Sustaining participatory govERnance

Partners and Projects info

JUHOUD for Community and Rural Development

Connecting LOcal proximity networks Sustaining participatory govERnance

Partners and Projects info

University of Alicante

Connecting LOcal proximity networks Sustaining participatory govERnance

Partners and Projects info

EUROTRAINING EDUCATIONAL ORGANIZATION

Connecting LOcal proximity networks Sustaining participatory govERnance

Partners and Projects info

Center for Creative Development Danilo Dolci

Connecting LOcal proximity networks Sustaining participatory govERnance

Lead partner

Project partner

Summary

Project name (EN): Connecting LOcal proximity networks Sustaining participatory govERnance

Project acronym: CLOSER~A_G_4.1_0087

Project ID: 00029

Project start date: 2025-06-17

Project end date: 2027-12-16

Project status: ongoing

Relevant linked projects:

Partner: CSC Danilo Dolci
Title: DAPPERTUTTO – TERRITORI E COMUNITÀ PER INVENTARE IL FUTURO
Funding Body: “Con in Bambini – Impresa Sociale” 2016-PIR-00005 (EN) | DAPPERTUTTO project aimed at promoting a new childhood culture involving in a holistic and multidimensional approach, the community connecting educational and cultural stakeholders and spaces ultimately creating a permanent and widespread community welfare system. Dappertutto involved all the actors involved in education in the Tribunali-Kalsa neighborhood of Palermo, including municipality, university and various territorial associations, consolidating the sense of educational co-responsibility within the community to join forces to reduce educational poverty in the area. Thanks to the project community welfare territorial services have been activated, with the cooperation of public and private institutions, based on needs detected though participatory community mapping: training courses for self-entrepreneurship, services of babysitting and pedobus to support families, a community library with shared toolbox, the renovation of which happened thanks to a crowfunding in the framework of the project, an information desk for job orientation which during the first lockdown became a solidarity desk to facilitate access to social and economic support services made available by institutions to all neighborhood residents, and so on.
CLOSER wants to build on this relevant experience which had a strong and positive impact on the Tribunali-Kalsa neighborhood, enlarging the scope of intervention from the education field (combating educational poverty) to the social one (which may include the educational sector but not limit to it).
The model of DAPPERTUTTO will be scaled-up for a larger intervention engaging public authorities and all actors involved in the local governance, for the co-design of welfare territorial services at benefit of the population, going beyond the educational sphere. (EN), Partner: CSC Danilo Dolci
Title: “OUR DIGITAL VILLAGE - Co-designed digital education in rural areas”
Funding Body: Erasmus + KA2 Partnerships for innovation: Forward-looking projects n. 101087107 (EN) | Our Digital Village uses Reciprocal Maieutic Approach (RMA) in rural areas to co-create and test high-quality educational contents responding to the needs of the rural context, for favouring the long-term transformation towards digitalization in these areas. RMA was used of Participative Context Analysis during a set of 9 workshops in 7 countries involving approximately 40 participants per country between students, educators, citizens and policy makers.
A report about the Participative Context Analysis in Rural Areas (scientific Paper from University of Alicante), titles “Digital empowerment in rural realms: navigating challenges and opportunities with Our Digital Village project and Reciprocal Maieutic principles” and the “Manual and methodological framework on RMA for context analysis” will be scaled-up, representing one of the proposed methods for conducting participative context analysis in the involved regions in A3.1.2 and for the co-planning, co-design and co-management of the local pilot initiatives for O5.1. (EN), Partner: CSC Danilo Dolci
Title: Paesaggi Aperti
Funding Body: Ministero dell’Università e della Ricerca, Direzione Generale della Ricerca
FRES - Fondo per la ricerca in campo economico e sociale
FRES2021_ 0000009 (EN) | Paesaggi Aperti is an annual project carried out in Sicily by the National Institute of Architecture IN/Arch with the IN/Arch Sicily territorial section and aims to develop a multidisciplinary model of training and communication of knowledge to implement "Heritage Communities" and, through collaborative practices in the landscape, will aim to enhance local cultures and competences by strengthening the complex network of physical, economic and social relations that cross the involved territories.
In reinterpreting the participatory approach promoted in Sicily by Danilo Dolci, PAESAGGI APERTI is based on processes of communication, participation and empowerment of communities and proposes activities that, starting from the current condition of the island, aim to restore identity and belonging using an organic strategy of social innovation declined in a series of projects of regeneration and establishment of "open landscapes" for the community through a path of knowledge sharing that will involve citizens, associations and public bodies.
The model developed by Paesaggi Aperti will be exploited within CLOSER, due to the similar objectives of create and strengthen networks at local level of public and private actors, empowering them and engaging the local community in participatory processes, for the co-design of joint solutions of social innovation tailored to the needs of the population. (EN), Partner: CSC Danilo Dolci
Title: REACT - REciprocal maieutic Approach pathways enhancing Critical Thinking
Funding Body: ERASMUS+ KA3 - Social Inclusion and Common Values: The Contribution in the Field of Education and Training (EN) | REACT has integrated the Reciprocal Maieutic Approach of Danilo Dolci with the pedagogy of Maria Montessori, developing a new innovative methodology for the enhancement of critical thinking fostering inclusive education and the common values of tolerance and acceptance of diversity.
The REACT MODEL MANUAL : https://www.react-erasmus.eu/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/3_1_REACT_Manualallcontributions.pdf will be exploited as a methodological framework for training and using RMA as a participatory method of community analysis, research and action. (EN), Partner: CSC Danilo Dolci
Title: Liberi di Crescere – Rete ad alta densità educativa
Funding Body: “Con in Bambini – Impresa Sociale” 2016-ADN-00307 (EN) | In a path of 5 years (2017-2022) involving 28 partners including Municipalities of Palermo, Messina, Salerno, Genoa e Turin together with schools and associations in these 5 cities, under the coordination of Libera Associazioni, nomi e numeri contro le mafie, Reciprocal Maieutic Approach was used for training local operators of the “educating community” setting up alliance’s networks between different actors and stipulating “Educational Pacts” based on three pillars: self-reflection, networking and practical interventions.
The reporting and impact analysis of this extensive experimentation represents an experience’s asset that will be scaled-up enlarging the scope of the intervention, from the educating community to the institutional level of the governance of the involved territories, engaging all actors concerned at different levels in the governance of social services (including but not limited to education field). (EN), Partner: EuroTraining
Title: MoreThanAJob – Reinforcing social and solidarity economy for the unemployed, uneducated and refugees
Funding Body: Eni CBC MED GA n. 47/1347 (EN) | MoreThanAJob project assisted Social and Solidarity economy players working in the critical field of unemployment. Social pilot schemes were developed for the provision of social services to the targeted populations, in collaboration with the public administration. Cross-border training events took place, focusing on best practices established in the frontrunner countries, which were then transferred to the target countries of MoreThanAJob. This included cross-border joint trainings among public authorities to plan, implement, and coordinate social service delivery, in collaboration with the Social economy actors.
Given the focused design and adaptability of the training materials and workshops developed for the MoreThanAJob project, some of these resources can be adjusted and repurposed for the CLOSER project to public autorities. By leveraging these pre-existing materials, we can ensure a consistent level of training and enhance the effectiveness of public authority personnel in new contexts.
Furthermore, the policy suggestions and Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) templates created as part of MoreThanAJob provide a solid foundation for establishing formal collaborations between public authorities and Social and Solidarity Economy (SSE) actors. These templates can be effectively utilized in the CLOSER project to streamline the setup of partnerships and collaborations. (EN), Partner: EuroTraining
Title: MYSEA – Mediterranean Youth, NEETs and women advancing Skills, Employment and Awareness in the blue and green economy
Funding Body: Eni CBC MED (EN) | The MYSEA project boosted youth employment in the agrifood and waste management industries. Following training oriented to the labor market combined with on-the-job experience, youth, women, and NEETs acquired the needed skills to land employment contracts. Resulting from coaching and mentoring, associations were launched to promote sustainable and eco-responsible innovations. Moreover, economic actors in the agrifood and waste management industries and TVET bodies drew greater alignment between education curricula, sectors' needs, and occupational profiles.
Trainings were carried out within this project with the aim of involving national authorities and ministries. The type of approach and some method used within these trainings can be reviewed and re-used for the organisation of training sessions within the CLOSER project. The materials developed and the framework provided can facilitate the building of a training relationship with institutions. (EN), Partner: University of Alicante
Title: SMARTRURAL (2019-1-TR01-KA203-073781)
Funding Body: Erasmus + KA203 project – Strategic Partnerships for Higher Education Towards smart rural tourism development in Europe (EN) | SMARTRURAL aimed to elevate the smart thinking mindset of students, academics, and rural tourism communities/authorities. Armed with cutting-edge knowledge, strong pedagogical tools, and smart thinking skills, the project contributed to transforming students from a 'traditional employee temperament' to a 'smart thinking initiator mentality.' The project created training content necessary for developing smart applications and business models in rural tourism destinations. It was important to build an open training platform that supported the development of rural areas.
The guide to best practices and training methodologies developed within the project can be highly beneficial for initiatives aimed at enhancing services for local populations through the empowerment of public authorities and community involvement. These resources provide a solid foundation for designing and implementing effective services by illustrating successful strategies and approaches. By adopting these proven methodologies, projects can foster greater collaboration between public authorities and local communities, ensuring services are both responsive and tailored to meet local needs. Additionally, incorporating best practices into the project framework can facilitate continuous improvement and innovation, ultimately leading to more sustainable and impactful outcomes. (EN), Partner: University of Alicante
Project: MEDINT Project (Red Europea de Municipios Sostenibles de la Provincia de Alicante (2004-2007)
Funding Body: URBACT (EN) | Through the Urbac Medint project, it was possible to create a manual of sustainable best practices in urban areas. The indicators collected during this project can be effectively reused in our current initiative when determining the types of services that may be necessary to develop for the local community. This reuse of data not only ensures that our service offerings are grounded in proven practices but also allows for more targeted and efficient planning, tailored to meet the specific needs and challenges of the community we aim to serve. (EN), Partner: University of Alicante
Title: SMARTDEST - CITIES AS MOBILITY HUBS: TACKLING SOCIAL EXCLUSION THROUGH 'SMART' CITIZEN ENGAGEMENT
SOCIETAL CHALLENGES 870753
Funding Body: Horizon 2020 (EN) | The Horizon 2020 project SMARTDEST focused on tackling societal challenges. Participation and co-creation were one of the key aspects of this project. The project analyzed tourism mobilities and mobile dwelling as transformative force-fields for places. It also excavated social exclusion issues and coping practices through engagement with affected communities in case study cities. Another task was the development of CityLabs as sites for the design of people-based and place-based solutions. The methodologies developed through this project can be effectively reapplied in the CLOSER project, particularly with respect to the population engagement methods that are a cornerstone of our proposal. This reuse of strategies will ensure consistency and efficiency in addressing similar challenges. (EN), Partner: ARDD
Title: Services to prevent and respond to Gender-Based Violence (GBV), including Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (SEA) and Sexual Harassment (SH)
Funding Body: Jordanian MoLA’s “Municipal Services and Social Resilience Project (MSSRP) (EN) | Through this initiative ARDD has established a solid partnership with the Jordanian Ministry of Local Authorities (MoLA) and has established itself as a credible interlocutor with the Ministry itself and with the 28 Municipalities where the project is implemented. This allowed us to develop a deep understanding of the dynamics related to local governance and of the relations between the local and the central authorities and the issues deriving from the lack of a comprehensive vision for the management of services including social services, at the local level, resulting in lack of engagement between municipalities and the communities they serve. This lack of engagement affects the ability of Municipalities to address the needs and priorities of their residents effectively. ARDD as the key partner of the MoLA in providing access to GBV survivor-centered care within the project areas is establishing a good practice of linking social service to the municipality mandate thus opening up for additional alley for cooperation between social service actors and local governments whilst improving the engagements between the communities and the respective municipalities. (EN), Partner: ARDD
Title: Haquna (Our Right) Project Series
Funding Body: HBS’s Democracy and Human Rights Program (EN) | ARDD has been working on the Haquna Project Series in Jordan since 2021. Over the course of this project, we have successfully established the Migration and Refugee Forum for the Arab World (MARFA) Network and the Migrant Workers’ Committee in Jordan. With this experience, ARDD is able to bring in a rich experience in facilitating networking across the different targeted municipalities under the project. Additionally, our experience with Migrant Workers in Jordan will facilitate ARDD’s outreach capacity to these communities within municipalities as key target communities, enabling us to provide valuable insight into the particular challenges they face with municipal services in addition to that of host communities; thus, adding a nuanced lens to the project. Moreover, with the MARFA Network under the project series being a regional network, ARDD is also experienced in managing multi-country networks which will inform the implementation of this project. (EN), Partner: ARDD
Title: Strengthening Public Trust in the Justice Sector through Social Dialogue (Justice Sector Forum) (EN) | This initiative helped institutionalize and operationalize the Justice Sector Forum which brings together justice sector stakeholders, officials and civil society under one umbrella. As a result, ARDD’s connections to the public institutions in Jordan are impactful and far reaching and our stakeholder engagement skills are both targeted and inclusive of relevant stakeholders. ARDD has access to key stakeholders in each governates across Jordan, who can inform the outreach strategy of this project. (EN), Partner: ARDD
Funding Body: Co-founding the Jordan National NGO Forum (JONAF) (EN) | ARDD co-founded the JONAF platform in Jordan, which is a coalition that brings together over 40 local CSOs and CBOs in Jordan (nationally) to join efforts along 4 axes; Localization, Decentralization, UNSCR 1325 and relief and recovery. The JONAF platform will support outreach under the project to local civil society across governorates, as well as inform avenues of collaboration between municipalities and CSOs across governorates, which are both service providers and responders to local communities. (EN), Partner: JUHOUD
Title: CaBuReRA: Capacity Building Relay Race
Funding Body: ENI CBC Med. 2013- 2016 (EN) | Ca.Bu.Re.Ra aimed at promoting collaboration among Mediterranean territories by offering mobility and professional development opportunities to young people. The project involved 90 people (30 youth workers and 60 young unemployed) from the partners’ countries, offering them the opportunity to gain professional experience abroad. They were hosted by partner organizations and provided with training in project cycle management, foreign language, and management of projects with local organizations, among other topicsAt the same time, the project supported the development of civil society organizations and public authorities by promoting networking both at local and international levels. The network created between civil society organisations, local actors and public authorities can also be exploited within this project for the involvement of these entities in the structuring of useful services for the local population. (EN), Partner: JUHOUD
Title: Daedalus: Building a career & employment advisor portal
Funding Body: ENI CBC Med. 2013- 2016 (EN) | DAEDALUS aimed at addressing the needs of young residents in Lebanon, Greece, Cyprus, Italy, Jordan, Tunisia, and Palestine who were seeking employment in the labor markets of the Mediterranean Sea Basin by enhancing their career and business opportunities and matching their qualifications and skills with existing needs in neighboring countries. It also enabled the exchange of information and knowledge among stakeholders about potential synergies and collaborative activities. The project sought to provide career advising services to help young people raise their competence level in marketing their skills and searching for employment in the Mediterranean markets. Additionally, it established a technologically enhanced instrument for stakeholders to post employment vacancies, seek qualified competitive employees, and explore investment opportunities in a collaborative way. The online platform and the network structured over time can be of great help to this project. The materials produced as well as the relationships built and communication channels used can be repurposed and provide an important starting point for the initiation of a collaborative process with local actors. (EN), Partner: JUHOUD
Title: Villages Project
Funding Body: ENI CBC Med. 2013- 2016 (EN) | The VILLAGES Project was a project of cross-border cooperation at the level of the Mediterranean basin, under the Axis "Promotion of dialogue cultural and local governance", measure "Improvement of governance processes at local level". The project aimed to improve the living conditions of the local communities in less favored rural areas in the Mediterranean by providing the village communities with instruments that allowed them to create their own governance systems and develop their capacities to act as catalysts of local development, through the creation of multi-sectorial partnerships. This allowed for slowing down, stopping, or reversing the trend of rural exodus and consequently supporting the process of decentralization.
The materials developed, workshops conducted, and methodologies applied during the Countryside Exchange provide an excellent foundation for this project. The thematic alignment between the Villages and our project is significant, particularly in how both initiatives focus on decentralization and the emphasis on local context.
Utilizing the existing materials and methodologies can immensely benefit the launch and progress of our current project. These resources have already been tested and refined in similar settings, ensuring that they are both effective and adaptable to the specific needs of local communities. Moreover, the workshops are designed to foster engagement and capacity building, which are crucial for initiating a sustainable development process in our target areas.
By leveraging these pre-established resources, we can accelerate our project's implementation timeline, enhance the relevance of our interventions, and ensure that our approach is grounded in proven practices. This strategic use of existing resources not only saves time and effort but also increases the likelihood of achieving meaningful impact in the communities we aim to serve. (EN), Partner: Moukhtara Municipality
Title: CIUDAD Project
Funding Body: (PPRU - ENPI 2009/203-617) / Title PLUS HAUT AUTREMENT (EN) | Within the framework of the CIUDAD project, one of the most useful tools that has been implemented is the Bureau of Local Development.
The Bureau handled all issues and studies related to the development of the town from the perspective of gaining advantage from the rich and natural resources of the town and area, in the aim of creating jobs and opportunities in the tourism & agricultural sectors, and water resources. It was the first participative platform that engaged the local citizens in the drawing of development strategies and studies.
The participatory model adopted and the involvement of the local population in the rethinking of useful services for the city developed through this project are two measures that can easily be adapted and rethought for ongoing planning. (EN), Partner: Moukhtara Municipality
Title: Sustainable MED Cities - Integrated tools and methodologies for sustainable Mediterranean cities
Funding Body: ENI CBC Med. (EN) | Sustainable MED Cities provided Mediterranean municipalities with a system of innovative tools and methodologies to develop effective policies, strategies, and action plans in relation to the Mediterranean Strategy for Sustainable Development 2016-2025. The project also delivered innovative capacity-building programs for Mediterranean cities to step up their capacity to drive urban regeneration.
The tools and methodologies developed in the Sustainable MED Cities project are highly applicable to any new initiative focusing on strengthening services in local Mediterranean areas. These tools are designed to facilitate the development and implementation of policies and strategies that are not only effective but also inclusive. By incorporating broad stakeholder engagement and fostering collaborative decision-making, these resources ensure that local services are designed with direct input from the communities they serve. This approach is crucial for participatory governance as it empowers local stakeholders, enhances transparency, and improves public trust in local institutions. Moreover, the programs previously implemented can be adapted to train local authorities and community leaders in the principles of participatory governance, thereby enhancing their ability to effectively manage and sustain local development initiatives. These comprehensive tools and methodologies thus provide a solid foundation for a project aimed at creating resilient and sustainable communities in the Mediterranean region. (EN), Partner: Moukhtara Municipality
Title: GreenBuilding - Minimising Energy Consumption for Green Buildings respecting present uses and public needs
Funding Body: ENI CBC Med. (EN) | The project supported three cost-effective public buildings energy refurbishments in Greece, Tunisia, and Jordan. Furthermore, it strengthened the capacities of public institutions to effectively plan and implement sustainable energy policies through the identification of cost-effective energy refurbishment approaches, transfer of technical know-how, and the enhancement of higher research institutions, energy SMEs, and business support organizations.
The training programs developed to educate public authorities on sustainable energy policies are highly transferable and can be effectively utilized in projects aimed at strengthening services for local populations.
This cross-utilization of training programs not only ensures consistency in the approach towards local governance but also promotes the efficient use of resources. Moreover, the emphasis on sustainable practices and cost-effective solutions within these trainings aligns perfectly with the goals of enhancing local services in a way that is both economically and environmentally sustainable.
Furthermore, the skills and knowledge imparted can empower local stakeholders to engage more effectively with the community, fostering a participatory approach to local development. (EN)

Total budget/expenditure: EUR 1 444 722.00

Total EU funding (amount): EUR 1 285 802.58

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 CLOSER promotes fundamental rights in the field of solidarity, social assistance and access to services to promote social and territorial cohesion and citizens’ rights to good administration.
CLOSER aligns with SDG17 promoting capacity building of public administrations and societies to design and implement strategies that minimize the negative impacts of current crises and challenges, by connecting and sustaining multi-stakeholder partnerships at regional and cross-border level.
CLOSER aligns with SDG16 and the New European agenda for the Mediterranean, enhancing community participation and decision making, stronger and accountable institutions through participatory governance. CLOSER aknowledge that effective and efficient governance requires participation in decision-making and cooperation to ensure social justice and more sustainable development to address inequalities, as stated by the Mediterranean Strategy for Sustainable Development.
CLOSER aims to resuce inequalities (SDG10) and combact poverty (SDG1) by strengthen the capacity of public and private stakeholder to design and deliver social services, tailored to the need of their local community, through participatory governance.
The emphasis on improving competences and encouraging active citizenship and participation also corresponds with the goals of Erasmus+ and the European Skills Agenda, while the focus on less developed and less-served areas is in line with the EC Communication on strengthening innovation in Europe’s regions.
CLOSER shares with the WestMed Initiative the aim to involve all relevant stakeholders to ensure all their interests are duly taken into account, providing opportunities of cooperation for improving governance.
Lastly, it contributes to the Preliminary inputs on the development macro-regional strategy in the Mediterranean: advocating for a unified strategy, it ensures local actions complement broader efforts for sustainable and inclusive development across Mediterranean.

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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Connecting LOcal proximity networks Sustaining participatory govERnance

Description

Thematic information

Partners (6)

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Summary

Investments, deliverables, policy contributions

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

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