UrbCitizenPower

Cities face increasing environmental, social, and economic challenges and can no longer follow a business-as-usual approach to cope with negative developments.

The UrbCitizenPower project strives to empower the biggest asset in local development: the collective innovativeness of individuals. By increasing the agency of citizens (having the power and resources to fulfill their potentials), they can become drivers of positive change. The project aims to empower citizens to take action on key societal challenges. To tackle these topics and spur better policy governance, the partnership improves one regional and six urban policy instruments, focusing on areas such as green spaces, creativity, culture, and pressure on urban space. Across all these policies, UrbCitizenPower partners strengthen citizen agency, making them co-owners and co-creators of their cities. Expected impacts include stronger social cohesion, innovative projects, co-created approaches, and greater acceptance of policy-making.

The partnership represents dynamic, innovative cities that are forerunners in participatory and agency-focused processes: Braga/PT, Groningen/NL, Kiel/DE, Guldborgsund/DK, Pori/FI, and Košice/SK. They are joined by the Region of Central Macedonia/GR, with its capital Thessaloniki, and the Heinrich-Böll-Foundation/DE, bringing expertise in citizen engagement and social innovation.

Besides interregional policy learning events, the project will organize two thematic working groups, urban living labs, and experience walks with local stakeholders to promote learning between cities and improve policy-making through shared experiences.