Empowering Citizens to Shape the Future: UrbCitizenPower
As cities across Europe face increasing environmental, social, and economic challenges, the traditional "business-as-usual" approach is no longer sufficient to address these issues. The overarching goal of UrbCitizenPower is to empower citizens to tackle pressing societal challenges and engage them in the process of urban transformation. To achieve this, the project will improve one regional and six urban policy instruments, focusing on areas such as green spaces, creativity, culture, and urban space management. Across all these areas, the central theme remains: citizens will be co-creators and co-owners of the solutions, actively participating in shaping the future of their cities.
Promoting Collaboration Between Cities
To promote learning and collaboration between cities, UrbCitizenPower will organize various activities, including thematic working groups, urban living labs, and experience walks with local stakeholders. These initiatives aim to share experiences across cities and enhance policy-making through a bottom-up approach, where citizens are actively involved in shaping the policies that affect their daily lives.
Cities and Partners Involved
By fostering citizen engagement, the project hopes to create more cohesive societies, encourage innovative solutions, and generate approaches that have strong public support and acceptance. Cities participating in UrbCitizenPower are Braga (Portugal), Groningen (Netherlands), Kiel (Germany), Guldborgsund (Denmark), Pori (Finland), and Košice (Slovakia), alongside the Region of Central Macedonia (Greece) with its capital Thessaloniki. They are recognized leaders in participatory governance and citizen engagement processes. These cities are joined by the Heinrich-Böll-Foundation (Germany), which brings extensive experience in social innovation and citizen empowerment.
Looking Ahead
The UrbCitizenPower project represents a bold approach to urban governance by making citizens co-creators in the future of their cities. By fostering a sense of agency and empowerment, the project aims to generate innovative solutions that address the challenges facing modern cities, from environmental sustainability to social cohesion. As the project progresses, it will continue to develop and refine strategies for engaging citizens in meaningful and impactful ways, ensuring that cities become more resilient, inclusive, and dynamic places to live.