Public Conference “Managing the Future” and Training Session of the FOSTER Project in Brussels
In the second week of October, the first conference of the FOSTER Project and training sessions for project partners took place. The event was organized in Brussels by the Council of European Municipalities and Regions (CEMR) and the European Association for Local Democracy (ALDA). FOSTER is a two-year project funded by the EU’s CERV program (Citizenship, Equality, Rights, and Values) aimed at developing future-oriented solutions for environmental resilience. The project is led by ALDA, with Notus as one of the partners.
Public Conference
On October 9th, the Public Conference “Managing the Future” was held at the iconic Flagey venue in Brussels. The opening session was led by Durmish Guri, Project and Program Director at CEMR, and Nataša Vučković, President of ALDA, who highlighted the importance of local and regional governments in long-term strategic planning and in the fight against climate change. Nadia Di Iulio, Project Manager at ALDA, then presented the FOSTER project, providing context to the conference and its objectives.
Following this, Riyong Kim, Head of the Sustainability Transitions Program at the European Environment Agency, presented a recent publication from the agency focused on sustainability governance under conditions of great uncertainty and complexity. Kim emphasized the strategic policy considerations in future planning, which are essential to addressing environmental challenges.
Next, a panel discussion was held on the formulation of “local and regional policies for a sustainable future.” This panel brought together policy experts and municipal representatives to discuss their experiences in strategic planning in the face of climate change. Moderated by Antonella Valmorbida, ALDA’s Secretary General, the panel included Henrique Simões, policy analyst at the European Parliament, the mayor of Ventspils, Jānis Vītoliņš, and other notable speakers, who contributed practical and theoretical perspectives on strategic projection and engagement in local policies.
In the afternoon, the conference included a space for exchange and dialogue among experts and FOSTER project partners, moderated by Pedro Bizarro (CEMR Project Lead – Climate, Energy & Urban Development), where strategic planning and citizen participation topics were addressed. This segment allowed representatives from different countries and institutions to explore common challenges and varied approaches. Marc Caballero from Notus took part, explaining the experience developed in collaboration with the Diputación de Valencia in the Ayora Valley.
Training Session
On October 10th and 11th, a training program was held at the CEMR headquarters, exclusively for FOSTER project partners. These training sessions aimed to establish a common language around participatory democracy and strategic foresight, as well as to strengthen partners’ capacities in these key areas.
The training was structured into four modules: Participatory Democracy, Foresight and Scenario Planning, Inclusive Communication, and Gender Policies. The first day focused on the modules on Participatory Democracy and Foresight, while the second day addressed Inclusive Communication and Gender Policies, as well as a coordination meeting to review project progress and plan next steps.
An Enriching Gathering for the FOSTER Consortium
Overall, the conference and training provided an exceptional opportunity for FOSTER project partners to exchange theoretical and practical knowledge on strategic projection and participatory democracy. Additionally, this event allowed the partners to meet in person, strengthening the sense of collaboration and unity around the project’s goals.
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