From avant-garde architecture to water management: fact sheets cast light on new CIUDAD projects

A series of fact sheets have been published on the EuropeAid website, providing comprehensive information about the 21 projects funded under the €14 million EU-funded CIUDAD programme (Cooperation in Urban Development and Dialogue), bringing together local actors from the EU and its neighbouring partner countries - both East and South.

Projects range from bringing together cities in Armenia and Tunisia to ensure greater access for women to sports and leisure facilities, to preserving 1920-30s avant-garde architectural heritage in Kyiv and Moscow, to promoting sustainable water management in Mediterranean tourist areas in Tunisia and Morocco.

The overall objective of CIUDAD is the promotion of mutual understanding, dialogue and cooperation between local actors in the EU and in the partner countries of the Neighbourhood region (ENPI region). This is done through the provision of capacity building for the modernisation and strengthening of local and regional government.

CIUDAD runs from 2009 to 2012 and co-finances 21 local grant projects in the Neighbourhood's South and East. The projects reflect the overall objective of CIUDAD and in particular the following themes:

• Environmental Sustainability and Energy Efficiency
• Sustainable Economic development and reduction of social disparities and
• Good governance and sustainable urban development planning.

Partnerships are made up of consortia of organisations including local authorities, universities, NGOs and other organisations working on urban sustainable development issues; both from the EU and ENPI partner countries.

A dedicated Supporting Mechanism ensures the smooth implementation of the projects as well as the wide diffusion and outreach of project results, giving CIUDAD a sustainable impact.

A three-day conference had been due take place in Brussels on 19-21 April to kick-off the CIUDAD programme, but had to be postponed due to the flight ban in European air space, caused by the eruption of the Icelandic volcano. A new date will be announced as soon as possible.