New project - With Citizens for Effective Cohesion Policy: Applications Open

Citizen participation strengthens public policy. It improves targeting, enhances legitimacy and increases the long-term impact of investments. Following successful pilot projects across European regions, the European Commission's Directorate-General for Regional and Urban Policy (DG REGIO) and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) are launching a new cycle of support under the project "With Citizens for Effective Cohesion Policy."

We invite:

• Managing Authorities (Track A - 10 selected)

• Cities (Track B - 4 selected)

What is offered?

-Track A - Managing Authorities

• Online capacity-building workshops
• A practical toolkit to embed participation in the next Cohesion Policy cycle
• Tailored recommendations

-Track B - Cities

• Tailored technical support
• Design and implementation of innovative participation processes
• OECD case studies and visibility opportunities

Key information

• Application deadline: 30 April 2026
• Project duration: until September 2027
• Shortlisted applicants will be invited to a 30-minute motivation interview

This initiative supports institutions ready to move from consultation to structured, meaningful citizen participation - strengthening administrative capacity and trust in public institutions.

Call for expression of interest

Project