The municipalities of Tivat, Herceg Novi and Nikšić have been granted support for projects under the URBACT Pioneers Accelerator, a bespoke learning programme designed for local governments in Western Balkan countries.
The decision was made at the URBACT IV Program Monitoring Committee meeting held on 4 March, with a total of 27 municipalities and local entities from Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Serbia being selected.
Over the course of this unique 18-month programme, local teams from the selected municipalities and local entities will have access to a budget of €35,000 each. This funding will be utilised to build capacities for addressing specific urban challenges in line with EU policies, values and practices for sustainable urban development.
The local teams will follow a structured learning process based on the principles of Embrace, Explore & Act, focusing on a chosen thematic area, including sustainable mobility, waste management, urban nature and sustainable tourism.
The programme aims to create a new generation of urban professionals and leaders who will shape the future of their cities innovatively and be recognised as pioneers among their peers in the region.
The URBACT Pioneers Accelerator call was open from 19 November 2024 to 22 January 2025 and received a total of 79 applications from all five participating countries.
Activities under the URBACT Pioneers Accelerator programme will starte in April 2025. Representatives of all selected municipalities and local entities will participate in the upcoming URBACT City Festival in Wrocław, Poland, scheduled for 8-10 April 2025.