TRANSFORMED strengthens participatory governance by bringing communities and local authorities together to co-design more inclusive and responsive local solutions.
Limassol, Cyprus 5-6 June 2026
TRANSFORMED began its series of Community Engagement Symposia, holding its first symposium in Limassol, Cyprus, on 5-6 June 2026, a gathering where local administrations, civil society actors, and community members sit together, share their experiences, and collectively shape the programmes being built for their communities across the five partner countries. The EU-funded project, supported under the Interreg NEXT MED Programme, brings together local administrations and civil society organisations to ensure that the people most affected by public policies have a real say in shaping them.
First Community Engagement Symposium a Space Bringing Together Municipalities, Local Administrations, Civil Society, and Academic Representatives
The two-day symposium organised by the Cypriot project partners Cultural Movement of Limassol EPILOGI, brought together a group of participants, including the Mayor of Limassol Mr. Yiannis Armeftis, representatives of local and regional administrations from the partnered countries, Academic representatives from the Cyprus University of Technology also joined the discussions, providing valuable academic perspectives on participatory governance and social inclusion.
The active representation of the local administrations reflects the vital role of municipalities in advancing social inclusion, as highlighted by Mr. Kyriakos Xydias, Mayor of Amathounta: “Social inclusion and civic participation are not abstract ideas, they are a daily responsibility.” He further noted that municipalities are closest to residents’ needs and aspirations, placing them at the heart of efforts to create opportunities for participation, dialogue, and equal opportunities.
Sessions were led by the five project partners, each presenting the key components underpinning the governance models of their community-serving programmes. Aiming to increase understanding of the audience and ensure their active engagement in the design and implementation of community-serving programmes. The symposium served as a platform to explore the role of local administrations in shaping and advancing narratives of social inclusion, drawing on national case studies from Cyprus showcasing how local governance structures contribute to designing inclusive policies, engaging communities, and addressing social inequalities at the local level.
As Mr. Pantelis Georgiou, Mayor of Kourion, further underlined the importance of directly involving citizens in decisions that shape their everyday lives: “Social cohesion is built through trust, collaboration and shared responsibility.” He added that stronger communities grow not only through policies but through active participation and emphasised that exchanging experiences and best practices between municipalities and organisations is a powerful tool for addressing shared social challenges.
The first day concluded with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding by the participating mayors, reaffirming their commitment to cooperation and inclusive local governance.
Reflecting on best practices and future expectations
Civil society practitioners shared experiences from programmes supporting the inclusion and cultural integration of migrants in Cyprus, reflecting on community needs and expectations from local authorities. Through thematic working groups, participants identified challenges in designing inclusion initiatives, proposed context-responsive solutions, and explored participatory mechanisms for involving stakeholders in programme design and implementation process. These discussions enriched the TRANSFORMED Community Engagement Symposium and supported the completion of the survey, which will contribute to consolidating the formulation of the project’s forthcoming handbook that will serve as a tool for communities and local administrations to develop their community engagement programmes.
The conclusions and recommendations emerging from the symposium will guide the next phases of the TRANSFORMED project, contributing to the development of practical tools, methodologies, and policy recommendations for municipalities and organisations across the partner countries. An introduction to future engagement opportunities through the project’s ongoing Work Package “The Agora” was delivered as well as information about the second TRANSFORMED Community Engagement Symposium, which will take place on 30–31 July 2026 in Alexandria, Egypt, hosted by the project lead partner, the Anna Lindh Foundation (ALF).
About The TRANSFORMED Project
TRANSFORMED, Fostering Transnational Knowledge for a More Inclusive and Participatory Mediterranean, will support local administrations and civil society organisations in co-designing community-driven programmes, sharing successful governance models, and strengthening the capacity of local actors to better respond to the needs of their communities.
The project is led by Anna Lindh Foundation (Egypt), the project brings together four partners: International Committee for the Development of Peoples (Italy), Cultural Movement of Limassol EPILOGI (Cyprus), Rene Moawad Foundation (Lebanon), and Youth Center of Epirus (Greece). The total budget is €1.1 million, with 89% co-funded by the European Union.
For more information, visit the website: TRANSFORMED Project
For project enquiries: Egypt: mohammed.hafez@alfsecretariat.org – Cyprus: info@eaymc.org – Greece: youthcenterofepirus@yahoo.gr – Italy: francia@cisp-ngo.org – Lebanon: psaadeh@rmf.org.lb
For press and communications enquiries: thouraya.bouchamia@alfsecretariat.org mariam.elgiziry@alfsecretariat.org
The contents of this press release are the sole responsibility of the Anna Lindh Foundation and its partners and can under no circumstances be regarded as reflecting the position of the European Union or the Programme management structures.
Last Update
23/06/2026
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