The Alliance for Sustainable Local Development – SymATA has now begun

The Alliance for Sustainable Local Development – SymATA has now begun with the formal establishment of the SymATA “Initiative Team” which will support the project’s next steps with its expertise and active engagement. At the kick-off meeting of the group we shared ideas, reflections, inspiration, and above all, motivation for what lies ahead.

The “Initiative Team” consists of prestigious national and supranational bodies: MedINA; The Green Tank; Captain Vassilis & Carmen Constantakopoulos Foundation; The American Farm School Thessaloniki; The Cyclades Preservation Fund; Laboratory of Economic Policy and Strategic Planning (L.E.P.S.PLAN), Department of Economics, University of Thessaly.

SymATA aims at empowering and networking regional Civil Society Organizations active in sustainable local development – the so-called “Members Network” – offering them a comprehensive framework of support on issues of advocacy, sustainable local development, internal organization and governance by reputable national and supranational bodies – the “Initiative Team” and specialized “Support Tank” consultants.

The ultimate goal of SymATA is the endogenous revival of the Greek periphery through the effective operation and active engagement of local CSOs. The positive impact of SymATA focuses on sustainability as well as strengthening of the “Members Network” organisations by expanding their actions, mobilising local communities and providing them with a network of contacts and capacities that will maximise their impact.

The project “Alliance for Sustainable Local Development (SymATA)” is being implemented under the Active citizens fund in Greece by MedINA and its partner The Green Tank.

The Active citizens fund in Greece is supported through a € 13.5 m grant from Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway as part of the EEA Grants 2014 – 2021. The programme aims to develop the sustainability and capacity of the civil society sector in Greece, and to strengthen its role in promoting and safeguarding democratic procedures, active citizenship and human rights. The Fund Operator for the Active citizens fund in Greece is Bodossaki Foundation in consortium with SolidarityNow. More information: www.activecitizensfund.gr/en/