Online-Conference – Committed to the Future twoards Resilient Communities

oin Us for the International Online Conference: Committed to the Future Towards Resilient Communities

The Foster Europe Foundation and ALDA – European Association for Local Democracy (ALDA) are delighted to invite you to the international online conference “Committed to the Future Towards Resilient Communities”, taking place on March 12, 2025, from 10:30 to 16:30 CET online.

Why Participate?

While the future of communities cannot be predicted, it can be anticipated with the right strategies and methodologies. This conference will bring together experts, policymakers, and practitioners to discuss innovative approaches to foresight, participatory governance, and resilience building at the local level.

What to Expect?

The event will explore best practices and frameworks that enable communities to proactively address local environmental and socio economic challenges. Attendees will gain insights into:

• The role of foresight in local governance and citizenship

• Successful participatory governance experiences from across Europe

• Lessons learned and opportunities for collaboration in breakout sessions

AGENDA:

12. March 2025, online, Zoom

10:30 | Welcome Session

• Stefan August Lütgenau, Director, Foster Europe Foundation

10:50 | Opening session

• Moderation: Stefan August Lütgenau, Director, Foster Europe Foundation

• Nadia Di Iulio, Project Manager, ALDA – European Association for local democracy, The FOSTER project: future-oriented solutions toward environmental resilience

• Keynote: Pierluigi Brombo, European Economic and Social Committee, HoU Foresight and Policy Studies

11:10 | Panel 1 – Foresight in local governance and citizenship: opportunities and challenges

• Moderation: Nadia Di Iulio, Project Manager, ALDA – European Association for local democracy, The FOSTER project: future-oriented solutions toward environmental resilience

• Keynote: Katerina Ciampi Stancova, Policy Research and Advice, Capacity Building Lead, OECD – Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development

• Case study 1:  Future and foresight to improve mental health services in Veneto Region: the case of CONFCooperative, Nicoletta Boldrini, Futures & Foresight Director, Tech4Future

  Case study 2: Salus Space: a shared future thinking experience of socio-economic urban regeneration, Pier Francesco Orsi, Salus Space Project Manager

12:40 | Lunch break

14:00 | Panel 2 – Participatory governance: European successful experiences

• Moderation: Stefan August Lütgenau, Director, Foster Europe Foundation

• Keynote: Measuring Quantity and Quality: The Participation Index – George Petrov, Citizen’s Participation Forum, Bulgaria

• Case Study 1: Participatory Democracy Case Studies from Slovakia – Martina Balazova, Komenius University Bratislava

• Case Study 2: The Climate Council, Deliberative Experience on the Federal Level – Lukas Hammer, Member of the National Council, Austria

• Case Study 3: Participatory Governance in Past and Present: The Slovakian Experience – Daniel Klimovsky, Komenius University, Bratislava

15:30 | Lessons Learned – Breakout Rooms

• Room 1: Foresight, Policy Making and Participation

  Expert: Katerina Ciampi Stancova, Policy Research and Advice, Capacity Building Lead, OECD – Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development

  Moderation: Flavia Pesce, Institution for Social Research

• Room 2: Measuring Quantity and Quality: How to implement the Participation Index

  Expert: George Petrov, Citizen’s Participation Forum, Bulgaria

  Moderation: Stefan August Lütgenau, Director, Foster Europe Foundation

• Room 3: Participatory Governance: Necessary Preconditions and framing

  Experts: Martina Balazova and Daniel Klimovsky, Komenius University Bratislava

  Moderation: Nadia Di Iulio, Project Manager, ALDA – European Association for local democracy, The FOSTER project: future-oriented solutions toward environmental resilience

16:00 | Conclusion & Outlook

• Participatory Governance in the Future, Tamara Ehs, Ehs & Fils Democracy Consulting

16:15 | End of event