The URBACT IV programme - 2021-2027: driving change for better cities
October 2022
Created in 2002, the European URBACT programme is a territorial cooperation tool promoting integrated urban development. Its aim is to encourage reflection and the co-construction of local public policies. Funded by the ERDF, the programme is open to local authorities from the 27 Member States of the European Union, regardless of size or population, and enables European authorities to form transnational networks around a common issue, in order to exchange ideas and build their capacities in the field of urban development.
The projects supported are grouped around 5 main themes: physical urban development, the environment, governance, inclusion and the economy. At the end of the work carried out by the network, the aim is to produce an action plan in response to the initial problem.
What is URBACT?
URBACT is a cooperation programme that enables European cities to exchange experiences, ideas and best practices in urban development within thematic and transnational networks. The aim of these networks is to work together to devise a collective response to common challenges, while adapting the solutions to their specific local circumstances. URBACT offers 3 types of networks for cities throughout the European Union that want to exchange ideas and produce integrated local urban policies with the help of their peers, local stakeholders and URBACT experts:
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Action planning networks: the aim is to produce an integrated action plan around a common theme in order to find innovative solutions through collaborative work between European partners.
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Good practice transfer networks: the aim is to build a transfer plan based on approved good practice developed by a local authority.
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Innovation transfer networks: the aim is to build a funding plan based on an innovative action project from the European Urban Initiative programme.
In short, the networks help you to understand a practice, adapt it to your own challenges and reuse it.
In addition, the added value of the URBACT programme lies in the method it proposes.
The URBACT method is based on three key pillars:
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Integration of all dimensions of cooperation (vertical and horizontal) ;
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Involving everyone through civic engagement and dialogue at several levels;
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learning by doing through peer-to-peer work.
To understand and use the URBACT method, a number of tools are available to all urban practitioners in Europe:
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the Toolbox, which contains advice, methods, explanations and models to help local authorities design and implement integrated actions;
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the Knowledge Hub, which brings together knowledge, ideas, analyses and initiatives launched by URBACT networks on all urban issues.
Who is URBACT, and with whom?
The target countries:
URBACT is aimed at cities in the 27 EU Member States; two partner countries: Norway and Switzerland; EU Pre-Accession Instrument countries: Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Montenegro, Northern Macedonia and Serbia; EU Neighbourhood Policy countries: Ukraine and Moldova.
Types of eligible beneficiaries:
URBACT is open to all local authorities, regardless of size or population. All cities, conurbations, metropolises, municipalities and inter-municipalities can participate in a programme network. The term ‘city’ is commonly used by the URBACT programme to facilitate understanding on a European scale.
Some Calls for Proposals are also open to other potential partners: local agencies, universities and research centres, provincial, regional or national authorities with expertise in the urban field.
When is URBACT?
URBACT IV is part of the 2021-2027 programming period of the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF). The networks created have a lifespan of two and a half years and are divided into two phases: 6 months of preparation and 24 months of implementation. Several calls for projects, as well as various events for the cities involved in the programme, punctuate the programming period.