1st URWAN learning product available under Euro-MED Academy
The URWAN partnership is pleased to share that three learning products developed within the project are now available on the Interreg Euro-MED Academy, the learning and capacity-building platform of the Interreg Euro-MED Programme.
The Interreg Euro-MED Academy is designed to support the transfer of knowledge, results and best practices generated by funded projects across the Mediterranean region. It offers free access to learning resources for public authorities, universities, research organisations, private sector actors and practitioners, with the aim of strengthening capacities, supporting innovation and translating tested solutions into policies and concrete actions. The Academy focuses on key thematic priorities such as green and blue growth, sustainable tourism and climate resilience, contributing to a smarter, greener and more resilient Mediterranean.
The first URWAN product published on the Academy is the “Roadmap and Toolkit for implementing a collaborative and design-based methodology”, a practical guideline supporting the co-design of Nature-Based Solutions for urban parks and public spaces. The document builds on the Start Park methodology and adapts it into a structured, step-by-step participatory process that brings together citizens, technical experts and public authorities in the planning of climate-resilient urban environments.
This roadmap responds to a recurring challenge in urban greening initiatives, namely the lack of consistent and replicable participatory methodologies capable of integrating social innovation, technical expertise and institutional decision-making. The URWAN approach provides a process-oriented framework rather than predefined solutions, encouraging local adaptation and creative problem-solving through facilitated co-design activities.
The methodology has already been tested with positive results in Italy and shows a high potential for transfer to other Mediterranean contexts. Released under an open Creative Commons licence, it supports replication and reuse, provided that adequate local facilitation capacity, multidisciplinary collaboration, institutional support and active citizen engagement are ensured.
By promoting inclusive and collaborative approaches to Nature-Based Solutions, this URWAN learning product contributes to Sustainable Development Goals 11, 13 and 15, and supports key European and regional policy frameworks, including the EU Adaptation Strategy, Nature Restoration objectives and the Union for the Mediterranean Greener Mediterranean Agenda.
Further URWAN learning products will be progressively published on this page and made available through the Interreg Euro-MED Academy.
