Capacity Building Programme

The VALORADA Capacity Building Programme provides government authorities, businesses, researchers and interested individuals with training activities, acts as a forum for exchanges of best practices in order to strengthen the understanding of climate adaptation and discusses appropriate measures including the role data can play in evidence-based policy making.

The VALORADA Capacity Building Programme is composed of a series of interactive workshops connected to demonstrators, including the municipalities of Gabrovo and Burgas (Bulgaria), the statutory cities of Prerov and Mlada Boleslav (Czechia), the region of Occitania (France), the region of Central Greece (Greece) and the region of Molise (Italy).

While the programme has been designed based on direct feedback from the demonstrators, these cities and regions face common climate risks, such as droughts, floods, urban heat island effects and coastal erosion. By integrating common climate risks into the various thematic series, the programme will not only enhance the capacity of the VALORADA demonstrators but also share best practices with the wider community. Through targeted sessions, participants will gain the tools and knowledge forming the foundation to develop effective strategies that mitigate common climate risks and ensure the long-term adaptability of their communities.

Aimed at enhancing understanding climate adaptation and building resilience, this program is organized into three key workshop series:
• Climate risk data and assessment (autumn 2024)
• Governance, policies and plans (spring 2025)
• Risk communication (autumn 2025)

Upcoming workshops: Risk communication

Enabled by design: building risk communication for people with disabilities | European Week of Regions and Cities
Date: October 14, 2025
Time: 11:30 – 13:00 CEST
📋 Training material: available here

Effective risk communication is essential for resilience. However, digital systems often fail to reach people with disabilities due to accessibility gaps, undermining safety and the EU’s commitments under the Accessibility Act and the Strategy for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. This mini-climathon will challenge participants to redesign climate risk communication tools with accessibility at their core, generating practical, inclusive design concepts. Drawing from disciplines such as public policy, design, technology, social sciences and communications, teams will collaborate to create actionable prototypes and policy-aligned solutions.

Rural proofing: Making policies work for rural areas through data/Earth observation | European Week of Regions and Cities
Date: October 14, 2025
Time: 16:00 – 17:30 PM CEST
📋 Training material: coming soon

This session offers a dynamic platform for interactive discussions on how rural proofing can be effectively integrated into policymaking and decision-making. The goal is to contribute to unlocking the potential of all territories and support people’s right to live and thrive in rural areas, in line with the Commission’s Vision on Agriculture and Food. First, a panel discussion will focus on how different governance levels can apply rural proofing and support each other in doing this. Participants will then join discussion tables to peer-review a range of initiatives from GRANULAR, VALORADA and RUSTIK, where rural proofing has been applied in practice to address territorial challenges.

Past workshops

Climate Risk Data and Assessment: Workshop 1.1: Data for Climate Risk Reduction and Adaptation
Date: November 5, 2024
Time: 10:00 AM – 11:10 AM CET

🎙️ Speakers’ biography (PDF)     📋 Webinar materials (PDF)
▶️ Webinar recording (YouTube) 🔗 Feedback survey (Form)

This interactive webinar is organised on the occasion of the 12th World Urban Forum (UN-Habitat, 2024). This year’s theme is on local actions for sustainable cities and communities, addressing how valuable data drive localised adaptation and ensure regions and cities thrive in a future with unprecedented climate challenges and risks. It aims to bring together experts from academia, business association and local government to discuss how high value datasets can enable regions and cities to adapt to climate change.  In this workshop, participants will gain insights into the climate data valorisation framework and engage in practical sessions led by experts from Helmholtz-Zentrum Hereon and EARSC. It will feature a dynamic dialogue on integrating climate information and earth observation, along with success stories from the Harmonia project and testimonials from cities showcasing effective climate resilience strategies. Finally, a Q&A session will allow for all questions to be addressed.

Climate Risk Data and Assessment: Workshop 1.2: Copernicus Climate Change Service Support to Regions and Cities
Date: November 19, 2024
Time: 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM CET

🎙️ Speakers’ biography (PDF)     📋 Webinar materials (PDF)
▶️ Webinar recording (YouTube)🔗 Feedback survey (Form)

This interactive webinar, part of our capacity building programme, focuses on leveraging high-value climate data and tools to support regions and cities in adapting to the challenges posed by climate change.  The session will highlight practical solutions and innovative technologies for monitoring climate risks and implementing effective adaptation strategies. Participants will gain insights into integrating Copernicus Climate Change Services (C3S) resources into local policies, engage in expert-led practical sessions with representatives from the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts and Aerospace Valley, and explore best practices for fostering cooperation and knowledge exchange. Designed for local authorities, regional service providers, policymakers, and stakeholders involved in Earth Observation (EO) services, this webinar aims to equip participants with actionable knowledge to drive climate resilience.

Governance, Policies and Strategies: Workshop on Local Data Spaces and Management
Date: April 17, 2025
Time: 10:00 PM – 11:30 AM CEST

🎙️ Speaker’s biography (PDF)     📋 Webinar materials (PDF)
▶️ Webinar recording (YouTube)

This interactive webinar, part of our capacity building programme, focuses on leveraging high-value climate data and tools to support regions and cities in adapting to the challenges posed by climate change.  The session will highlight practical solutions and innovative technologies for monitoring climate risks and implementing effective adaptation strategies. Participants will gain insights into integrating Copernicus Climate Change Services (C3S) resources into local policies, engage in expert-led practical sessions with representatives from the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts and Aerospace Valley, and explore best practices for fostering cooperation and knowledge exchange. Designed for local authorities, regional service providers, policymakers, and stakeholders involved in Earth Observation (EO) services, this webinar aims to equip participants with actionable knowledge to drive climate resilience.

Governance, Policies and Strategies: Workshop on Green Innovation Procurement
Date: April 24, 2025
Time: 10:00 PM – 11:30 AM CEST

 🎙️ Speaker’s biography (PDF)     📋 Webinar materials (PDF)
▶️ Webinar recording (YouTube)

🚀  Innovation Procurement Checklist 🌿Green Procurement Checklist

This interactive webinar, part of our capacity building programme, focuses on leveraging high-value climate data and tools to support regions and cities in adapting to the challenges posed by climate change.  The session will highlight practical solutions and innovative technologies for monitoring climate risks and implementing effective adaptation strategies. Participants will gain insights into integrating Copernicus Climate Change Services (C3S) resources into local policies, engage in expert-led practical sessions with representatives from the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts and Aerospace Valley, and explore best practices for fostering cooperation and knowledge exchange. Designed for local authorities, regional service providers, policymakers, and stakeholders involved in Earth Observation (EO) services, this webinar aims to equip participants with actionable knowledge to drive climate resilience.

Contacts

Michelle Zheng, michelle.zheng@climate-kic.org
Stefka Domuzova, stefka.domuzova@climate-kic.org