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

Governance, Policies and Strategies: Workshop on Digital Governance and Stakeholder Engagement
Date: April 10, 2025
Time: 03:00 PM – 04:00 PM CEST

 🔗 Registration link (Form)

This interactive webinar is organised as part of the VALORADA Capacity Building Series, aimed at enhancing digital governance and data-driven decision-making for climate resilience. As cities navigate digital transformation, integrating emerging technologies and fostering a responsible data culture are key to building sustainable urban futures.

This session will bring together experts from policymaking, academia, and urban governance to discuss how AI, IoT, and big data can improve public services and drive climate adaptation strategies. Participants will gain insights into multi-sectoral collaboration, the evolving landscape of data spaces and governance frameworks, and how cities are aligning digital policies with climate action plans.

In this workshop, participants will engage with case studies from Hamburg and Gabrovo, showcasing real-world applications of data-driven urban resilience. The session will feature discussions on stakeholder engagement, strategies for breaking down data silos, and best practices for leveraging digital tools to enhance public administration efficiency.

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

🔗 Registration link (Form)

This interactive webinar, part of the VALORADA Capacity Building Series, explores how local data spaces enhance governance, transparency, and climate resilience. As cities increasingly rely on data-driven decision-making, ensuring interoperability and compliance with European policies is essential.

Bringing together experts in data governance and urban planning, this session will showcase real-world case studies on how cities and regions manage data pooling, sharing, and structured governance. Discussions will focus on best practices for data accessibility, regulatory compliance, and multi-sector collaboration.

Participants will gain practical insights into building and integrating data spaces for evidence-based policymaking.

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

🔗 Registration link (Form)

This interactive webinar, part of the VALORADA Capacity Building Series, explores how public procurement can drive climate innovation. As policymakers face urgent climate challenges, green procurement strategies can help reduce environmental impact, promote sustainability, and foster market-driven solutions.

Bringing together experts in procurement and climate policy, this session will showcase best practices in integrating environmental considerations into public purchasing. Discussions will cover strategies for carbon-neutral procurement, waste valorisation, and Pre-Commercial Procurement (PCP) as a tool for climate-focused innovation.

Participants will gain practical insights into leveraging procurement as a driver for sustainable transformation.

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.

Contacts

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