Mayors' Network

WE DRIVE LOCAL ACTION!

We are committed to driving local action to promote peaceful, cohesive and prosperous communities.

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The ACT NOW Mayors’ Network

The ACT NOW Mayors’ Network is a community of like-minded local leaders from locations in the Middle East through to Northern Europe. Many municipalities are facing similar challenges, therefore our activities foster hands-on mutual support and best practice exchange to bring about concrete local action.

Our five principles

IT IS ON US – WE DRIVE LOCAL CHANGE

Every year we organise field trips to our network members in Europe, the Balkans or the MENAT region. Participants gain first-hand insights into local challenges and best practice and have the opportunity to strengthen their professional and personal skill sets in on-site workshops and training sessions.

WE ARE CONNECTED ACROSS BORDERS

Many municipalities have similar objectives and challenges, so it makes sense for us to connect and learn from each other across borders. Exchanging knowledge helps us build on each other’s success and broadens our horizons.

DIVERSITY IS OUR STRENGTH

Everyone regardless of their social background, religion or origin can contribute to the community. We share ideas about how to create mutual acceptance among different groups and help each other promote diversity.

WE STRENGTHEN SOCIAL COHESION TO COUNTERACT POLARISATION

Social cohesion is the backbone of stability and prosperity. When people feel respected and are given the opportunity to thrive, they will no longer antagonise each other but use their energy productively to serve the common good.

WE INVOLVE YOUNG PEOPLE FROM ALL WALKS OF LIFE

Young people are the main drivers of change and are the leaders of tomorrow. We support each other and our staff to activate the potential of the young people in our local communities by including them in planning and decision-making.

MEET THE MEMBERS​

United by their common goals, our members are committed to driving positive change and improving life in their communities. Meet them here:
Meet the Members

HOW TO JOIN THE NETWORK

The ACT NOW Mayors’ Network is always open for local leaders who share our principles and are committed to driving local action. A variety of benefits are waiting for you: Invitations to conferences, field trips and webinars for learning and exchange; access to international best practices and support for realising innovative projects.

Find out how to join

We drive local Action

Our carefully selected collection of Best Practices covers a broad range of local solutions. We identify the ones which are most relevant to specific members based on their individual needs and develop best practice prototypes as a tool for adapting and later on implementing best practices to different local contexts. The result is a holistic process which allows municipalities to successfully plan, implement and monitor local action. To support this process, municipalities can also apply to hold an ACT NOW Local Change Lab in their municipality.

Learn more about projects implemented by members of the ACT NOW Mayors’ Network:

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Network Insights

Get inspired by the valuable insights and experiences shared by our members in the ACT NOW Mayors’ Network. Explore their thought-provoking blogs and articles on innovative solutions, community development, and more.

Field Trips & Workshops

Every year we organise field trips to our network members in Europe, the Balkans or the MENAT region. Participants gain first-hand insights into local challenges and best practice and have the opportunity to strengthen their professional and personal skill sets in on-site workshops and training sessions.

Vienna 2020
Urban planning & social cohesion
Fostering civic engagement
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Beirut 2020
- cancelled -
Vienna Summer 2019
Youth Employment, Bridging diverse Communities, Urban Innovation
Vienna 2019
Inclusive Youth Participation
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Hameln-Pyrmont 2019
Intercultural Housing, Innovative Education, Neighbourhood, Development, Funding
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Chios 2018
Supporting people in need, Refugee Camp, protection of unaccompanied minors
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Vienna 2018
Social innovation, Inclusion, Urban Renewal, Affordable Housing
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Mayors Webinars

This is a challenging time for communities and their local leaders. The consequences of climate change, digitalisation, financial constraints and the recovery from the pandemic require transformation on the local level.

The webinars of the ACT NOW Mayor’ Network are designed to inspire local leaders to lead the change and create sustainable action in their respective communities. Therefore, we explore visionary ideas, future-proof concepts and context-sensitive practices in order to provide the participants with theoretical knowledge and hands-on learnings.

The webinars are open for everyone who has a stake in the realisation of the local transformation and how innovative practices can support this process.

 

Previous Webinars:

Livable Cities for the 21st Century

Around 1960 the paradigms for city planning were radically changed. Modernism became dominant and the invasion of motorcars took off. In this process the care for the people using cities – looked after for centuries

Jan Gehl
5 March 2021

Co-creating the Future

Tips, Tricks and Secrets of Participatory Urban Development

Jeanette Westergaard Frisk
6 November 2020
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Mayors manage COVID‑19

Mayors and local decision-makers are currently under pressure to take swift action. This involves medical and healthcare related measures to protect the public, but also ensuring that there is cohesion within communities and people are pulling together. We are therefore collecting videos and reports from members and friends of the ACT NOW Mayors’ Network. Under the hashtag #mayorsmanageCOVID we intend to share experiences, learnings, knowledge and creative approaches.

What our members say

The ACT NOW Mayors' Network has allowed me to think outside the box and get to know new people and projects. Not only have I learned that small and large communities are often faced with the same challenges, but I have also learned about effective, low-threshold approaches to solving problems – and that it often takes much fewer resources than expected.
Renate Habetler
Renate HabetlerMayor, (Marktgemeinde) Bernstein, Austria
The ACT NOW Mayors’ Network is an important place of exchange and understanding. Participants gain ideas for a more social and ecological society as well as approaches to the Economy for the Common Good. As the name suggests: it's all about taking concrete action and achieving improvements in an exchange with experts, young people and other stakeholders.
Roman Götzmann
Roman GötzmannLord Mayor, Waldkirch, Germany
ACT NOW provides real and successful learning experiences, builds the capacity of its members and creates a platform to exchange and test new ideas. It's a great network that connects mayors from different backgrounds and cultures who share the same principles and values and support their communities in working collectively to improve people’s wellbeing. ACT NOW gave me the opportunity to meet wonderful professionals and an incentive to stay the course in pursuit of a better world.
Mohamed Saadieh
Mohamed SaadiehMayor, Deirnbouh, Lebanon
It is a great inspiration to see how our shared values can become actions within our diverging geopolitical contexts. Through the network, I was able to meet excellent mayors whom we continue to deal with almost every week, and I also met technicians and architects that I want to host in my city. To share and learn from amazing colleagues and talented professionals is a real opportunity and I’m grateful for that!
Isabella Conti
Isabella ContiMayor, San Lazzaro di Savena, Italy
ACT NOW is an excellent source of ideas and new perspectives. Sharing experiences with municipalities across the globe has been both inspirational and practically beneficial. Our common focus is building long-lasting relationships based on respect, diversity and love for the community.
Qëndron Kastrati
Qëndron KastratiMayor, Kamenica, Kosovo