The NetZeroCities project (NZC), has opened a Call for Twin Cities.

NZC is a four-year project designed to help cities overcome the current structural, institutional, and cultural barriers they face to achieve climate neutrality by 2030. The NZC Twinning Programme, a component of the NZC project, is a tailored learning programme for knowledge sharing and transfer of good practices between selected NetZeroCities Pilot Cities and successful Twin applicants, which will be selected under the present call.

The Twinning Learning Programme is a 20-month programme for knowledge sharing and transfer of good practices between upcoming selected Twin Cities, and the Pilot Cities in Cohort 2 that were selected to join the NetZeroCities’ Pilot Cities Programme. The programme is based on a practical knowledge sharing approach from Pilot Cities to Twin Cities, while also enabling a peer learning framework, allowing Pilot Cities to also learn from Twin Cities’ experiences.

The Programme is made up of three modules, namely “Getting started”, “Co-creating” and “Capitalising”.

Eligible applicants:

Local authorities (from small, mid- and large-sized cities, metropolitan areas, districts, any other public administration linked to the city) based within EU Member States or Horizon Europe Associated Countries, , who are non-Mission Cities, i.e. cities who are not listed among the 112 cities participating in the EU Cities Mission, and who are not already Twin or Pilot Cities, can apply.

Support is based on the applicant city demonstrating an existing climate neutrality commitment before or by 2050, in the application process.

Twin Cities should ensure adequate human resources and time (a minimum of 12 hours per month) to engage in the 20-months Twinning Learning Programme and assign between 1-2 (recommended) city representatives per Twin City, with at least a proficiency level of B2 English.

A budget of €900 per city representative is earmarked for the site-visits of the Twinning Learning Programme. This budget is foreseen to cover reimbursement of travel and hosting costs of Twin Cities. Beyond the reimbursement of travel costs, no further budget is available, and no financial compensation can be granted to Twin Cities for the implementation of the Twinning Learning Programme.

The Twinning Learning Programme for Cohort 2 Twin Cities will start in late September 2024 and last for 20 months (until May 2026).

NetZeroCities’ will organise an information webinar on  Thursday 18 April 2024, 14h00-15h15 (Brussels time) so that potential applicants can receive guidance and support for the Call as well as ask all questions to the Twin Cities team regarding the Cohort 2 Open Call.