CIVITEC project

Funded by Interreg Europe cooperation programme, the CIVITEC project aims to make democracy more participatory, inclusive, and responsive by enhancing citizen involvement through new digital tools and processes. With a total budget of €2,020,864.00, it is led by Nicosia Development Agency in Cyprus. CIVITEC aims to explore the use of civic technology, how the 'Civic Tech' is improving civic engagement and public participation in decision making processes from local to national levels and the development and delivery of new co-created strategies and policies. This process implies numerous changes in the relationships between the citizens and public institutions, by reinvigorating democratic processes and encouraging citizens to actively participate in various forms of democratic engagement. In that way, Civic Tech encompasses new and emerging ICTs, tools and processes that enable greater citizen and community participation in a free and democratic society. For example, online petitions, open data portals, citizen evaluation and monitoring platforms, and participatory budgeting systems, where citizens collectively discuss community needs and priorities and then allocate public funds accordingly. 13 partners are working together in the project: • Nicosia Development Agency, Cyprus • Computer Technology Institute and Press Diophantus, Greece • Jaen County Council, Spain • The ERNACT network (Ireland) • Donegal County Council (Ireland) • Municipality of Preveza (Greece) • Viimsi Municipality Government (Estonia) • Nièvre County Council (France) • Nièvre Numérique (France) • Development Agency Sinergija (Slovenia) • Business Agency Association (Bulgaria) • Varna Municipality (Bulgaria) – Associated Policy Authority • Ministry for Public Administration (Slovenia) – Associated Policy Authority