On March 4-5, 2025 the Satu Mare County Intercommunity Development Association together with the associated partner City of Livada participated in the third transnational meeting of the partners of the project “SPONGECITY – Improving the capacity of cities to adapt to climate change by testing and promoting the ‘sponge city’ methodology at a transnational level”. This event, organized by the Serbian Development Agency RARIS, brought together international partners to discuss sustainable urban water management solutions and climate resilience strategies.
Key topics discussed on the first day of the meeting included:
✅ Project reporting and implementation progress
✅ Comparative studies on geographical, infrastructural and water management practices
✅ Status of construction of rain gardens and urban green infrastructure
✅ Development of an online tool for partners and stakeholders
✅ Local action plans and feasibility studies
✅ Training programs and stakeholder engagement.
🔎 The second day of the meeting included a field visit to Zaječar, followed by a workshop for partners, showcasing best practices in applying the principles of sponge cities – an innovative approach to urban water management that improves stormwater absorption, reduces flood risk and increases the sustainability of cities. Experts and local decision-makers exchanged knowledge on green infrastructure and water retention solutions, supporting climate-resilient urban planning.
The main objective of the “SPONGECITY – Improving the capacity of cities to adapt to climate change by testing and promoting the ‘sponge city’ methodology at a transnational level” project is to analyze hydroclimatic characteristics and water management practices in 12 communities, create a model to support urban water management planning, test and promote tools through the participatory development of local action plans, feasibility studies, and small-scale investments. The project involves 13 partners, and the strategic associate partner of the Satu Mare County Community Development Association in this project is the City of Livada. The total value of the project is EUR 2,028,509.20, and the budget allocated to the Association within this project is EUR 164,500.
