On 24 June 2025, the DiGiN project was invited to contribute to the European exchange workshop of Cities4Her, a CERV-funded initiative implemented by ActionAid Hellas and EETAA, alongside multiple local partners in Greece including municipalities.
The session, titled “Young Voices, Local Change: Gender Equality in Local Life” gathered municipal representatives, youth organisations and equality advocates to reflect on lessons learned and foster dialogue on gender equality at the local level. As part of the panel, the DiGiN team shared core tools developed within the project to support municipalities in fostering diverse, equitable and inclusive workplaces. These included:
- The DiGiN self-assessment tool for municipalities to identify internal DEI gaps;
- A collection of inspiring practices from across Europe;
The session aligned closely with the aims of Cities4Her, which worked over two years with municipalities and regional authorities in Greece to activate the European Charter for Equality of Women and Men in Local Life. The project placed young people (aged 18–30) at the centre of action and focused on capacity building, consultation and youth-driven change.
Highlights from the Cities4Her work included:
- Creation of mixed working groups including municipal youth council members and local government representatives;
- Broad consultation with municipalities and regions, mapping institutional challenges and needs;
- Workshops and visits in remote areas, such as Tilos and Agios Efstratios;
- Support for Equality Committees in local governance structures.
One of the key lessons shared during the workshop was the gap between commitment and implementation. While many Greek municipalities had signed the European Charter, only a small number had developed and activated action plans. In some cases, the development of those plans had been outsourced, weakening their institutional ownership. The project therefore placed strong emphasis on local anchoring, co-creation, and interdepartmental cooperation, values that DiGiN strongly shares.
The exchange workshop was an opportunity to share tools, approaches and insights across borders, a valuable moment of mutual learning. Both DiGiN and Cities4Her underline the importance of local-level engagement, institutional transformation and the role of youth in shaping inclusive governance.
Learn more about Cities4Her: https://cities4her.gr/
Explore DiGiN tools and practices: https://diginproject.eu/resources
