Call for Mentors: CLEVERFOOD Peer-Learning Programme

The programme draws on the insights of existing policy labs and food policy councils. It provides targeted support for cities and local governments to develop urban food policy action plans. The programme targets initiatives aiming to build food system governance strategies and policies at the city-region or national level. The programme addresses policy labs and the food policy council of the FOOD 2030 Connected Lab Network and those who have yet to join the network. Participants will be selected through open calls.

Eurocities will facilitate the programme by supporting the interaction between the participants, organising the meetings, participating in the visits, producing learning material, and providing overall guidance throughout the entire learning process.

CLEVERFOOD, “Connected Labs for Empowering Versatile Engagement in Radical Food System Transformation,” is a four-year Horizon Europe project running from 1 January 2023 to 31 December 2026. This initiative aims to bring together and coordinate all existing efforts related to food systems in Europe, fostering better synergies among ongoing projects, living labs, partnerships, networks, and initiatives dedicated to food systems. To achieve this ambitious objective, CLEVERFOOD employs a multidimensional approach and collaborates with 23 different partners, including research institutes, public bodies, non-governmental organisations, and small and medium enterprises.

Budget

• For the mentors: The CLEVERFOOD project will reimburse costs related to organising the visit (e.g., catering, common transport, meeting room rental, etc.). Reimbursement will be limited to € 400 per mentor.
• For the mentees: The CLEVERFOOD project will reimburse travel, accommodation, and subsistence of each participating mentee in the study visit. Reimbursement will be limited to € 600 per mentee. Pending previous discussion and in agreement with Eurocities, some additional budget could be reimbursed in the case of:
  • Exceptionally and justified high cost for travel and accommodation (i.e., travelling during high season);
  • Participation of additional people who are considered highly relevant for the transferability of the solution (i.e., key local stakeholders or policymakers and subsistence during the study visit).
• The travel and accommodation cost reimbursement will be subject to providing original supporting documents (i.e., invoices, boarding passes, etc.).
• The 15 mentees who have developed the best action plans will receive seed funding (€ 5,000) to start their activities.

What’s in it for peer-learning participants?

• Participants will have the opportunity to:
  • Meet and exchange about challenges and best practices by visiting more experienced peers;
  • Receive funding to organise and participate in the visits;
  • Receive technical support and instruments to develop action plans to transfer the insights gained;
  • Receive funding to implement the activities foreseen in the action plan in their local context.
• This peer-learning programme is not to be seen as a one-way process but rather as a reciprocal exchange between peers on how to overcome similar challenges to drive food system transformation. The collaboration will extend to the activities of the FOOD 2030 Connected Lab Network, which will serve as the means to initiate and facilitate collaboration with other similar initiatives in Europe.

Who can apply?

• The peer-learning programme targets policy labs and food policy councils. The initiatives eligible for consideration must be implemented in an EU member state or an approved Horizon Europe Associated Country by entities originating from those countries. These initiatives must actively involve stakeholders and operate within specific territories (e.g., cities). They must be policy-oriented, contributing to the development of food system governance strategies and policies at the city region or national level. They can be implemented by either a city or another entity.
• List of eligible countries: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Republic of Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Albania, Armenia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Faroe Islands, Georgia, Iceland, Israel, Kosovo, Moldova, Montenegro, New Zealand (associated to Pillar II ‘Global Challenges and European Industrial Competitiveness’ as from the Work Programmes 2023 onwards, including for the institutionalised European partnerships), North Macedonia, Norway, Serbia, Tunisia, Türkiye, Ukraine, United Kingdom.
• Applicants must confirm they have sufficient and adequate resources (time, staff, expertise) to create a good environment for collaboration and gain the most from the exchanges. The required involvement is up to seven working days extended over a period between three and six months. All exchanges will be in English, with no translation foreseen. Therefore, participants are requested to have a level of English (both spoken and written) that can allow them to interact successfully.

For more information, visit CLEVERFOOD.