CLOSER aims to transform the way social services are conceived and managed for everyone. No longer top-down packages, but solutions built together by those working in institutions and those operating on the ground, such as associations and local communities living in those areas.
Have you ever thought that the services offered where you live do not really meet your actual needs? Or that resources are allocated to initiatives that do not fully reflect the real needs of the community? Often, there is a gap between those who plan services and those who experience them every day.
Bridging this gap is the goal of CLOSER.
CLOSER was born from a simple yet challenging idea: to bring together both shores of the Mediterranean to create fairer and more inclusive societies. In a context marked by common challenges such as an ageing population, depopulation of certain areas and difficulties in managing sudden emergencies, CLOSER offers a concrete solution: active participation.
CLOSER aims to transform the way social services are conceived and managed for everyone. No longer top-down packages, but solutions built together by those working in institutions and those operating on the ground, such as associations and local communities living in those areas.
Over the next two and a half years, the project will train representatives of public authorities and civil society organisations in six Mediterranean countries – Italy, Greece, Spain, Jordan, Lebanon, and Palestine – providing them with useful tools to collaborate effectively, thus becoming true facilitators of participatory processes for local governance.
With CLOSER, we transform commitment into tangible results. The project consists of targeted activities, including:
Through active cooperation between civil society actors and public authorities, and with the direct involvement of the population, CLOSER seeks to strengthen the capacity of these actors to network and jointly design solutions to promote social rights for the peoples of the Mediterranean.
We want to combine expertise to build and deliver more effective social services, making them truly responsive to the needs of territories and the people who live there.
The work officially started on 30 October with a press conference that launched this Mediterranean cooperation network. Now, CLOSER is entering the heart of its operational activities.
If you are part of an association, work in a public institution, or are involved in social services, this is your chance to gain new skills and become part of an international network. Contact Antonella Alessi: antonella.alessi@danilodolci.org.
To receive updates on the next steps follow us on the project’s official Instagram channel or visit interregnextmed.eu/projects/closer.
Last Update
19/12/2025
Next Med