Climate ChangePathways2Resilience: Sveti Nikole Resilience Lab
Overview
Pathways2Resilience helps European regions plan for a changing climate. Through its Regional Resilience Journey, regions develop adaptation pathways, innovation agendas and investment plans that align with the EU Mission on Adaptation to Climate Change. With SmartUp’s support, Sveti Nikole in North Macedonia was chosen as one of 40 regions to join the first call.
The Resilience Lab Sveti Nikole ran from September 2024 to February 2026 and was coordinated by the Municipality of Sveti Nikole in partnership with SmartUp. The aim was a comprehensive Climate Resilience Strategy, Action Plan and Investment Plan, developed with local institutions, citizens and experts rather than handed to them.
SmartUp was the municipality’s partner for the entire journey. We guided the process from start to finish, designed and facilitated all workshops and sessions, and connected the municipality with the programme’s expert services at each stage.
The challenge
Planning beyond single sectors
Climate resilience cuts across water, land, health, infrastructure and the economy. It needs joined-up strategies, not separate sectoral plans.
Limited technical capacity
Municipalities often lack the skills and resources to turn a climate adaptation strategy into action that lasts.
Bringing everyone to the table
Local government, citizens, businesses and outside experts all hold part of the picture, and resilience planning only works when they build shared knowledge together.
Activities and methods
SmartUp supported the municipality through every stage of the Regional Resilience Journey, using participatory workshops, strategic foresight and governance innovation to produce three connected documents.
What SmartUp did
- Guided the whole programme. We walked the municipality through each step of the Pathways2Resilience process, from the first assessment to the final plans.
- Facilitated all workshops and sessions. We designed and led participatory workshops that brought together municipal staff, local stakeholders and experts to build a shared picture of climate risks and priorities.
- Used strategic foresight. Foresight methods helped participants look beyond current problems and explore how the local climate and economy may change, and a shared vision for 2035.
- Strengthened governance. We supported new ways of working across departments and with the community, so that the plans can be carried forward.
- Connected the municipality with expert services. We linked Sveti Nikole to the programme’s services and experts at the points where they were most useful.
What the municipality developed
- A Climate Resilience Strategy
- A Climate Resilience Action Plan
- A Climate Resilience Investment Plan
All three documents are published on the municipality’s Climate Resilience Platform at climate.svetinikole.gov.mk.
Gallery
Outputs
Climate Resilience Platform
The municipality’s platform with its Climate Resilience Strategy, Action Plan and Investment Plan, plus climate risks, resilience objectives and a shared vision for 2035.
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