Programme
Climate Change
Our goal
To help communities, institutions, and partners move climate action from ambition to practical, locally grounded responses that strengthen resilience, adaptation, and long-term change.
How we work
Our Approach to Climate Change
We work where climate ambition meets implementation.
Our approach brings together community engagement, institutional capacity, and practical financing or delivery models so climate responses are rooted in local realities and can move into action. We focus on work that is evidence-based, participatory, and realistic enough to be sustained over time.
What this work aims to change
- Stronger local capacity
- Public institutions and municipalities are better able to turn climate priorities into practical action.
- Community-led responses
- Communities and affected groups have a meaningful role in shaping local climate solutions.
- Action that can continue
- Climate approaches are designed with local ownership, practical implementation, and long-term use in mind.
What we offer
- Project development and implementation
- We help partners move from concept to delivery, turning climate ideas into workable projects and programmes.
- Capacity building
- We strengthen the knowledge and skills that institutions, communities, and organisations need to plan and act on climate priorities.
- Research and analysis
- We provide research and analysis that help partners understand challenges, identify opportunities, and make stronger climate decisions.
- Networking and collaboration
- We connect institutions, communities, experts, and practitioners so climate work can benefit from shared knowledge and coordinated action.
Selected projects
Community Mobility Co-operatives
Community Mobility Co-operatives helps community groups in Southeast Europe set up locally owned electric vehicle charging points and shared electric vehicles. SmartUp is the local partner for North Macedonia and Bosnia and Herzegovina, running training, coaching and an open call for community e-mobility pilots.
Innovative Financial Models to Support the Transition to Renewable Energy Sources (North Macedonia)
This project supported the development of an innovative community financing model to support the transition to renewable energy sources (RES) in North Macedonia. Focusing on local governments, the project emphasized community financing and impact investing tailored to local contexts. A pilot installation of hybrid photovoltaic/thermal (PVT) collectors was implemented at a kindergarten in the Municipality of Ilinden to demonstrate the technology's effectiveness and…
Pathways2Resilience: Sveti Nikole Resilience Lab
Sveti Nikole was one of 40 regions in Europe chosen for the first Pathways2Resilience call. SmartUp guided the municipality through the whole programme: facilitating every workshop and session and connecting it with expert services, to develop a Climate Resilience Strategy, Action Plan and Investment Plan.
Related guides & platforms
Guide
Impact Investing Guide
A guide to developing an impact investment portfolio for local government.
Guide
Co-creating Crowdfunding Models
A handbook for municipalities on alternative financing for renewable energy projects.
Platform
Community Mobility Initiatives – Seed Funding Platform
Community-led mobility co-operatives transforming sustainable transport in North Macedonia and the region through shared electric vehicle fleets and charging infrastructure.
Platform
ReDesign Skopje – Urban Transformation Program
Documentation and public engagement platform for the redesign of public spaces in Skopje.
Explore other programmes
Public Sector Innovation
We help public institutions and municipalities use research, co-creation, and prototyping to improve services and policy implementation.
Education
We support learning systems, educators, and institutions to design more inclusive, practical, and innovation-ready education approaches.
Youth
We create programmes and tools that help young people participate, build skills, and shape solutions in their communities.
Working together on practical climate action
We partner with public institutions, municipalities, communities, civil society organisations, and programme partners to turn climate priorities into practical local action.