The National Association of Local Authorities of Georgia (NALAG) has launched a new international project, BRIGHT – “Bringing Regional actors Into (G)lobal community – driven actions Toward climate adaptation and resilient ecosystems in the Black Sea region” (BSB00733).

The project aims to strengthen the role of local and regional public authorities in Bulgaria, Georgia, Moldova, and Türkiye in supporting the achievement of the European Union’s long-term energy and climate objectives.

BRIGHT addresses key challenges such as limited institutional capacity, lack of coordination, low stakeholder engagement, and restricted access to best practices and financial resources.

The project focuses on 24 municipalities and envisages the selection of four pilot areas, where Sustainable Energy and Climate Action Plans (SECAPs) will be developed and implemented.

Planned activities include policy analysis, exchange of best practices, digital twinning, organization of local forums, development of a practical Toolbox, support to pilot municipalities, training on accessing financial resources, and mobilization of local resources.

At the end of the project, a final conference will be held in Varna, Bulgaria, where the achieved results will be presented and best practices will be shared to enhance climate resilience in the Black Sea region.

The project is led by the Union of Bulgarian Black Sea Local Authorities (UBBSLA). Project partners include the Agency for Cross-Border Cooperation and European Integration (ACTIE), the National Association of Local Authorities of Georgia (NALAG), and the Eastern Black Sea Development Agency (DOKA).

BRIGHT is implemented within the framework of the Interreg VI-B NEXT Black Sea Basin Programme and is funded by the European Union. It contributes to strengthening the capacities of local authorities, enhancing regional cooperation, and promoting the development of climate-resilient policies in the Black Sea region.