Networking European
Civic Education

Networking & Advocacy

NECE was established more than two decades ago with the aim of promoting common ground in civic education throughout Europe. The initiative was launched in 2004 in Santiago de Compostela by the German Federal Agency for Civic Education (bpb), recognising the need for civic education to evolve into a pan-European field.

Today, NECE’s new structure is a proactive space that prioritises inclusivity and diversity, becoming a vital network for civic education. A multitude of voices are building on partnerships and insights gained from an extensive mapping of the work of over 600 civic education entities from 31 European countries.

Read more about the history of NECE

Since its inception, NECE has focused on exploring past and present issues relevant to civic education, such as history, migration, populism, globalisation, and social inclusion. In carrying out this important work, NECE has been supported by a circle of partners and an advisory board, which brought diverse expertise and resources. However, NECE faced three main challenges: it was a platform instead of a network, there was limited activity between conferences, and it was over-reliant on one supporter.

To address these issues, THE CIVICS applied to the Europe-wide idea challenge with its concepts to make NECE into a multistakeholder network in the next three years (2023 – 2025). This transformation involves a new management structure, spread across three hubs in Europe, with a newly composed NECE Consortium and Jury.

NEW NECE ACTIVITIES

Throughout the year, NECE hosts and supports a range of activities and events, culminating in an annual NECE Festival. These initiatives follow both functional and thematic tracks, addressing the real needs of civic educators as outlined in the new report “Great Expectations: Demands and Realities of Civic Education in Europe”.

NECE Labs and NECE Magazine are the spaces for in-depth and focused work on specific topics, target groups, advocacy issues, and more. These initiatives are highlighted at the NECE Campus, a year-round platform providing space for educators to exchange ideas, learn from one another, and grow. Additionally, the NECE Newsletter and community-building communication celebrate the work of educators while providing space for announcements, capacity-building opportunities, and opportunities for joint work.

Civic Innovation Fund (CIF)

In conclusion, the team at THE CIVICS has launched the Civic Innovation Fund (CIF), a unique European pooled fund in civic education. This initiative aims to support innovative, bold, and scalable ideas in the field.

Find out more about CIF here.

Don’t miss out on the chance to shape NECE and its upcoming activities! Subscribe to our updates and visit www.nece.eu to be informed about open calls for ideas and upcoming events as well as funding opportunities within the Civic Innovation Fund.

Connect via nece@thecivics.eu!

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