Since its inception, NECE has focused on exploring past and present issues relevant to civic education, such as history, migration, populism, globalization, 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.

Throughout the year, NECE will host and support a range of activities and events, culminating in an annual NECE Festival. These initiatives will 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 will be the spaces for in-depth and focused work on specific topics, target groups, advocacy issues, and more. These initiatives will be 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 will celebrate the work of educators while providing space for announcements, capacity-building opportunities, and opportunities for joint work.

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.