Be Ready Partners Hold Their Final In-Person Consortium Meeting at HEAT FEST 2026

On 5 June 2026, the Be Ready consortium gathered in Sofia, Bulgaria, for its final in-person consortium meeting, hosted by the Sofia Development Association, Lead Partner of the project. The meeting took place as part of HEAT FEST 2026, bringing together project partners to reflect on three years of collaboration, review the project's achievements, and discuss the final steps towards its successful completion.

The meeting began with updates from all project partners on the activities implemented during Project Period 5, highlighting the progress made across the partnership in strengthening urban resilience to urban heat islands (UHI) and climate change.

Partners also reviewed the outcomes of the Applied Realist Evaluation, which provided valuable insights into the effectiveness of the project's pilot actions, stakeholder engagement processes, and collaborative approaches. The discussion reinforced the importance of evidence-based evaluation in understanding what works, for whom, and under which conditions.

Another key agenda item was the presentation of the Climate Sandbox Technical and Societal Readiness Tool. Developed within the project, the tool supports cities in assessing both the technical feasibility and societal readiness of climate adaptation measures, enabling local authorities to make informed decisions when planning and implementing resilience actions.

The consortium also discussed the Capacity Building Programme for Cities, which equips municipalities and stakeholders with practical knowledge and resources to address urban heat island challenges through integrated planning, participatory approaches, and nature-based solutions.

Further discussions focused on communication and dissemination activities, ensuring that the project's results, tools, and knowledge products continue to reach cities and stakeholders across the Danube Region and beyond. Partners also carried out a comprehensive project quality review, assessing the successful delivery of activities and outputs while identifying key lessons learned throughout implementation.

The meeting concluded with a mutual learning session and a forward-looking discussion on opportunities for future cooperation. Building on the strong partnerships established through Be Ready, the consortium explored potential new initiatives and projects that will continue supporting climate adaptation, urban resilience, and sustainable urban development across Europe.

As the final in-person meeting of the project, the event marked both the culmination of three years of close collaboration and the beginning of a lasting network committed to creating healthier, more resilient, and climate-ready cities.

The consortium meeting formed part of HEAT FEST 2026, the project's final international event, providing an opportunity for partners to engage with local authorities, experts, and citizens while showcasing the innovative tools, methodologies, and solutions developed through the Be Ready project.