FUNDA

The Danube Region faces notable discrepancies in regional development policies, characterized by a deficiency in implementing integrated urban and regional development strategies due to inadequate local and civil participation. 

This gap is particularly pronounced in the development of functional urban areas (FUAs) based on genuine linkages and interdependencies among urban centers and smaller settlements. 

Functional Urban Areas are territories located around a city or urban centre and linked to this central area through economic, social and cultural links. These areas form a functional unit, as people living there share infrastructure, services and economic activities, while commuting to the city centre and sharing labour markets.  

FUAs, as networks of cities or towns with functional relationships extending beyond individual cities, present significant management opportunities in urban planning and development.  

Effective management strategies for FUAs entail networked cooperation, joint strategic planning, collaborative projects, utilization of funding opportunities, and communication and partnership building among participating cities and regions. 

The FUNDA project aims to strengthen institutional capacities and cooperation among Functional Urban Areas (FUAs) throughout the Danube Region.
By connecting cities and their surrounding territories, FUNDA promotes joint planning, participatory governance, and data-based decision-making for sustainable urban–rural development.

Through transnational collaboration and digital tools, the project develops a shared governance methodology and launches the FUA-NET network – a long-term community of cities, regions, and experts working together for better management of functional areas.