Background
ClimaNET (EGTC Clima Net Gr-Cy) is a European Grouping of Territorial Cooperation (EGTC) established by seven Mission Cities: Athens, Thessaloniki, Ioannina, Kalamata, Kozani, Trikala, and Limassol (Cyprus). Registered in Greece and operating under the EU legal framework for EGTCs, ClimaNET provides a formal platform for cross-border cooperation between member cities on climate neutrality, urban resilience, and sustainable urban development.
The organisation is governed by a General Assembly composed of representatives of the member municipalities, supported by a Board of Directors and an executive coordination structure. Its mandate is to facilitate collaboration among member cities, support the implementation of Climate City Contracts (CCCs), develop and disseminate common methodologies and standards, coordinate joint initiatives and projects, mobilise funding opportunities, and provide technical and strategic support related to climate neutrality, energy transition, sustainable mobility, urban planning, digital transformation, and climate resilience.
ClimaNET operates as a complementary mechanism to municipal administrations and national frameworks, aiming to strengthen implementation capacity, promote knowledge exchange, and enable collective action across participating cities. Further details regarding ClimaNET’s governance arrangements, statutory objectives, and operational procedures are contained in its founding agreement and bylaws. Given that these documents are internal working documents and currently available only in Greek, they will be made available to the successful contractor following contract award.
While ClimaNET has a broad statutory mandate, its operational role, governance arrangements, and sustainable financing models are still emerging. Moreover, ClimaNET includes both Greek and Cypriot participation (Limassol), introducing a cross-country dimension that affects governance, legitimacy, and positioning vis-à-vis national authorities. During the period covered by this assignment, ClimaNET is expected to focus on establishing itself as an operational support and coordination platform for its member cities. Priority functions include facilitating peer learning and knowledge exchange among member cities; supporting the implementation of Climate City Contracts (CCCs); identifying opportunities for joint project development and funding applications; and representing common city interests in national and European policy discussions.
At the same time, the policy and funding context for cities in Europe is entering a critical transition phase. Member States are preparing for the next EU Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) and Cohesion Policy period (2028–2034), with preparatory work intensifying between 2025 and 2027. Future EU funding is expected to be more outcome- and performance-based, with stronger reliance on regions and cities to deliver national targets related to climate neutrality, energy efficiency, transport, and urban transformation.
In parallel, national coordination frameworks for climate neutrality are being consolidated at ministerial level, with a strong emphasis on ministry-led implementation, monitoring, and technical assistance for Mission Cities. Within this context, there is a clear need to demonstrate how ClimaNET can complement these structures by supporting implementation on the ground and reducing fragmentation between cities, programmes, and stakeholders.
In this context, ClimaNET and its member cities face a dual challenge and opportunity:
- In the short term (2025–2027), cities need tangible support to access existing funding opportunities, advance Climate City Contracts (CCCs) implementation, and test ClimaNET’s added value as a coordination and service vehicle.
- In the medium to long term (2028–2034), ClimaNET needs to position itself as a credible, strategic partner for the national governments of Greece and Cyprus, and the European Commission, capable of supporting cities in implementing CCCs, aggregating local needs and projects, and contributing to national objectives through complementary, implementation-facing support of national plans under the next MFF.
Scope
Climate KIC, acting on behalf of NetZeroCities, is requesting proposals to support ClimaNET and its member cities across two horizons: delivering immediate benefits, while laying out the groundwork for ClimaNET’s role in the next EU programming period.
The scope of this assignment combines short-term operational support for ClimaNET and Greek and Cypriot Mission Cities with medium-long-term assessment of ClimaNET’s feasibility, relevance and added value, and recommendations for its operational and strategic positioning as a credible partner under the next EU Multiannual Financial Framework (2028–2034):
- In the short term, the scope focuses on delivering tangible value for cities, including initial business model proposals for ClimaNET;
- In the medium–long term, the scope supports ClimaNET in clarifying its role, governance, and value proposition vis-à-vis national authorities, and EU institutions, with a view to position the network as a credible partner, capable of supporting cities in implementing CCCs, aggregating local needs and projects, and contributing to national objectives through complementary, implementation-facing support of national plans under the next MFF.
In addition, the assignment should strengthen ClimaNET’s governance and collective decision-making arrangements. This includes ensuring meaningful engagement of both ClimaNET’s operational representatives and board-level city leadership throughout the assignment, clarifying how collective priorities and decisions are established within ClimaNET, and how board-level strategic direction is translated into operational implementation. The assignment should also help ensure that ClimaNET’s strategic development reflects the collective priorities of its member cities and supports constructive alignment with relevant national coordination and support mechanisms.
Key stakeholders involved in or affected by this work include:
- ClimaNET governance bodies, including the Board of Directors and General Assembly, and the executive coordination structure and secretariat
- Greek and Cypriot Mission Cities and their political leadership, including mayors and/or other board-level representatives, as well as their technical and operational representatives
- Relevant national ministries and managing authorities (e.g. environment, finance, EU funds)
- NetZeroCities and its Mission Platform partners
- CapaCITIES and other national coordination mechanisms
- Potential European-level interlocutors (e.g. European Commission services, European Urban Initiative, Interreg actors)
- Unions and associations of municipalities (e.g. national and regional municipal associations)
- Private sector and ecosystem actors (e.g. utilities, investors, SMEs, solution providers), particularly where engaged through city-led or project-based initiative.
The supplier’s proposal should include a clear methodology for engaging different levels of ClimaNET’s governance and membership, including operational focal points and board-level city leadership. The methodology should explain how inputs from these different levels will be gathered, reconciled where necessary, and reflected in the analysis and recommendations.
Timeline and additional information
Interested parties are invited to submit their proposals by 07 September 2026 (23:59 CEST Time) to Luisa Carretti and Mateusz Hoffman [CESF@netzerocities.eu]. Proposals should include and address all specific requirements related to the request which can be found below.
