ALDA General Assembly and Festival 2026 Held in Malta
This year’s ALDA General Assembly and Festival 2026 took place in Malta from May 12 to 14 under the slogan “Local Democracy that Delivers.” The event brought together over 200 representatives of local authorities, civil society organizations, youth groups, and institutions from more than 28 countries.
The Local Democracy Agency (LDA) Mostar made a significant contribution to this international event. Over the course of the three-day festival, Director Dženana Dedić participated in the ALDA Governing Board meeting, international panels, and discussions dedicated to deliberative democracy, citizens’ assemblies, and participatory processes in natural resource management, alongside a distinct contribution to youth participation panels.
The four-day festival, hosted at the Malta International Contemporary Arts Space (MICAS) in cooperation with the Local Councils’ Association Malta, focused on exchanging experiences and strengthening cooperation between local communities, institutions, and organizations working to advance democracy and civic engagement.
During the first day, special attention was directed toward the resilience of local democracy, citizen inclusion in decision-making processes, sustainable community management, youth participation, and social inclusion. Capitalizing on its expertise, LDA Mostar presented models of work and experiences developed through the organization's long-standing engagement in Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Western Balkans region.
Active Participation of LDA Mostar in the ALDA Network
On May 12, LDA Mostar Director Dženana Dedić attended the ALDA Governing Board meeting as a member and representative of the Local Democracy Agencies’ delegates. This session brought together representatives of this core body to define the strategic directions of the ALDA network for the upcoming period, particularly in the areas of democratization, civic participation, and empowering local communities.
LDA Mostar's involvement in the Governing Board serves as a confirmation of the organization's long-term commitment to promoting democratic processes, participatory governance, and regional cooperation in the Western Balkans.
Deliberative Democracy and Citizens’ Assemblies: Responding to Modern Challenges
At the “Local Democracy Resilience” panel, the Director of LDA Mostar presented the organization's experience in applying deliberative democracy and implementing citizens’ assemblies as tools to strengthen citizen participation in decision-making.
The discussion, moderated by ALDA Secretary General Antonella Valmorbida, introduced the “Democracy Shield” concept, which positions the local level as a crucial space for reducing polarization and building resilience against disinformation, as well as global political and social challenges.
Various international approaches to protecting democratic processes and rebuilding public trust in institutions were presented during the debate. In this context, the Director of LDA Mostar shared the organization's expertise in running deliberative processes and organizing citizens’ assemblies as innovative models for involving citizens in decision-making.
Special focus was placed on the importance of deliberative democracy as a process, along with its associated tools, which allow citizens to actively participate in shaping public policies through structured dialogue, informed discussions, and the collective drafting of recommendations. LDA Mostar's shared experiences demonstrated how citizens’ assemblies can help bridge social divides, strengthen social cohesion, and increase trust between citizens and institutions—providing a proven formula for creating more resilient communities.
The panel gathered prominent international experts and institutional representatives, including members of the European Commission Ukraine Team, the German Marshall Fund, FLACMA, the Institute for Development Studies from the United Kingdom, as well as local authorities from Ukraine and Senegal.
Speaking on the “Democracy Shield” concept, Antonella Valmorbida pointed out that the local level is precisely the space where less polarized societies can be built and the civic dimension of democracy can be developed in response to modern threats against democracy.
Official Launch of the Newly Formed ALDA Centre of Expertise
On the second day of the event, May 13, the ALDA Centre of Expertise was officially launched. This new platform aggregates knowledge, methodologies, and best practices in local democracy, citizen participation, and community governance.
As part of this segment, LDA Mostar's contributions to deliberative democracy and the organization of citizens’ assemblies were presented. The experiences developed through the organization's work were recognized as an example of best practice in engaging citizens in decision-making processes and creating participatory management models at the local level.
The presentation highlighted the vital importance of methodologies that empower citizens to become active participants in democratic processes rather than passive observers of political decisions. In this regard, LDA Mostar's expertise and fieldwork were acknowledged as a major step forward in promoting and contributing to deliberative approaches to democracy in Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Western Balkans.
Shaping the Political Agenda for Youth
On the third day of the Festival, May 14, the session titled “Design ALDA’s Youth Political Agenda” provided an opportunity to present inputs provided by LDA Mostar based on its rich experience in youth work. This activity focused on involving young people in democratic processes and defining the priorities of the future youth policy within the ALDA network.
The proposals and recommendations submitted by LDA Mostar regarding the position of youth, their participation, and the need for greater involvement in decision-making processes were presented as part of a broader discussion on the challenges facing young people in Europe and the Western Balkans.
Presenting the AQUATIK EU Project and Water Governance
On the final day of the festival, we had the honor of participating in the panel “From Blue Economy to Local Democracy: Engaging Communities in Water Governance,” where we presented the international AQUATIK EU project, which focuses on water resource management and preserving water heritage.
The panel highlighted the importance of involving local communities in water management processes, protecting natural resources, and developing sustainable models of environmental governance. Speakers emphasized the value of participatory approaches in designing water resource policies, as well as the necessity of linking ecological issues with local democracy and active citizenship.
Through the AQUATIK EU project, the concept is promoted that water management is not solely a technical or infrastructural issue, but also a matter of democratic governance, cultural heritage, and active community participation.
LDA Mostar: A Vital Partner in European Democratic Processes
The ALDA Festival 2026 in Malta proved that local democracy is not just a political concept, but a concrete process that requires cooperation, dialogue, and active citizen inclusion. Through such processes and international partnerships, organizations like LDA Mostar continue to build spaces for stronger civic participation and sustainable democratic development in Bosnia and Herzegovina and beyond.
