The Civil Society Alliance for GCE Gathers in Budapest to Shape the Future of Global Citizenship Education
From 19 to 21 May 2026, hosted by HAND (Hungarian Association of NGOs for Development and Humanitarian Aid), members of the Civil Society Alliance for Global Citizenship Education came together in Budapest for a three-day gathering combining the Alliance’s first-ever in-person meeting with the GEAR UP! Networking Event on Global Citizenship Education and gender equality.
The Civil Society Alliance for GCE meeting in person for the first time
On 19 May, members of the Civil Society Alliance for GCE held their first in-person meeting. The session brought together civil society organisations from across Europe for internal exchange and strategic alignment, covering key governance matters and current advocacy priorities.
Members reviewed and approved updates to the Alliance’s terms of reference. Six candidates presented their motivations for joining the Alliance’s Coordination Group and were all elected: IDEA, Le Cercle de Coopération Luxembourg, ITECO, SOLIDAR+, Südwind, and EAEA, representing a mix of EU-level organisations and national civil society actors, in line with the Alliance’s commitment to diversity and broad representation. The meeting also welcomed two new members: Romero Initiative and CARE Deutschland.
A significant part of the meeting was devoted to advocacy around the EU’s next Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF). Members received updates on the Alliance’s advocacy work and GCE’s place in the next MFF. Members also heard from Alexandra Biris, Policy Officer at DG EAC, who presented the European Commission’s ongoing work on the Commission’s project on Democratic Citizenship Education which plans to develop EU guidelines on citizenship education and a EU competence framework. During a Q&A session, she responded to questions ranging from current and future funding opportunities for civil society to the global dimension of citizenship education.
High-level dialogue at the GEAR UP! Networking Event
On 20 May, the GEAR UP! International Networking Event brought together civil society actors, local authorities, practitioners, and international partners. Representing SOLIDAR+ and the GCE Alliance’s Coordination Group, Alexandra Matthys participated in a high-level roundtable on the future of GCE in Europe, alongside partners from the Global Education Network Europe (GENE), the North-South Centre of the Council of Europe, the European Network for Citizen Initiatives in Global Solidarity (ENICGS), and PLATFORMA.
The Alliance also facilitated an interactive workshop session exploring global education priorities in the context of the MFF negotiations, bringing a strong civil society perspective to discussions on the future of GCE funding in Europe.
The afternoon featured a partnership fair, offering space for networking and collaboration.
Gender justice and intersectionality
The final day, coordinated by CONCORD Italy, focused on gender justice and intersectionality. Building on learnings from the GEAR UP! Project, participants translated field experience and shared knowledge into concrete commitments for fairer policies and practices.
Looking ahead
The Budapest gathering marked an important step in the Alliance’s development, at a critical moment for the future of GCE funding in Europe. SOLIDAR+ remains committed to advocating for an ambitious MFF that preserves and strengthens support for global citizenship education, and to building the Alliance’s collective capacity to make that case at both EU and national levels.
