BRIDGE stands for Building Resilient Institutions for Development, Governance, & Engagement.
The project aims to build institutional capacity, strengthen trust in leadership, and support a sustainable future for the border counties of Ireland and Northern Ireland. It achieves this by addressing long-standing governance challenges through targeted skills development and collaboration.
The project is led by the East Border Region (EBR) in partnership with the Irish Central Border Area Network (ICBAN).
The initiative is supported by a €1.34 million investment from PEACEPLUS, a cross-border funding programme managed by the Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB).
Over its three-year duration, the project will engage 12 local authorities and involve 775 participants. The focus is specifically on empowering locally elected members and local government officials across the region.
The initiative uses a structured approach divided into two core work packages:
- Leadership & Skills Development: Delivering governance and leadership training programmes.
- Collaboration & Institutional Networks: Facilitating cross-border knowledge exchanges to build strong, supportive professional networks.
The primary outcome is the joint engagement of 14 partner organisations. Through direct involvement in the training and networking programmes, these organisations will demonstrate a measurable increase in institutional capacity and long-term regional resilience.
