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Connected River

As a partner in the European Connected River project, AIVP is drawing on its expertise to improve the coexistence of different uses along riverfronts in Northwestern Europe. Learn about the six pilot projects and AIVP’s role in this Interreg program.

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Improving the Coexistence of Waterways in Northwestern Europe

The European Connected River project aims to improve the coexistence of commercial, ecological, and recreational uses of waterways in Northwestern Europe.

The discussion focuses on the development and revitalization of waterfronts along rivers and streams.

Objectives

The Objectives of the Connected River Project

Project start date: January 2023
Expected completion date: December 2026
Funding: Project co-financed by Interreg North Sea, a European Union program

A European Project for Sustainable Waterfronts

Connected to key rivers and waterways, the project focuses on the development and revitalization of waterfronts along rivers and streams—these waterfront areas that play a key role in the local economy, the environment, and the quality of urban life.

AIVP’s Role in the Project

Why is AIVP a partner in the project?

As part of the Connected Riverproject, AIVP is contributing its expertise in several areas essential to the project’s success:

The project has several components

  • Shared Governance : AIVP works to promote a more inclusive and collaborative approach to waterway management by involving stakeholders who are often excluded from these decision-making processes.
  • Technological and Methodological Innovation : AIVP contributes to the introduction of new approaches to test sustainable solutions tailored to the various uses of rivers and streams.
  • Sharing Experiences on an International Scale : AIVP draws on best practices from its global network to foster dialogue and inspire project partners.
  • Internal Communication and Dissemination of Results : AIVP plays an active role in facilitating the flow of information within the project and in sharing the results with its members. It ensures that the project’s pilot initiatives, methodologies, and lessons learned can inspire other cities and ports in their own governance of waterways and their surrounding areas.

The Connection & Reflection Group

To promote the dissemination of knowledge and foster dialogue beyond the consortium, AIVP coordinates the Connection & Reflection Group. This group brings together AIVP members who are not part of the Connected River project, who are invited to participate in workshops, field visits, and discussions with the partners. The goal is to enable them to discover, understand, and adopt the methods and best practices developed as part of the Connected River project, so that they can adapt and apply them to their own local contexts.

The Connected River project is divided into four areas of focus

1. Stakeholder Engagement

The goal is to identify, engage, and sustain the long-term involvement of key stakeholders, including those traditionally excluded from waterway governance processes. Connected River promotes a broader approach to governance that takes into account the needs of residents, community organizations, economic stakeholders, recreational users, and environmental advocates. This effort aims to ensure a balanced coexistence of different uses.

2. Local Experiments

Each pilot site is testing innovative solutions on a small scale, tailored to its specific challenges. The project encourages agile and creative approaches, such as design thinking, which place user needs at the heart of projects. These experiments enable the co-creation of concrete solutions to challenges related to waterway management.

3. Scaling and Sustaining Solutions

Solutions developed locally are intended to be sustained, adapted, and transferred to other regional contexts. This focus area aims to strengthen the project’s impact beyond the pilot sites by providing replicable models, recommendations, and tools to accelerate their dissemination across Europe.

4. Development of a Methodological Platform

To build on the project’s achievements, a collaborative digital platform has been established. It brings together the methodologies, tools, case studies, and best practices developed throughout the project. This hub serves as a resource for local governments, urban planners, ports, and regional development stakeholders seeking inspiration from the Connected River initiative.

Agenda 2030 by AIVP

This project aligns with the objectives of the 2030 Agenda by AIVP

Pilot Projects

6 pilot projects in Europe

Ports of Lille (France)

Bring stakeholders together to find solutions that improve safety, the acceptability of port operations, and the city’s appeal in anticipation of the opening of the Seine-North Europe Canal.

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Partners

Partners involved in the Connected River project

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Noémi MENE

Project Manager - Sustainable Mobility and River Port Cities at AIVP
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Learn about the AIVP’s “River Port Cities” Working Group

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