More than 100 key stakeholders, representing a strong consortium of 34 partners, attended our kick-off meeting in Venice on February 20 and 21, 2024, organized by our coordinator, Euro-Mediterranean Center for Climate Change. In addition, Richard Tavares, Policy Officer at the European Commission joined us online. A representative of our sister project CARDIMED was also present. 

The extensive participation was both challenging and inspiring, leading to fruitful discussions and exchanges. Our strong commitment allowed us to make significant progress from day one, setting objectives and concrete next steps. 

Discussions were mainly focused on the DesirMED regions, highlighting their unique characteristics, needs, and ambitions for the project's success. Additionally, several breakout sessions were held to delve deeper into the regional needs for climate adaptation and the crucial role each partner plays in accelerating this transition.

Other key topics aligned with the objectives of DesirMED included stakeholder engagement, social innovation methodologies, financing and funding mechanisms, and effective governance and communication strategies.

Technical presentations were paired with workshops to explore the interconnections between the project's tasks, laying the foundation for improved collaboration among partners. To enhance these discussions, a Q&A session followed each presentation, sparking valuable conversations that led to significant conclusions and more concrete next steps.