The final Partner Meeting of the “More than a Village” project was organised in Debrecen, Hungary, hosted by Hajdú-Bihar County Government (HBCG). The two-day meeting brought together project partners, regional stakeholders and local actors to discuss the remaining activities, project achievements and the long-term use of the project results.
The first day started at the HBCG headquarters with a session dedicated to regional stakeholders. Partners presented the main achievements of the project, shared experiences from the pilot actions and discussed the impact of the Smart Village approach in different territorial contexts. An important milestone of the meeting was the joint signature of the Transnational Policy Agreement, confirming the partners’ commitment to maintaining cooperation and ensuring the sustainability of project results beyond the project lifetime.
The programme continued with a study visit showcasing local examples of innovative rural development. In Sárrétudvari, participants visited the “Milk Mill and Meat Farm”, where a family business has successfully transformed a historical mill into a modern enterprise combining tradition, innovation and intergenerational cooperation. The second visit focused on Derecske Adventure Garden, a multifunctional family business combining fruit production, crop cultivation and juice processing, supported by smart solutions for sustainable development.
The second day was dedicated to project management, communication activities and the final dissemination phase. Partners reviewed the progress achieved, discussed remaining tasks and exchanged experiences on how to further promote the project results. A workshop organised by the Institute for Development and International Relations (IRMO) provided practical approaches for strengthening cooperation with policymakers and supporting the uptake of project results.
The meeting marked an important step towards the successful completion of the “More than a Village” project. The partnership thanks Hajdú-Bihar County Government for hosting the meeting and all partners and stakeholders for their active contribution and commitment throughout the project implementation.
Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dnsbhEkfuvQ