Background information

The Grant Scheme aims to promote investments by rural councils in adaptation to climate change; particularly, it promotes adaptation to extreme temperatures, flooding and sustainable mobility whilst increasing the well-being of rural citizens. The Scheme is implemented under the 2nd Axis: ‘Accelerated Transition to a Green Economy’ of the Cyprus Recovery and Resilience Plan and the EU programme Next Generation EU and contributes to the achievement of the objectives of the National Adaptation Strategy and National Adaptation Action Plan, the Policy Statement for the Countryside and the Decision of the Council of Ministers No. 92.606/2021 for the Promotion of Integrated Policy Development and Support of Mountainous, Critical, Remote and other Target Areas.

Content of measure

Eligible to apply for the Scheme are local government authorities including community councils and partnerships or clusters of community councils operate in the areas covered by the Scheme. Municipalities or cluster of municipalities, natural persons performing economic activities, legal entities (i.e., businesses, associations), NGOs and legal entities governed by law are excluded from the grant.

The eligible actions and costs of the scheme include:

• Consultant and expert fees (including designing and costing interventions, assistance in submitting applications, conducting and implementing public contracts, monitoring contract implementation, engineering services, architectural services etc)
• Tree planting in public pedestrian areas, community centers and squares, existing outdoor parking lots, public parks, green spaces, playgrounds, etc., with the aim of creating natural shade to help people cope with high temperatures and sun exposure.
• Installation of urban equipment in public spaces, such as benches and fountains, with the aim of increasing visitor numbers and creating welcoming and comfortable spaces.
• Construction of footpaths and/or modification and/or extension of existing footpaths in public transport areas.
• Urban equipment along pedestrian paths, such as benches, bicycle stations, baskets, and fountains/drinking fountains.
• Tree planting along existing and new (already registered) footpaths for natural shade.

The percentage of funding is 100% of the actual eligible costs, excluding VAT. Each proposal must relate to investments with a minimum total estimated amount of €10,000, excluding VAT and the maximum grant amount is €50,000, excluding VAT.

Use of measure

The available budget of the Call is €500,000. The number of beneficiaries is currently unavailable as the implementation of the action is still runnin

Target groups

Workers	Businesses	Citizens
Does not apply to workers	Does not apply to businesses	Applies to all citizens

Actors and funding

Actors	Funding
National government	European Funds National funds National Recovery and Resilience Facility

Social partners

Social partners' role in designing the measure and form of involvement:

	Trade unions	Employers' organisations
Role	No involvement as case not in social partner domain	No involvement as case not in social partner domain
Form	Not applicable	Not applicable

Social partners' role in the implementation, monitoring and assessment phase:

• No involvement
• Main level of involvement: N/A

Involvement

Trade unions and employers’ organisations were not involved at any stage of the designing of the Scheme. The designing was performed by the Directorate of General Growth of Ministry of Finance in collaboration with the Cyprus Energy Agency and the Union of Cyprus Communities. The Cyprus Energy Agency is responsible for the implementation and monitoring of the Scheme with the support of the Union of Cyprus Communities.

Views and reactions

No particular reactions from social partners have been recorded on the issue.

Sources

• 03 February 2025: Σχέδιο Χορηγιών για την Ενίσχυση της Ανθεκτικότητας και την Προσαρμογή των Κοινοτήτων στην Κλιματική Αλλαγή (communities-adapt.cea.org.cy)