From Sticky Notes to Strategy: GreenEsteem Launches Co-Evaluation Workshops in Konin
Urban spaces are constantly evolving, but making sure these transformations meet local environmental, societal, and economic needs requires actionable and shared knowledge.
One of the project’s key objectives is to co-create, co-evaluate, and co-design sustainable Nature-Based Solutions (NBS) through the active involvement of Quadruple Helix stakeholders: bringing together citizens, researchers, public authorities, businesses, and civil society organisations to collectively shape urban transformation.
On April 22, 2026, our methodological framework was put into action during our first major co-evaluation workshop entitled “Opportunities and Limitations in the Implementation of Urban Projects in Konin – Exchange of Experiences and Knowledge,” that took place at the Centre for Social Initiatives in Konin. The event marked an important milestone in bringing together 29 local stakeholders for a participatory workshop focused on exchanging experiences, identifying barriers and opportunities, and laying the vital groundwork for future co-creation.
Below, we take a closer look at the workshop activities, the role of co-evaluation in the GreenEsteem approach, and the next milestones ahead.
Co-Evaluation in Practice: The Konin Session
The workshop in Konin brought together local stakeholders for an open exchange of experiences, challenges, and ideas related to urban transformation and Nature-Based Solutions (NBS). Through collaborative discussions and participatory activities, participants:
- reflected on previous urban initiatives,
- identified factors that support or hinder successful project implementation, and
- explored ways to strengthen future sustainability actions in the city.
After an introduction to the GreenEsteem project and its key concepts, stakeholders from public institutions, academia, businesses, NGOs, and local communities worked together to discuss topics such as urban greenery, public space, citizen participation, and long-term project maintenance. The workshop format encouraged dialogue across different perspectives, helping uncover both shared priorities and stakeholder-specific experiences.
Throughout the session, participants generated valuable qualitative insights, including practical recommendations, observations, and lessons learned from past initiatives. These contributions are now being incorporated into GreenEsteem’s broader analytical framework and will directly inform upcoming co-design activities and future NBS interventions.
The workshop also marked an important step in building long-term local engagement. Participants expressed a strong willingness to continue the collaboration, reinforcing the project’s participatory approach and creating momentum for the next phases of the initiative. In the coming months, GreenEsteem will move forward with co-design workshops, place-making pilot activities, and the development of action plans aimed at supporting resilient, inclusive, and sustainable urban transformation in Konin and Sofia.
From Workshop Insights to Capacity Building
The insights gathered during the workshops will also help shape GreenEsteem’s upcoming learning and capacity-building activities. By identifying the skills, knowledge gaps, and practical challenges faced by different stakeholder groups, the project can better tailor future training sessions and collaborative activities to local needs. Topics such as participatory planning, cross-sector cooperation, communication, financing, and the practical implementation of Nature-Based Solutions emerged as key areas for further development and exchange.
“Stakeholders in Konin highlighted a strong need for practical skills in participatory governance, cross-sector collaboration, and Nature-Based Solutions implementation, as well as better tools for communication, financing, and knowledge valorisation. Through GreenEsteem, these needs will be directly addressed by co-developing targeted training approaches and hands-on learning formats that translate local insights into practical methods and capacities for real-world application,” Katarzyna Fagiewicz, Professor at Adam Mickiewicz University and GreenEsteem Project Coordinator.
