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Europass Curriculum Vitae

Personal information

First name(s) / Surname(s) Gianluca Solera

Address(es) Ippolito Rosellini street, 8 I-50127 FlorenceItaly

Telephone(s) Mobile(s)

+2 +39 + +39

E-mail gianluca.solera@gmail.com

Skype gianluca.solera

Blog www.gianlucasolera.it

Nationality Italian

Date of birth 27/07/1966

Gender Male

Work experience

Dates

Occupation or position held

Main activities and responsibilities

Name and address of employer

Type of business or sector

Dates

Occupation or position held

Main activities and responsibilities

Name and address of employer

Type of business or sector

Dates

January 2019 Capacity Supporting Arab civil society in the EurocampaiTechnicalSouthern Neighbourhood PARTICIP International

March 2018

External Assessor Assessment of proposals submitted under the Call for Standard Projects, Operational Programme ENI CBC Mediterranean AUTONOMOUS REGIONAL GOVERNMENT OF SARDINIA

Government January

Gianluca Solera

Ippolito Rosellini street, 8 50127 Florence

+2 +39 055 473556 +39 348 6400123 / +20 100 4499294

gianluca.solera@gmail.com / gianluca.solera@cospe.org

gianluca.solera

www.gianlucasolera.it

Italian

27/07/1966

Male

January 2019 - Onwards

Capacity – building Key-Expert

Supporting Arab civil society in the Euro-Med space in upgrading their strategizing, advocacy, campaigning and policy-making capacities at the regional level, in the framework of the EU Technical Assistance Programme “Dialogue with Civil Society for Rights and Equality in the ENI Southern Neighbourhood”.

PARTICIP – YOUR PARTNER IN CHANGE, TUNIS, TUNISIA

International development consultancy company

March 2018 – December 2018

External Assessor (part-time)

Assessment of proposals submitted under the Call for Standard Projects, Operational Programme ENI CBC Mediterranean Sea Basin 2014 - 2020

AUTONOMOUS REGIONAL GOVERNMENT OF SARDINIA, C

Government

January-February 2017 & January-February 2018

10

Med space in upgrading their strategizing, advocacy, regional level, in the framework of the EU

Dialogue with Civil Society for Rights and Equality in the ENI

Assessment of proposals submitted under the Call for Standard Projects, Operational Programme

CAGLIARI, ITALY

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Occupation or position held

Main activities and responsibilities

Name and address of employer

Type of business or sector

Dates

Occupation or position held

Main activities and responsibilities

Teacher (part-time) Delivering classes to high school students in Tuscany on democracy and its challenges, in the framework of the United Nations' "Student Ambassadors Programme"

ITALIAN DIPLOMATIC ACADEMY, VERONA, ITALY

Non-Governmental Organization affiliated to the UN

March 2014 ongoing Director of the Department for Italy/Europe/Mediterranean and Global Citizenship (until February 2016; full-time); Political advisor on Democracy, Civic Participation and Civil Society (from March 2016; part-time)

- Head of the department in charge of actions in the enlarged Euro-Mediterranean region, as

well as of the development of policies for civil freedoms and human rights, intercultural education and coexistence, citizenship affairs, social economy and employability, and sustainability;

- Development and supervision of projects, events and campaigns, mainly in Italy, Europe and the Mediterranean Region, at the local, regional and transnational level;

- Coordinating the design of the organization’s 2015-2017 strategic plan and thematic policies;

- Development of strategic relationships with relevant stakeholders, including schools and universities, civil society, public authorities, migrants’ communities and social movements;

- Supervision of the organization’s local headquarters located in four Italian regions, as well as COSPE’s School for Training and Capacity Building in matters related to international cooperation;

- Supervision of 20 staff members, including monitoring and evaluating the team’s work plan; - Supervision of the department’s budget (around 2m €); - M&E of projects; - COSPE’s Political advisor on Democracy, Civic Participation and Civil Society within a team

of six, who constitute the policy-making core group for the organization; - Development of projects in the fields related to democracy, citizens’ participation in public

affairs and collective endeavors, and empowerment of civil society; - Launching of initiatives to promote dialogue in the Mediterranean, including the Sabir

Maydan platform for Mediterranean citizenship (whose annual festival – SabirFest – has been taking place since 2014);

- Upgrading of the organization’s advocacy policy in Europe, the Mediterranean and Italy, with special emphasis on fundamental freedoms and human rights;

- Coordination of the International campaign AHRAM Women for Change, promoting women’s civic and political engagement and access to education in Afghanistan; and of the European advocacy campaign SUSY on social and solidarity economy;

- Production of content for the organization’s magazines and promotional material and participation in public events in the field of democracy, participation and civil society;

- Improving the organization’s fundraising capacities in Europe, the Mediterranean and Italy; - M&E of projects.

Name and address of employer COOPERAZIONE PER LO SVILUPPO DEI PAESI EMERGENTI - COSPE, FLORENCE, ITALY

Type of business or sector Non-Governmental Organization

Dates April 2005 – December 2012

Occupation or position held Network Coordinator (Head of Unit “Network Development and Coordination”) (full-time)

Main activities and responsibilities - Coordination, development and mobilization of National Networks of civil society organizations in 43 Euro-Mediterranean countries, working together in matters related to intercultural affairs;

- Elaboration of the three- year Development and Action Plans of the Anna Lindh Foundation (ALF) and regular follow-up with its donors, in cooperation with the Executive Director and the other Heads of Unit;

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- Direct management and monitoring of the Network Strategic Development Scheme, aimed at strengthening the logistical and operational capacities, and the project development and fundraising capacities of the Coordination Offices (Head of Network Institutions) of the 43 National Networks (budget: 2,7m € per three years);

- Conception, fundraising and implementation of several regional initiatives and campaigns such as Believe in Dialogue-Act for Citizenship, Restore the Trust-Rebuild the Bridges or Cross Border Arts, addressing conflicts, cultural and social perceptions, sustainable development, democracy and citizenship affairs, education and awareness raising, and empowering local resilience using an intercultural approach as well as social and cultural resources;

- Conception and implementation of several debate and exchange forums, including the first Anna Lindh Forum and the Tunis Exchange Forum;

- Conception, modelling and fundraising of “Citizens for Dialogue”, a new specific ALF facility on the development of civil society for dialogue and democracy in countries in democratic transition, financed by the EU for 3m€, and addressed to nine Arab countries for the period of July 2012 – June 2014;

- Conception of key messages for international partners and strategic papers for the ALF Board of Governors, and participation in the production of promotional materials in cooperation with the Communication Manager;

Assistance to financial auditors for the review of ALF operations which I was responsible for;

- Evaluation of several project proposals in the framework of ALF grant schemes, assessment of applications in the framework of ALF mobility schemes and event participation calls, and organization and delivery of capacity-building modules;

- Direct supervision of up to six colleagues at the ALF Headquarters (Network Coordination and Development Unit), and of interns to be deployed to the National Networks’ Coordination Offices; coordination and monitoring of the 43 National Networks’ Coordination Offices;

- Assistance to the Executive Director in addressing managerial issues related to staff policy, activity planning or financial contributions at the ALF Board of Governors;

- Development of a website concept for the ALF National Networks, including database and partnership search tools.

Name and address of employer ANNA LINDH EURO-MEDITERRANEAN FOUNDATION FOR THE DIALOGUE BETWEEN CULTURES, ALEXANDRIA, EGYPT

Type of business or sector Intergovernmental organization working with civil society

Dates October 2004 – April 2005 ; 2009 – ongoing

Occupation or position held Free-lance journalist / Commentator (part-time)

Main activities and responsibilities Writing in particular about issues related to civil society, social and cultural diversity, environment, democracy and social change, Arab affairs and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Name and address of employer TERRASANTA, LA CITTADELLA & AZIONE NONVIOLENTA MAGAZINES, BABELMED.NET, MASHALLAHNEWS.COM, COMUNE-INFO.NET & OTHER ONLINE MAGAZINES

Type of business or sector Press

Dates July 1995 - August 2005 (on sabbatical term between September 2004 & August 2005)

Occupation or position held Policy Coordinator & Advisor to the Green/European Free Alliance Group on Regional and Cohesion Policy, Transport, Tourism, Water and Nature Conservation (full-time) Coordinator for Spain of the Greens in the European Parliament (2002-2004) (full-time)

Main activities and responsibilities - Managing relations with public, private and non-profit sectors; negotiations with political groups; development of a network of non-governmental organizations contributing to the policy-making and political action of the Green/EFA Group in the European Parliament; development of close working relations with the European and national networks of local and regional authorities;

- Monitoring EU policies in the fields of Urban and Regional Development, Social and Economic Cohesion, Transport Infrastructures, and Natural Resources Management;

- Preparation of parliamentary reports and institutional follow-up in relevant parliamentary committees, and with the Committee of the Regions, the European Commission and the

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Council of Ministers; preparation of amendments to parliamentary reports, and political follow-up;

- Development of regular exchanges with relevant business sectors and public administrations in the legislative fields I was responsible for, organizing bilateral meetings and informal negotiation roundtables;

- Preparation of complaints for cases of failure to comply with EU legislation related to environmental, regional, transport and internal market policies, and political and administrative follow-up; organization of study missions to monitor these cases;

- Organization of international seminars; coordination of regional campaigns with concerned national parties and local groups, such as on the Natura 2000 biodiversity network, on the Trans-European Transport Network, on the Local Agenda 21 or on the Spanish Hydrological Plan;

- Participation in political rallies at the national and local level, and technical and logistical support to electoral campaigns at the European and national levels;

- Co-organization of and participation in several press conferences; relations with media and journalists during specific campaigns organized with the Green/EFA Group and the Spanish Green Party;

- Coordination of my Group’s internal working groups, and of meetings of the advisors of all political groups at the Parliamentary committee on Regional Affairs (on rotation); preparation of my Group’s policy papers and MEPs’ speeches;

- Participation in training sessions for national parties, and in lectures for visitors; staff representative during one term.

Name and address of employer EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT, BRUSSELS, BELGIUM

Type of business or sector European Institution

Dates October 1994 – December 1994

Occupation or position held Scientific coordinator of a programme of seminars on public participation, community planning and sustainable urban policies in Naples, in cooperation with the State University of Naples and the Technical University of Berlin (full-time)

Main activities and responsibilities Organization of debate sessions between local actors and stakeholders, based on a participative model.

Name and address of employer ITALIAN INSTITUTE OF PHILOSOPHICAL STUDIES, NAPLES, ITALY

Type of business or sector University, Research

Dates May 1991 - May 1993

Occupation or position held Coordinator of a research project on sustainable urban development in Europe for the Green Group (full-time)

Main activities and responsibilities Research on ecological urban planning policies in different cities, a comparative study between Italy, the United Kingdom and Germany.

Name and address of employer GREEN GROUP IN THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT, BRUSSELS, BELGIUM

Type of business or sector European Institution

Dates February 1991 – June 1991

Occupation or position held Coordinator of a training course for primary and secondary students on the rediscovery of the urban environment (full-time)

Main activities and responsibilities Implementation of training courses for public schools (“How to read the city”).

Name and address of employer UNIVERSITÀ VERDE, MANTOVA, ITALY

Type of business or sector University, Research

Dates 1986-1990

Occupation or position held Free-lance journalist (part-time)

Main activities and responsibilities Writing on Islam and Christianity, Environment, Youth Affairs, and Politics.

Name and address of employer LA CITTADELLA CATHOLIC MAGAZINE, MANTOVA, ITALY

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Type of business or sector Press

Education and training

Dates September 2004 - June 2005

Title of qualification awarded Certification in Arabic

Principal subjects/occupational skills covered

Palestinian and Arabic Studies Programme. Modern Standard and Colloquial Arabic

Name and type of organisation providing education and training

UNIVERSITY OF BIRZEIT, BIRZEIT-RAMALLAH, PALESTINE

Dates October 1993 - June 1995

Title of qualification awarded Fellowship „Institut für Landschaftsarchitektur und Umweltplanung“ and „Institut für Stadt- und –Regionalplanung“. The research was terminated as a result of taking a new position in the European Parliament. A book was published collecting the research´s results (CLEAN publ., see below).

Principal subjects/occupational skills covered

Research on sustainable local development policies in Germany, Italy and the United Kingdom

Name and type of organisation providing education and training

TECHNICAL UNIVERSITY, BERLIN, GERMANY

Dates July 1993

Title of qualification awarded Diploma of Higher German Studies

Principal subjects/occupational skills covered

German knowledge test for foreign students (PNDS)

Name and type of organisation providing education and training

REINISCH-WESTFÄLISCHE TECHNISCHE HOCHSCHULE, AACHEN, GERMANY

Dates April 1992

Title of qualification awarded Master’s degree in spatial and urban planning

Principal subjects/occupational skills covered

Focus on urban ecology, regional planning and the promotion of a comprehensive concept of sustainable development

Name and type of organisation providing education and training

UNIVERSITY INSTITUTE OF ARCHITECTURE, VENICE, ITALY

Level in national or international classification

V

Dates August 1989

Principal subjects/occupational skills covered

Seminar on spatial and urban planning in Eastern Europe.

Name and type of organisation providing education and training

SUMMER UNIVERSITY OF TOWN PLANNING "SAVARIA", SZOMBATHELY, HUNGARY

Dates October 1988 - July 1989

Title of qualification awarded Part of Master’s programme in spatial and urban planning

Principal subjects/occupational skills covered

Erasmus Programme Subjects : Socio-economy of Development; Applied Statistics; Remote Sensing

Name and type of organisation providing education and training

ECOLE DES HAUTES ETUDES EN SCIENCES SOCIALES, PARIS, FRANCE

Level in national or international classification

V

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Dates February 1989

Title of qualification awarded Diploma of Higher French Studies (DHEF)

Principal subjects/occupational skills covered

French knowledge test for foreign students

Name and type of organisation providing education and training

ALLIANCE FRANÇAISE, PARIS, FRANCE

Dates July 1985

Title of qualification awarded Bachelor's degree option sciences

Name and type of organisation providing education and training

SECONDARY SCIENTIFIC SCHOOL "BELFIORE", MANTOVA, ITALY

Level in national or international classification

III

Personal skills and competences

Mother tongue(s) Italian

Other language(s)

Self-assessment Understanding Speaking Writing

European level (*) Listening Reading Spoken interaction Spoken production

English C2 C2 C2 C2 C2

French C2 C2 C2 C2 C2

Spanish C2 C2 C2 C2 C2

German C2 C2 C2 C1 C1

Arabic C1 C1 C1 B2 B2

Portuguese B2 B2 B1 B1 A2

(*) Common European Framework of Reference for Languages

Social and organisational skills and competences

See below, at the end of the CV

Computer skills and competences Use of Macintosh, Microsoft Word, Excel, Power Point, Outlook, online communication and database tools. Use of social media (Facebook, Twitter).

Artistic skills and competences Powerful writing and editing skills, theatre actor.

Other skills and competences High sense of moral commitment; Willingness to travel and ability to adapt to different situation and environments (visited countries in all continents); sense of discovery and exploration (mountaineer).

Driving licence Category B.

Additional information

Publications

Citizen Activism and Mediterranean Identity: Beyond Eurocentrism, Palgrave Macmillan, New York, January 2017, 200 pages.

“Salonicco ed i suoi profughi (Thessaloniki and its refugees)”, coverage for “Migrazioni: la rotta balcanica”, in Osservatorio Balcani e Caucaso, 6 September 2016.

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“Beyond Borders: What is Next for Mediterranean Civil Society”, in M.A. Roque (ed.), Retos mediterráneos hoy, Quaderns de la Mediterrània, Barcelona, July 2015, 16 pages.

“A Common Destiny for the Social Movements around the Mediterranean?”, in L. Sadiki (ed.), Routledge Handbook of the Arab Spring: Rethinking Democratization, Taylor & Francis/Routledge, London, December 2014, 18 pages.

Riscatto mediterraneo. Luoghi e voci di dignità e resistenza (A Mediterranean Awakening. Places and Voices of Dignity and Resistance), Nuova Dimensione publ., Venice, October 2013 / March 2015 (II ed.), 386 pages [640 pages in e-book]. More than 150 events already held in Italy, including in international festivals such as Internazionale Ferrara or Sabir Lampedusa, Egypt, Tunisia and Belgium.

"Le tenebre di Aleppo (Darkness in Aleppo)", in Una città, monthly social and political magazine, 201, Forlì, March 2013, 6 pages.

“Libye, un an après”, in M.A. Roque (ed.), Migration and Creativity, Quaderns de la Mediterrània, Barcelona, June 2012, 18 pages.

“Actions et pratiques pour la coexistence entre les hommes et la nature en Méditerranée“, in M.A. Roque (ed.), Ecología y cultura en el Mediterráneo, Quaderns de la Mediterrània, Barcelona, October 2011, 18 pages.

"La cooperación cultural en el espacio mediterráneo: Apuntes para un decálogo", in José María Beneyto, Patricia Argerey and Alicia Sorroza (ed.) La apuesta por el Mediterráneo. Un reto para el Siglo XXI (For the Mediterranean. A Challenge for XXI Century), San Pablo CEU University, Madrid, December 2010, 18 pages.

Muri, lacrime e zatar. Storie di vita e voci dalla Palestina (Walls, Tears and Zatar. Life Stories and Voices from Palestine), Nuova Dimensione publ., Venice, September 2007 / March 2009 (II ed.). Foreword by H.E. the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem Michel Sabbah; Concluding remarks By Mrs. Luisa Morgantini, Vice-President of the European Parliament. Around 150 events all over Italy and the Middle East. Published in Arabic by Dār Mohammed Aʿlī (Tunisia), Dār al- Aʿin (Egypt) and al-Intishār al- Aʿrabī (Lebanon, 2012), 437 pages.

“The Principles of Local Sustainable Development”, 6 pages, in Lorenzo Nigro, Hamdan Taha (ed.), Tell es-Sultan/Jericho in the Context of the Jordan Valley. Site Management, Conservation and Sustainable Development, La Sapienza University, Rome, February 2006.

With Vittorio Calaprice, Luciano Gaudio, Valentina Papa, Resoconto sull'attività parlamentare degli eurodeputati italiani eletti alle elezioni del 13 giugno 1999 (Report on the parliamentary activity of the Italian MEPs elected on june 13, 1999), 20 February 2001.

"A European Policy for Urban Sustainable Development", 10 pages, in J. Doolan (ed.), Shaping The Sustainable Millennium - Collaborative Approaches: Conference Proceedings, Brisbane, July 2000.

With B. Cillo (ed.), Sviluppo sostenibile e città: ragionando sul futuro di Napoli (Sustainable Development and City: Talking About the Future of Naples), CLEAN publ., Naples, 1996, 178 pages.

With H. Lorenzen, "Nachhaltige Entwicklung: die Positionen der Europaischen Union (Sustainable development: the positions of the European Union)", pg. 23 - pg. 36, in K.H.Hübler (ed.), Nachhaltige Entwicklung: eine Herausforderung für die Forschung? (Sustainable Development: a Challenge for the Research?), VWF publ., Berlin, 1996.

Di città in città. Poesie sull'Europa (From Town to Town: Poems on Europe), Libro italiano publ., Ragusa, 1995, 68 pages.

With M. Alberti, V. Tsetsi, La città sostenibile. Analisi, scenari e proposte per un'ecologia urbana in Europa (The Sustainable City: Analyses, Perspectives and Proposals for an European Urban Ecology), Franco Angeli publ., Milan/Rome, 1994, 395 pages.

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EP Reports (drafting)

Economic and Social Cohesion: Consequences of Enlargement, Future Policy after 2006 (Rapporteur: Elisabeth Schroedter, MEP), adopted November 2002.

1999 Yearly Report on Structural Funds (Rapporteur: Camilo Nogueira, MEP), adopted September 2001.

Safe transport of Radioactive Material in the European Union (Rapporteur: Marie-Anne Isler Béguin, MEP), adopted March 2001.

Maritime safety: Organizations Responsible for Ship Inspections (Rapporteur: Josu Ortuondo, MEP), adopted November 2000, I reading.

Air Transport and the Environment - Towards meeting the Challenges of Sustainable Development (Rapporteur: Caroline Lucas, MEP), adopted September 2000.

Structural Funds: Guidelines for the 2000-2006 Programmes (Rapporteur: Elisabeth Schroedter, MEP), adopted January 2000.

Framework for Action on Sustainable Urban Development in the European Union (Rapporteur: Leoluca Orlando, MEP), adopted May 1999.

Proposal for a Council Directive on the Assessment of the Effects of Certain Plans and Programmes on the Environment (Rapporteur: Per Gahrton, MEP), adopted October 1998, I reading.

Agenda 2000 - For a Stronger and Wider Union, Part 1, Chapter II: Economic and Social Cohesion (Rapporteur: Elisabeth Schroedter, MEP), adopted June 1998.

Main Conferences Organized

Not Only Regeni, Conference on Human Rights Violations in Egypt, Milan, 20 January 2017, an event co-organized by Milan Bar Association, Amnesty International Italy, COSPE, Milan Human Rights Festival and the Italian Association of Development & Cooperation NGOs, in the framework of the campaign “Toward a different role for Italy on human rights and democracy in Egypt”. Topics: Freedom of Expression, Political detentions, European foreign affairs & Egypt. (January 2017) Euro-Med Youth facing the Crisis: Transitions, Citizenship and Arts, Sousa/Tunis, 24-28 March 2013, an event co-organized by the ALF Tunisian, Algerian and Moroccan Networks in the framework of the World Social Forum (as contract expert). Topics: Crisis and cultural identities; Intercultural citizenship and democratic transition; Social entrepreneurship; Artistic expression and change. (March 2013) Exchange, Dialogue and Participation in Public Life: Good practices and compared views, Alger, 15-16 December 2012, in the framework of the Citizens for Dialogue Programme. Topics: Reform of the law on associations; Regional context, globalisation and identity crisis; Youth-to-Youth in diplomacy.

(December 2012) Eleventh Annual Meeting of the Heads (Coordinators) of ALF Civil Society National Networks, Nicosia, 8-11 November 2012. Topics: Assessing the Annual Work Plan 2013; Preparing the Anna Lindh Forum 2013; New tools for Network governance and partnership; Towards social and environmental responsibility; Approaching the Syrian civil society. (November 2012) L’IndignaCtion. Thinking together about the great challenges of our societies, Luxembourg, 9-12 September 2012, in cooperation with Centre Culturel des Rencontres Abbaye de Neumünster. Topics: Gathering Arab and European activists to share views and projects in light of the global crisis; platform of discussion with political and economic institutions. (September 2012) Tenth Annual Meeting of the Heads (Coordinators) of ALF Civil Society National Networks, Krakow, 20-23 October 2011. Topics: An assessment of the ALF six years of operation and new

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phase; A new strategy after the Arab Spring and the European crisis. I also organized the previous eight annual meetings of the Heads of ALF Networks. (October 2011) Anna Lindh Tunis Exchange Forum – Building Plural and Democratic Societies, Tunis, 23 – 26 June 2011. Topics: Gathering civil society players and young activists to create alliances and partnership on democracy and citizenship. 230 participants, 35 countries represented, 14 thematic debates, 99 project ideas and good practices, 52 fair stands. (June 2011) International seminar for the creation of a Euro-Med Platform for Non-violent Action gathering former fighters from different conflict areas, including Middle East, Cyprus, Balkans, Northern Ireland and Kurdistan, Naples, 14-18 October 2010, in cooperation with Fondazione Mediterraneo. (October 2010) First Anna Lindh Forum 2010, Barcelona, 4 – 7 March 2010. Topics: Gathering civil society to rebuild trust in dialogue. 1007 participants, 588 organizations represented, 43 thematic debates, 166 project ideas and good practices, 107 fair stands. (March 2010) Anna Lindh Preparatory Meeting on inter-religious coexistence, 27-28 October 2009, in cooperation with the Albanian Forum for the Alliance of Civilizations. Topics: Good practices in the fields of education and inter-communal harmony; the role of religious leaders and practitioners in relation to inter-religious coexistence. (October 2009) First Meeting of the Euro-Med Regional Networks and Platforms, Alexandria, 2-3 September 2005. Topics: Developing synergies among existing networks and platforms of civil society and local authorities operating in the Euro-Mediterranean region. (September 2005) European conference on Structural Funds, Cohesion and TENs in an enlarged Europe, European Parliament, 4 February 2004, sponsored by the Green/EFA Group in the European Parliament. Topics: Cohesion policy, Trans-European Transport Network, enlargement, partnership. (February 2004) European conference on Water Management Schemes and Sustainable Development, European Parliament, 6 May 2003, sponsored by the Green/EFA Group in the European Parliament. Topics: Regional water management, water transfers, social acceptance, environmental sustainability. (May 2003) European conference on Maritime Safety in Europe, City of Bayonne, France, 11 April 2003, sponsored by the Green/EFA Group in the European Parliament. Topics: Maritime transport safety, oil spills, environmental and social liability. (April 2003) European conference on Natura 2000: Integration of Nature Conservation in EU Policies, European Parliament, 12 December 2002, sponsored by the Green/EFA Group in the European Parliament. Topics: Nature conservation, sustainable regional development, partnerships in planning, environmental impact of EU policies. (December 2002).

Lectures (selection of) “The Mediterranean not anymore as a sea of death, but as a common destiny”, roundtable joined at Festival delle Migrazioni / Siediti vicino a me, Turin. (September 2018) “The Future We Seek. Building Social Cohesion”, roundtable joined at the 5th International Mayors’ Conference on Social Cohesion, organized by ACT NOW, Vienna. (January 2018) “For a Geography of the Mediterranean between the 20th and the 21st Century”, roundtable joined at MurºArte Roots, Florence. (November 2017)

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“The future of the Mediterranean”, roundtable joined at Subversive Festival, Zagreb. (May 2017) “Syria’s and Father Paolo Dall’Oglio’s heritage to debate”, dialogue held at Syria, not only Caesar - Week for Syria, Florence. (May 2017)

“Old Roads and New Migrant Routes: Connecting People with History”, speech held at the conference: Via Egnatia and Historical Cultural Routes, organized by IUAV (University of Venice) and FuoriVia, Venice. (May 2017) “Activism and Youth Movements for Change”, dialogue held at Womidan (Women Voices from the Square) forum, Stockholm. (November 2016) “Current challenges for the Mediterranean”, dialogue held at EACEA Agency, European Commission, Brussels. (June 2016) “Aftermath or Intermezzo? Refugee Crisis as a Repeat Exam for the European Political Project”, roundtable joined at Subversive Festival, Zagreb. (May 2016) “Narrating the Mediterranean”, speech held at TEDx Revolutionary Roads, Lecce. (November 2015) “Beyond the Clash of Civilizations: Our Common Destiny in the Mediterranean”, speech held at the Lelio and Lesli Basso International Foundation, Rome. (March 2015) “Reshaping economic relations and job creation through social movements”, speech held at the conference: Labour and Crisis in the Mediterranean, organized by the City of Naples and the local Chamber of Commerce, Naples. (January 2014)

“Education for peace today”, speech held at a World Peace Day event organized by Surfers for Peace International, Paris. (September 2013)

“Individual action and social movements. New ways of participation beyond trade unions and political parties?”, speech held at the conference: Unrest, Protest and Revolution: Sea Change in the Mediterranean, organized by the Austrian Institute for International Affairs, Vienna. (April 2013) “Instruments for intercultural dialogue and social inclusion”, speech held at the conference: Strati della Cultura 2012 - Più Cultura, Più Democrazia, organized by ARCI Italy, Modena. (December 2012) “Connecting the North and the South”, speech held at the conference: Global Eco-Forum 2012, organised by Eco-Union, Barcelona. (October 2012) “Developing Common Actions to Promote Intercultural Dialogue from the National to the Grassroots Level”, speech held at the conference: Nonviolent Protests and the Future for Moderate Islamic Reformers post-Arab Spring, organized by the Liberals and Democrats Group at the European Parliament, and by the Mahatma Gandhi International, Brussels. (April 2012) “Rethinking Citizenship from an Intercultural Perspective”, speech held at the closing of the Second Mediterranean Citizens’ Assembly, organized by the Mediterranean Citizens’ Assembly, Tunis, Tunisia.

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(December 2011) “Environmental protection and intercultural dialogue in the Mediterranean: Challenges and Opportunities”, speech held at the closing of the conference: Nature and environment in the Union for the Mediterranean : How to strengthen and improve NGOs participation?, co-organized by WWF Med Initiative and the Union for the Mediterranean Secretariat, Barcelona. (June 2011) “The role of the Anna Lindh Foundation in the Arab Spring”, speech held at the opening of the II Baltic-Mediterranean Spring Festival, Riga, Latvia. (May 2011) “The 2010 ALF Report on Intercultural Trends”, keynote speech held at the conference: Intercultural Trends and Values in the Euro-Mediterranean Region, organized by the Centre for Applied Cultural Sciences at the Technology Institute of Karlsruhe, Karlsruhe, Germany. (September 2010) “The Union for the Mediterranean: A Common Space for Culture and Understanding”, keynote speech held at the conference: A Europe of Responsibility and Partnership in its Migration Policy for Youth, organized by the European Information Centre of the Thuringia State, Weimar, Germany. (May 2010) "What is Intercultural Dialogue today", keynote speech held at the XV National Congress of ARCI, Chianciano, Italy (700 attendees). (April 2010) “Cities and Intercultural Dialogue”, roundtable joined in the framework of the CII Meeting of the Bureau of EU Committee of the Regions, Vilamoura (Portugal). (September 2007) "Portrait of a City: Alexandria", roundtable joined in the framework of Turin World Book Capital with Rome Festival, Turin. (March 2007) "Europe and its Mediterranean Neighbours: The State of the Debate in the European Union", lecture given at The Ibrāhīm Abū Lughūd Institute of International Studies, The Birzeit University, Ramallah. (March 2005) "The Local Agenda 21 in the European Context", keynote speech held at the launch of the UN Environment & Development Local Agenda 21 Process, organized by the City of Mantua, Italy. (June 2001)

Activities Related to International Cooperation

Advisor on public participation and social mobilization to the projects “Promotion du Contrôle Citoyen et du droit à l’Eau et à l’Assainissement au Sénégal” and “Citoyens de Guédiawaye pour des initiatives et des actions locales”, promoting participatory environmental planning and pilot projects in Dakar, on behalf of COSPE. (July 2018 and December 2018) Coordination of the advocacy tour of the Syrian Free Lawyers Association in Italy, France and Belgium. (October 2018) Advisor on public participation and local development to the “Conservation & Development of Economic Opportunities on the Lebanon Mountain Trail” project, and interviews with civil society players working with Syrian refugees in Lebanon, on behalf of COSPE. (April – May 2017 and February 2018) Coordination of the “Women for Change” campaign, supporting Afghan women’s access to education, politics, government and public life, and promoting Afghan women’s leadership, on behalf of COSPE, CSHRN and HAWCA. (December 2016 and March – April 2017: Kabul; July 2017: Brussels)

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Debater and observer at the mid-term and final conference of the Claim! Project (Citizens’ Network for Peace, Reconciliation and Human Security), a Balkan and Turkish CSOs’ network coordinated by Helsinki Citizens’ Assembly Turkey and supported by the EU, Istanbul and Athens. (February 2016 and February 2017) Teacher of the Italian Diplomatic Academy on democracy, democratic models and participation - in the framework of the NSHMUN (National High School Model United Nations) programme, with classes given in several locations in Tuscany. (Academic years 2017 - 2018) Volunteer and observer at the Syrian refugee camps in Northern Greece with Caritas Hellas. (August 2016) Project M&E in Morocco and Tunisia with interviews with civil society players and institutions on challenges related to alternative medias, community radios and freedom of expression, on behalf of COSPE. (May 2016) Project M&E in Afghanistan with interviews with civil society players and institutions on challenges related to human rights defenders, and women’s civic empowerment, on behalf of COSPE. (January 2016) Organization of the first Summer School on Mediterranean Cooperation, on behalf of COSPE, in Santa Caterina dello Jonio (Calabria). (September 2015) Field visit in Bosnia-Herzegovina with interviews with civil society players on challenges and priorities for the country’s society, on behalf of COSPE. (March – April 2015) COSPE Coordinator of Expo dei Popoli, an initiative on food sovereignty and agro-ecology launched by a platform of Italian NGOs on the occasion of Expo Milano 2015. (February - November 2015) Guest participant in the DEEEP 2014 Global Movement Conference, Johannesburg, South Africa. Invited by Fondation Charles L. Mayer pour le Progrès de l’Homme. (November 2014) Co-founder of “The People Yes! Network”, a global network of grassroots venues for generating social change. Together with: Jeff Halper, Rania Madi, Aneta Jerska, Frank Barak. (November 2013) Co-launcher of the initiative “Citizens for Syria” (www.citizensforsyria.org), an international civil society platform to support the Syrian people. Steering Committee member, together with: Esraa Abdelfattah, Father Paolo Dall’Oglio, Hozan Ibrahim, Salam Kawakibi, Sadeq Jalal Al Azm. (April 2013) Co-promoter of the blog “Voices from Tunis” (www.voicesfromtunis.org) with reports, analyses and interviews on the World Social Forum, in partnership with ARCI (Associazione Ricreativa Culturale Italiana); team of 11 contributors; more than 80 posts produced. Partners: Anna Bucca, Stefano Zucchiatti. (March 2013) Field visit in Northern Syria with interviews with civil society players and Syrian Revolution’s youth on challenges and priorities for the country’s society. (February 2013) Member of “Boats 4 People”, an international campaign for migrants’ rights promoted by Migreurop. (July 2012) International Observer of the Egyptian Legislative Elections (Maglis as-Shaʿb) and of the Egyptian

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Presidential Elections on behalf of the Elections Network for the Arab World (Shabaka al-Intikhābāt lil-ʿĀlam al-ʿAraby). (December 2011 and May 2012) Observer at the Centre of First Rescue and Assistance for Migrants, Lampedusa, Italy, on behalf of ARCI. (August 2011) International Observer of the Palestinian Presidential Elections on behalf of CRIC (Regional Centre of Intervention and Cooperation - Italian NGO) and of the Palestinian Legislative Elections on behalf of Movimondo (Italian NGO). (January 2005 and January 2006) Field visits in the Gaza Strip on behalf of the Anna Lindh Foundation, including one after the Israeli withdrawal, which ended the 2009 Cast Lead Operation; study visit to the headquarters of the international civilian observer mission Temporary International Presence in Hebron (TIPH). (December 2004 and September 2009) Contact person in Brussels of the Project "Habana Ecopolis - Urban Renewal and Community Development in the Province Ciudad de la Habana, Cuba". The project was managed by a network of Italian NGOs (CRIC, Legambiente, COSPE), and local authorities, and financed by the Italian Government and the European Union. (2000-2001) Co-founder of “Mappamondo”, Cooperative for Fair Trade, and “L’Albero”, Cooperative for Organic Food, Mantua. (1991-92) Organization of institutional visits in Europe for the Green Party of Santa Catarina State, Brazil. (1987-1988)

Cultural Activities Co-organizer of SabirFest Culture and Citizenship Festival and Sabir Maydan Forum, Messina, 8-11 October 2015; Messina and Catania, 6-9 October 2016; Messina, Catania and Reggio Calabria, 5-8 October 2017 & 4-7 October 2018. Topics of the dialogues: Crisis of democracy and community resilience; Freedom of expression; Environmental crisis; Migration and mobility; Regional conflicts and human rights; Terrorism and xenophobia; Social movements; Political Islam; Women at the forefront; Global education; Social and solidarity economy; Arts and social change. Projects discussed at the forum: Manifesto for Mediterranean citizenship; Institute for Mediterranean activism; Trans-Mediterranean grassroots online radio-TV. Around 200 Sabir Maydan activists, researchers, artists and CSO practitioners invited in the last four editions from around 20 countries; over 100 guests and more than 8,000 visits at last SabirFest. (October 2015; October 2016; October 2017; October 2018) Co-organizer of Sabir Maydan I & II / Dialogues around Mediterranean Citizenship, Messina, 27-28 September 2014, in partnership with SabirFest Literature Festival; Tunis, 25-27 March 2015, in partnership with the World Social Forum. Topics of the dialogues: Mediterranean citizenship and identity; Regional integration; Inter-religious dialogue; Migration and development; Culture, arts and understanding. 60 civil society actors, young activists and experienced thinkers from around 15 countries invited.

(March 2015; September 2014) Co-designer of the Special Mediterranean Edition of the Naples Human Rights Film Festival, held in the framework of the Naples Universal Forum of Cultures. (October 2014) Member of the Jury for the long documentary films at the El Ojo Cojo International Film Festival, Madrid. (October 2014) Member of the Jury for the short films at the Naples Human Rights Film Festival. (December 2013) Co-writer of the theater play Zaʿtar, directed by Daniele Braiucca, Teatro Elidan, Varese, and

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inspired by my book Muri, lacrime e zaʿtar. (Premiere November 2011)

Manager of and main performer in the theater play Come fu ucciso Umberto Eco (How Umberto Eco was killed), by Giorgio Celli, directed by Palmina di Meo; Theatre of Ixelles and European Parliament, Brussels; Theatre Sipario Club, Bologna; Theatre Sociale, Mantua. (November – December 2001)

Performer in the play La Cosa in sè (The Thing in Itself), by Fruttero & Lucentini, directed by Irene Chalkia, Theatre Scarabeus, Brussels.

(April 1999)

Editor of Trasparenze, local environmental magazine, Malcesine sul Garda. (1990-1994)

Editor of Ecologica, magazine of the local Green Party, Mantua.

(1990-1991)

Awards and Memberships 2004 Individual Prize of the Fundación Nueva Cultura del Agua, Spain, for my commitment to the European campaign against the Spanish National Hydrological Plan and my work with Spanish social movements.

Regular respondent of IEMed’s Annual Survey of Experts and Actors on Euro-Mediterranean Relations (since 2010)

Member of the Advisory Committee of European Alternatives. (since 2013) Member of the Advisory Committee of Citizens for Syria. (since 2013)

Member of the Advisory Committee of the Mediterranean Citizens’ Assembly.

(2012-2015) Co-founder of Maydan Association for Mediterranean citizen activism (2018). NGOs’ memberships: World Wildlife Fund and LIPU Birdlife International (since 1986); Gruppo Intervento Giuridico Sardegna (since 2000); Pax Christi and Legambiente (1986-1990); Italian Coordination of Cities for Peace and Human Rights (resource person) Share holder at Banca Etica (Italian Ethical Bank) (1999)

References Upon request

Gianluca Solera’s Skills (selection) - Capacity to tackle with professionalism planning, organizing and programme management functions, carrying out assessments, assigning and sharing tasks within the working team, and supervising the daily advancement of operations; experience with direct management of EU-funded projects; - Outstanding network development and coordination expertise, involving remote teams and operating in a multilingual and multidisciplinary context; excellent capacities of involving parties in regional dialogue and in stimulating the conception and starting-up of projects; - Sophisticated understanding of geopolitical interests and development trends, and long experience in advocacy and negotiation during policy-making and on development issues; experience in advocacy on development, human rights issues and culture;

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- Excellent language skills (seven languages spoken); computer skills (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook); - Strong strategizing skills; effective conceptualizing and reporting capacities, solid drafting and editing skills; good knowledge of procurement processes; knowledge of sound management and evaluation principles; experience in fundraising with foundations and public bodies; - Excellent communication skills; ability to negotiate with different interest groups, to tailor language according to the target audience, to communicate in politically sensitive situations with diplomacy and tact, and deal with confidential information properly; ability to speak and involve audience in public gatherings, and address media; - Sense of the commitment and civil zeal; determination to challenge the status quo; capacity to assess, tackle issues and innovate from a multifaceted perspective; attachment to ethical values and very good understanding of diverse cultural and religious contexts; - Strong familiarity with multicultural working teams, and capacity to create a team spirit; ability to infuse empathy, human touch and the sense of a shared commitment in people, and to operate with flexibility, creativity and realism; ability to travel and work under strict deadlines. Gianluca Solera’s Achievements (selection) 2014-2018 Advised the conception of a participatory action plan on solid waste and waste water treatment, as well as four community mobililization strategies and an advocacy campaign on right to water and waste water treatment in five Dakar’s districts, in partnership with PAEDD & others; and developed a strategic sustainable planning framework and community-based consultation methodology for local municipalities in Lebanese mountain areas, in partnership with the Lebanese Mountain Trail Association; Coordinated international campaign for women’s rights and leadership in society, education and political life in Afghanistan (afghanistanhumanrights.org), and in this framework initiated a European parliament’s hearing, developed policy demands, carried out advocacy meetings with EU and Afghan institutions, and designed radio programmes and journalism reports; coordinated advocacy campaign on social and solidarity economy in the EU (solidarityeconomy.eu), and in this framework developed policy recommendations and carried out meetings with EU and national institutions; coordinated COSPE’s policy advisors’ team during 2 years producing the organization’s strategic vision 2015-2017; Supervised development, advocacy and capacity building projects between Europe and the Mediterranean, including in the field of community media (MEDNET - Civil Society and Media Development), environment, food and development (Conservation & Development on the Lebanon Mountain Trail; Expo dei Popoli), youth employability (DAEDALUS – Youth and Unemployment in the Mediterranean Area), migration and development (COMIDE – Consistency of Migration and Development policy), social economy (SUSY – Sustainability and Solidarity in Economy), hate-speech (BRICKS – Building Respect on the Internet by Combating Hate Speech) or youth activism (WOMIDAN – Women Voices from the Square Erasmus project); co-drafted the technical content of project proposals such as “OrientEating” on migrants’ employability and food heritage and culture in Southern Italy, or of service tenders such as “Reinforcing the capacities of the Women Affairs Ministry and its institutional and non institutional partners on gender equality in Tunisia” (EuropeAid/138685/IH/SER/TN); Co-founded SabirFest, a cultural and political festival on Mediterranean culture and citizenship (sabirfest.it) and Sabir Maydan, a community of almost two hundred activists, researchers and artists which has launched a Manifesto for Mediterranean citizenship (sabirfest.it/area-media/notizie-sabirfest/515-verso-il-manifesto-per-la-cittadinanza-mediterranea.html), and is currently working at: a regional cluster of advocacy events on the Manifesto and festival events; a trans-Mediterranean online grassroots media; and an institute for active citizenship; Co-designed the Special Mediterranean Edition of the Naples Human Rights Film Festival, held in the framework of the Naples Universal Forum of Cultures; Co-promoter of Citizens for Syria, a research & action initiative to map and empower post-2011 community actors in Syria striving for peace, reconciliation and democracy (citizensforsyria.org/); volunteered in refugee camps in Greece; co-organized events in Italy with the Syrian democratic movement (hearing on Free Governorate of Aleppo with Municipality of Florence, Caesar Exhibition in Florence, visit of the Syrian Free Lawyers Association in Italy and Europe); Author of an essay on mobility, active citizenship and identity in the Mediterranean (Palgrave McMillan, January 2017); editor of a blog on civil society, political and intercultural affairs in Europe and the Mediterranean. 2005-2013 Established ALF 43 national networks (4,000 members involved, including academia & schools, cultural players & arts groups, local & regional authorities, CSOs, youth organizations, ministerial departments, public and private foundations); designed and supervised network strategic development facilities for the Head of Network offices (2,7m € per three years), promoted and funded youth projects, evaluated projects in the framework of calls for project proposals (at least six calls), organized international forums and meetings, designed capacity building schemes and developed online information & exchange platform for members; Drafted the ALF Triennial Strategy 2012-2014 focusing on the 4 Ds (dialogue, development, democracy, diversity); designed and co-organized trans-Mediterranean debate and exchange forums such as the First Anna Lindh Forum (2010, Barcelona, more than one thousand participants), or the Tunis Exchange Forum for Building Plural and Democratic Societies (2011, more than two

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hundred participants); and thematic campaigns following regional crises, such as Cross Border Arts, involving artists to facilitate confidence building between Lebanese, Israeli and Palestinian communities after the 2006 Summer War, or Believe in Dialogue-Act for Citizenship, after the Arab Spring; During my ALF mission, I also conceived and designed “Citizens for Dialogue”, a specific ALF facility on civil society, financed by the EU with 3m€, and addressed to 9 Arab countries, whose main target beneficiaries were youth and whose components were national forums, caravan-style advocacy actions, and a people exchange programme; visited several time Libyan emerging community stakeholders and civil society, as well as local authorities, with the task to prepare the conditions for the involvement of Libya in Euro-Med activities (2011-2012), and carried out dialogue actions including activists, community initiatives, youth and women associations, local authorities and militias’ representatives in Zawiya, Tripoli, Misurata and Benghazi; International observer of parliamentary and presidential elections (Palestine, Egypt) on behalf of NGOs; volunteered as observer in Syrian refugee camps located in Turkey, and in the Lampedusa’s migrant first rescue and welcome center; Author of a narrative reportage on the perspective of civil society and grassroots social, political and cultural players’ work for rights and citizenship in the Euro-Med area after 2011 (2013, 2015 II ed.), and of an extensive research on the human side of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict (2007, 2009 II ed.), eventually staged as a theatre play; Writing in Mediterranean online magazines such as Babelmed.net and Mashallah News; 1995-2004 Drafted EP’s parliamentary reports and managed the institutional follow-up of EU legislative proposals for the EP political group I worked for; got acquainted with working procedures of EU institutions, including EC’s relevant General Directorates, EU Council of Ministers, EESC and Committee of the Regions; acquired advocacy and negotiation skills on sensitive or conflictive development issues in areas such as social & economic cohesion regional programmes, transport, water and energy infrastructures, biodiversity conservation, or urban development schemes; matched partnerships for the promotion of innovative urban projects; collaborated with European and international cities and towns’ networks on legislation and advocacy actions on urban sustainability and resilience; worked with around two-hundred European local and regional groups and entities on development conflicts and issues related to development and public participation, creating a bridge between grassroots groups, local authorities and European and national institutions, and facilitating institutional action against the infringement of European legislation (at least 50 cases of potential non-compliance with EU directives and EU structural funds guidelines followed); Organized several European conferences on regional development and environmental policies, involving social and economic players, governmental sector, and community stakeholders (including a large conference on Natura 2000 with more than five hundred participants); contributed to the creation of an EP Inquiry Committee after the oil spill of the Prestige tanker along the Galician coast in 2002; awarded the 2004 Individual Prize of the Fundación Nueva Cultura del Agua, for my commitment in reviewing the EU-funded Spanish National Hydrological Plan; co-organized and joined several press events and fact-finding missions on regional development engaging EU policy guidelines and funding; Author of various books or written contributions on sustainable urban planning and urban resilience, including La città sostenibile. Analisi, scenari e proposte per un'ecologia urbana in Europa (The Sustainable City: Analyses, Perspectives and Proposals for an European Urban Ecology), Franco Angeli, 1994; Joined and performed in theatre productions. Editor of two local environmental magazines in Italy. Earlier Visited several European and Arab countries; collaborated with academia and local authorities in research & capacity building projects, with a strong public participation dimension; Obtained the label of free-lance journalist; social activist in environment and peace groups, campaigning against environmental pollution and aggressive development, and advocating for the protection of natural and landscape heritage, and co-initiator of the first Italian green party list; Co-founder of local organic food and fair trade cooperative businesses in the city of Mantua.

I am aware of the penalties one could face in the event of false declarations or references to false documents; I hereby state that the information contained in this document is true. Florence, 15 January 2019