DAFNI

network of sustainable greek islands

Greece

Brief Description:

DAFNI Network of Sustainable Greek Islands (DAFNI) is a non-profit organization established in 2006 that brings together the majority of Greek island local and regional authorities and seeks to create opportunities and support initiatives towards their sustainable development. To this end, DAFNI collaborates with the Aegean Energy and Environment Agency (AEGEA), member of ManagEnergy and FEDARENE, where AEGEA holds the Vice-Presidency for Smart Islands, Remote & Small Communities. DAFNI is comprised of 44 island authorities among which 4 regional authorities, namely: the Region of North Aegean, the Region of South Aegean, the Regional Union of Municipalities of Ionian Islands and the Region of Ionian Islands and 40 island municipalities from the Aegean and Ionian seas.

DAFNI is a Covenant Supporter for the Aegean Islands within the Covenant of Mayors and a founding member of the Pact of Islands. DAFNI’s activities span across the promotion of integrated, innovative and Smart solutions in the fields of renewable energy and energy efficiency, sustainable transport and mobility, sustainable waste and water management, the leverage of funding benefitting island-members of the Network and the promotion of investment schemes and governance practices that foster innovation and social inclusion.

DAFNI seeks to identify ways to empower island authorities and communities so that decision-making around key topics including local economic development, infrastructure management, environmental protection and preservation of cultural heritage becomes more participatory. DAFNI has been involved in a number of EU and national projects, being the coordinator of SMILEGOV.

Building on the Smart Islands Strategy, a key deliverable of SMILEGOV project, DAFNI is currently coordinating a pan-European effort of island representatives and stakeholders to mature the Smart Islands Initiative. The Smart Islands Initiative seeks to demonstrate that islands can host pilot projects and produce knowledge on smart and efficient resource and infrastructure management, which may be then transferred to mountainous, rural and generally geographically isolated areas but also scaled-up in big cities of continental Europe and beyond.

Main task and responsibilities:

Dafni will led the communication and dissemination activities of the project, being in charge of WP 10 and ofTask 10.2 Dissemination and public communciation actions. Task 2.4 Stakeholder and citizens involvement indecission making processes will be led by Dafni.