Project Partners

Ungheni Municipality lies in the central-western part of the Republic of Moldova, on the eastern bank of the River Prut. According to the latest census data (2024), it is the country’s third-largest city, with a population of over 26,000. Ungheni is a major economic centre, with a well-developed road network, one of the largest railway junctions in Moldova, and a free economic zone.

In recent years Ungheni Municipality has become a model for attracting investment; many projects have been carried out here to substantially improve citizens’ quality of life. In the last two years alone, their number has exceeded 40, with investment amounting to hundreds of millions of lei. Alongside investment in road and pedestrian infrastructure and in water and sewerage networks, emphasis is placed on revitalising green spaces and urban mobility, on creating SMART areas, and on education and training.

Within the UCare project, Ungheni Municipality is the project lead, with a mission to strengthen partnership between cities in the Black Sea basin and partner institutions in order to ensure urban resilience and mitigate the impact of climate change. It has also committed to continuing to inform and educate the public so that people are better prepared for climate change, and to encouraging community involvement in activities that protect the environment.

Tulcea Municipality has a population of 65,624 residents (according to the 2021 census) and is located in south-eastern Romania, at the gateway to the Danube Delta, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is the administrative centre of the county of the same name in Dobruja, Romania. It lies on seven hills of the Tulcea Hills, on ground that has been continuously settled since the Gumelnița culture period (2900–2200 BC). The city was first documented in 1506.

Tulcea is a major industrial centre. Shipbuilding and ship repair are carried out here. The country’s only producer of calcined alumina is also based here. Part of the economy has developed around tourism, as shown by investment in new hotels. One of the main attractions is the aquarium—the largest in Eastern Europe.

Within the U-CARE project, Tulcea Municipality contributes as an active partner, promoting nature-based solutions, supporting climate resilience, and encouraging collaboration among stakeholders. A flagship initiative for the future is the regeneration project for Reservoir Park, which will become a green space resilient to climate change and will serve as a model for sustainable urban development in the city.

Thermi Municipality is an area with diverse sectors and development opportunities. Located in the eastern part of the Thessaloniki regional unit (Central Macedonia), 15 kilometres from the centre of metropolitan Thessaloniki, it comprises 14 local communities and has a population of 55,358 residents according to the 2021 census.

Thermi is an area with dynamic and economically sound development, evolving both as a residential extension of the Thessaloniki metropolitan area and as a hub for industrial units, tertiary-sector activities, and highly specialised services, while retaining the characteristics of a developed agricultural economy.

Within the UCare project, Thermi Municipality’s mission is to integrate nature-based solutions into the urban fabric in order to protect the area against climate change. Emphasis is also placed on implementing green infrastructure and fostering environmental awareness in the local community.