NECE—Networking European Civic Education—is Europe’s largest and one of its longest-standing platforms for non-formal and informal civic education. Currently led by THE CIVICS Innovation Hub, NECE is dedicated to fostering a vibrant and engaged community. Through impactful initiatives such as the NECE Festival, Labs, and online Campus, we equip civic education champions with the tools and resources they need to drive meaningful change in their local communities.
Since taking the lead of NECE in 2023, THE CIVICS has restructured the platform, expanding its focus beyond merely responding to the challenges facing our democracies. Today, NECE is a proactive, inclusive, and diverse space—one that serves as a vital network for civic educators across Europe and beyond. Actively welcoming younger voices, it strengthens its community through partnerships and insights drawn from an extensive mapping of over 800 organisations across 31 European countries.
Throughout the year, NECE hosts and supports a range of activities and events, culminating in an annual festival. These initiatives follow both functional and thematic tracks, addressing the real needs of civic educators as outlined in our report “Great Expectations: Demands and Realities of Civic Education in Europe.”
With these initiatives, NECE is strengthening its role as a key platform for civic education, prepared to address future challenges while staying rooted in its commitment to bottom-up democracy. We appreciate the trust and support of the German Federal Agency for Civic Education as we move forward.