PEDAL Consulting together with RURALITIES project partners will introduce Rural Thrive 2050 campaign. Its main goal is to connect rural communities, projects and organisations across Europe and Africa. Running from September 2026 to April 2027, it will use storytelling, workshops, webinars and joint events to build cooperation around agri-tech, renewable energy, the circular economy, sustainable tourism, social innovation and digital connectivity. The campaign opens with a free public launch webinar on 1 September 2026, where the first Rural Thrive Supporters will be recognised. Registration is open now.
What is Rural Thrive 2050?
Rural Thrive 2050 is the new engagement campaign of RURALITIES, a Horizon Europe project coordinated by PEDAL Consulting. RURALITIES itself is a first-of-its-kind pan-African partnership within Horizon Europe, structurally linking rural regions across the European Union and the African Union.
Rural Thrive 2050 is more than a communication campaign. It aims to grow a lasting ecosystem of organisations, communities and initiatives working towards stronger rural futures, built on collaboration, visibility and knowledge exchange between Europe and Africa.
Why it matters
Different territories face different realities. A village in the Slovenian Posavje region and a community in Kenya are not solving identical problems. But many of the underlying challenges, ideas and aspirations around rural sustainability, resilience, innovation and climate transition are shared across both continents.
The decisions and investments made today will shape rural futures for decades to come. Rural Thrive 2050 exists to make sure rural communities are part of that conversation, not as passive territories, but as active drivers of innovation, resilience and transformation.
What the campaign offers
Between September 2026 and April 2027, Rural Thrive 2050 partners and supporters will run engagement activities, local community events, workshops and training, Living Lab actions, webinars, storytelling and interview series, podcasts and multimedia content, and cross-project networking events. All of it is organised around six shared themes:
Through the wider RURALITIES ecosystem, participants connect with rural communities, researchers and universities, small and medium-sized enterprises and innovators, Living Labs, local and regional authorities, NGOs, civil society organisations, and other European and international initiatives.
Who can participate
Rural Thrive 2050 is open to anyone with a stake in rural futures: rural communities and local organisations, EU-funded and other projects, researchers, innovators, local and regional authorities, NGOs and civil society groups, both in Europe and in Africa. Participants can join as Rural Thrive Supporters, contributing their own stories, experience and initiatives to the campaign.
When it runs
Rural Thrive 2050 runs from September 2026 to April 2027. It officially begins with a public launch webinar on 1 September 2026, 11:00–13:00 CEST. The event will introduce the campaign vision, recognise the first Rural Thrive Supporters, and show how the RURALITIES pilot regions will bring rural stories to life over the coming months.
Read more about Rural Thrive 2050 and register for the launch webinar.
The RURALITIES project at a glance:
https://www.pedal-consulting.eu/ruralities-climate-smart-ecosystem-enhancing-and-knowledge-based-rural-expertise-and-training-centres/
