The Development Agency of Karditsa (AN.KA S.A.) was founded in 1989 on the initiative of the Local Union of Municipalities and Communities of Karditsa, in collaboration with the Union of Agricultural Cooperatives. The legal form of the company is “Development Agency of Local Authorities S.A." as per law 3463/2006.
AN.KA S.A. focuses on «capacity building» and «empowerment» of the local population, especially of underserved communities, as well as the avoidance of social exclusion. A key element of the identity of AN.KA S.A. is the implementation of programs and projects for the development both of rural and urban areas, by highlighting and exploiting all forms of resources (natural, human, cultural), prioritizing as a driving force the local initiative and entrepreneurship.
https://www.anka.gr/index.php/en/ )
The Ready 4 Work is a social innovation initiative aiming to establish volunteer mentoring as a new impactful form of learning to empower and upskill vulnerable youth during their transition to employment, whether from education or inactivity, increasing their employability and quality of life, complementing traditional employment interventions as vocational training or career guidance, establishing public and private partnerships to scale and sustain it, and enhancing community engagement, solidarity and helpfulness through volunteering.
The SEED2SCALE project aims to establish and activate 5 National Competence Centers for Social Innovation (NCCs) in the involved partner Countries: Croatia, Greece, Italy, Romania and Slovenia. It builds on the legacy of the SEED project developed between 2021 and 2023 in 4 of the mentioned Member States (all except Croatia) where the blueprints for the Competence Centers were outlined in a co-design process involving not only the project partners, but also a wider ecosystem of stakeholders.
The ambition of SEED2SCALE is to reach a more mature stage of the National Competence Centers for Social Innovation, where each of them can rely on a defined legal framework and has developed and implemented effective and shared governance and business models.
By adopting the systemic approach, SEED2SCALE implements the following actions to reach the expected outputs:
- the establishment of 5 National Competence Centers for Social Innovation with defined organizational structure, mission and governance;
- the activation of the Core Competences that each NCC should offer, through a needs assessment, the development of the Competences Portfolio and its testing, validation and consolidation through the performance of 5 pilot projects in the Partner Countries;
- the collaboration with an extended network of public authorities and national stakeholders in co-designing National Strategies and Action Plans on Social Innovation. This activity includes the effort to involve the private sector in the financial sustainability of Social Innovation policies and actions that will be identified in the National Strategies and Action Plans;
- the development and implementation of Online National Platforms as NCCs resource center hubs, meaning the online interface where information, services, resources, tools, best practices will be available and easily accessible (in national languages) for a growing audience of potential beneficiaries;
- the participation in a transnational network of organizations committed to create NCCs in all EU Member States and the development of opportunities for peer learning and transnational exchange of knowledge.
Operation of ‘’KYPEA’’ the «Entrepreneurship support center for unemployed and disadvantaged citizens of Karditsa’s Municipality»
KYPEA’s purpose is the provision of coaching, networking and business start-up services for beneficiaries in the area of Sustainable Urban Development of the Municipality of Karditsa.
OBCD Creating Knowledge Triangles to Support Social Entrepreneurship
The Open Business for Community Development (OBCD) project was created by the European Commission and launched in June 2022. Led by the University of Patras (Greece) and supported by 12 other organizations across Europe, the project aims to promote innovation and interest in Social Enterprises among Higher Education, Continuing Vocational Education and Training (c-VET) and the wider socio-economic environment. As the name of the project suggests, Open Business (OB) is an approach to business based on the concept of "openness" movements, such as free software, open source, open content, and open tools and standards. The OB approach seeks to facilitate collaboration between businesses and other stakeholders, enabling the co-creation of knowledge and innovation in the market beyond the boundaries of individual organizations.
The company has developed a comprehensive organizational structure, consisting of experienced executives specializing in various fields, and maintains synergies with academic institutions, research centers, and other development agencies in Greece and Europe. Through actions funded by EKT+, AN.KA actively contributes to the social inclusion of vulnerable groups, strengthening entrepreneurship, education, and employment in the Karditsa region.
With its deep knowledge of the region and strong network of partnerships, AN.KA has established itself as an organization that connects the local community, productive bodies, and institutions, promoting a development model based on collectivity, innovation, and the social economy.
Within the framework of the Local CLLD/LEADER Program – Measure 19, RDP 2014-2025, AN.KA implemented an Interregional Cooperation Project which contributed to the promotion of cooperativism as a tool for local empowerment and sustainable entrepreneurship. Through the collaboration of different regions of the country, the interregional cooperative project sought to transfer know-how, highlight good practices, support collective schemes, and strengthen productive and social synergies. This strengthens the resilience of local economies and creates new opportunities for business and social initiatives.
The Local CLLD/LEADER Program – Measure 19, RDP 2014-2025, the Interregional Cooperation Plan for the Integration of Roma was also included, which aimed to strengthen social cohesion through the active participation and empowerment of Roma communities in various areas of the Karditsa Regional Unit. Through targeted support actions, workshops, and access to services and employment opportunities, the program sought to address social exclusion and promote equal participation in social and economic life. Cooperation between development agencies, local communities, and social organizations created a common framework for intervention that strengthened respect, intercultural dialogue, interaction, and the building of trust — fundamental elements for an inclusive society with strong cohesion.
To achieve the above, the Development of Karditsa has established a flexible team of experienced and specialized, in many different subjects, executives, with international experience and full complementarity, in order to offer integrated solutions and consulting services in the public, social and private sector. In the same context, it has developed a stable and permanent cooperation with Research Centers, University Institutions, Technological Institutes and Development Agencies of Greece and Europe, as well as public and private sector services. This ensures efficiency, transfer of know-how and utilization of recent research results and developments in general.
