The TANGO-W (Transformative cApacity in eNerGy fOod and Water) project is an applied research project that develops urban transformative capacities (UTC) as a novel governance ability at the interface of food, energy and water. TANGO-W follows Wolfram’s (2016) capacity building approach, adopting a needs and requirements-based focus on the capacity building priorities of urban stakeholders (Objective 1). At the heart of TANGO-W is the multi-level capacity building approach (Objectives 2 & 3), which works at two levels. At the urban level, TANGO-W designs and implements Urban Living Labs 2.0 (ULL). At the European level, TANGO-W establishes a transdisciplinary Community of Practice (CoP) as an integrative and coordinating transformation system. Both are the spaces for the development of UTC according to the needs of urban actors in several dimensions (i.e.  transformative governance formats, shaping new transformation roles; self-organization, technical skills and tools). At the same time, the ULL and CoP act as novel governance formats at local and EU level to accelerate urban change in a desired, sustainable direction. The activities of TANGO-W result in policy recommendations for replication and upscaling measures as well as in training concepts and pilot courses that support capacity building in TANGO-W fellow cities (Objective 4).

Tentative results

The project aimed to help cities tackle challenges associated with climate change and encourage more
sustainable urban development. It evaluated cities’ potential for sustainability, specifically at the intersection of food, energy, and water systems.

The project placed a special focus on the development and testing of transformative governance tools for
urban project leaders and transformative researchers for European Urban Living Labs in Austria, Sweden, Norway and Lithuania.

Improving urban transformation capacities is essential for cities. By focusing on the interconnections
within the food, energy and water systems, cities can address the challenges of climate change more holistically and promote systemic change at multiple levels. Urban Living Labs serve as transformational spaces and experimental environments where innovative solutions can be tested under real-life conditions.