Project governance and expertise will be enhanced through external boards at two levels.

An International Advisory Board for the entire project will meet annually to review project progress, offer external advice and enhance the project’s links to policymaking and professional practice.

It has four members to ensure focus and clarity.

• Darja Zavirsek (Ljubljana) is a leading disability rights campaigner and researcher in Europe.

• Gerhard Ermischer is President of the Council of Europe’s Conference of International NGOs, working with civil society and citizen groups across Europe.

• Karine Gentelet (Quebec) researches the use of digital technology to improve social justice and works closely with Amnesty International.

• Adriano Fernandes is Head of Innovation at Santa Casa da Misericórdia da Amadora, one of the largest non-governmental organisations offering social services in Lisbon.

National Stakeholder Boards will be established in each of the six project countries. These National Stakeholder Boards are strategically designed to facilitate active involvement in project activities at the national level, with a particular focus on streamlining research execution, including participant recruitment. In addition, they aim to improve the use of project innovations by encouraging collaboration with key stakeholders in social services, non-governmental organizations and citizens’ campaigns.

In essence, the incorporation of these external boards, both at international and national levels, underlines the commitment to a comprehensive approach to projects, drawing on a diverse range of perspectives and expertise. This multi-faceted approach not only ensures a holistic assessment of project progress, but also promotes the meaningful integration of research findings into local and global contexts, thus encouraging a more impactful and sustainable project trajectory.