Deadline: 15-Jul-2026
The Council of Europe has launched the HUDERIA Local Academy to support local and regional authorities in advancing responsible, transparent, and human-centred AI governance. The programme helps public authorities understand AI risks, apply the HUDERIA risk assessment methodology, and strengthen legal, ethical, and participatory approaches to public sector AI.
The Academy will bring together 40 participants from 20 local and regional authorities across Council of Europe member states. Each participating authority will be represented by one elected official and one staff member, and the workshop will be conducted in English.
What is the HUDERIA Local Academy?
The HUDERIA Local Academy is a Council of Europe initiative designed for local and regional authorities working on artificial intelligence governance.
The programme helps public administrations prepare for the growing use of AI in local democracy, public services, and administrative decision-making.
It provides a structured learning space where authorities can assess AI practices, identify risks, explore safeguards, and develop more transparent and trustworthy AI governance approaches.
Main Purpose of the Academy
The main purpose of the HUDERIA Local Academy is to help local and regional authorities manage AI responsibly.
The programme supports authorities in understanding how AI can affect public administration, democratic processes, resident interactions, service delivery, transparency, accountability, and public trust.
It also helps participants apply the HUDERIA methodology to a real or emblematic AI use case from their own local or regional context.
Focus Areas and Priorities
The Academy focuses on responsible AI governance in local and regional public administration.
Key focus areas include:
- Responsible AI governance
- Transparent AI use in public administration
- AI risk assessment
- AI risk mitigation
- HUDERIA methodology
- Human-centred AI
- Legal safeguards
- Ethical AI governance
- Participatory governance
- Public sector AI applications
- Local democracy and AI
- Accountability in AI systems
- Transparency in automated decision-making
- Public trust in AI
- Resident interaction with AI systems
- Peer learning among local authorities
- Pan-European practitioner network
Key Concepts Explained
HUDERIA Methodology
HUDERIA is a Council of Europe methodology for assessing and mitigating risks linked to artificial intelligence.
The Academy helps participants apply this step-by-step approach to an AI use case, helping authorities identify possible risks, safeguards, governance gaps, and mitigation actions.
Responsible AI Governance
Responsible AI governance means using artificial intelligence in ways that are lawful, ethical, transparent, accountable, and aligned with human rights and democratic values.
For local authorities, this includes ensuring that AI tools do not undermine fairness, public trust, participation, accountability, or access to services.
Public Sector AI
Public sector AI refers to artificial intelligence tools used by government bodies or public authorities.
These tools may support service delivery, administrative workflows, resident communication, planning, resource allocation, monitoring, or decision-support systems.
AI Risk Assessment
AI risk assessment is the process of identifying possible harms, weaknesses, or governance concerns linked to an AI system.
Risks may relate to bias, discrimination, lack of transparency, privacy, accountability, inaccurate outputs, exclusion, poor oversight, or negative effects on residents.
Human-Centred AI
Human-centred AI means that artificial intelligence should serve people and protect their rights, dignity, and wellbeing.
In public administration, this requires clear safeguards, meaningful oversight, transparency, and attention to how AI affects residents and communities.
Link to European AI Governance Frameworks
The HUDERIA Local Academy is based on the Council of Europe’s HUDERIA methodology.
The programme helps public administrations prepare for and implement the Framework Convention on Artificial Intelligence.
It also supports awareness of emerging regulatory requirements, including requirements linked to the EU AI Act.
This makes the Academy relevant for authorities that want to align local AI use with European standards on human rights, democracy, transparency, and accountability.
What Participants Will Do
Participants will work with experts and peers from across Europe.
They will examine how AI is being used or could be used in public sector contexts.
They will apply the HUDERIA risk assessment and mitigation approach to an emblematic AI use case.
They will explore legal, ethical, technical, and participatory questions linked to AI governance.
They will also exchange practical experiences with other local and regional authorities.
Key Activities
The Academy may include activities such as:
- Assessing current AI practices
- Identifying AI-related risks
- Mapping safeguards and mitigation measures
- Applying the HUDERIA methodology to a use case
- Discussing legal and ethical responsibilities
- Exploring resident-facing AI interactions
- Strengthening transparency and accountability approaches
- Learning from other European local authorities
- Building a peer network of AI governance practitioners
- Contributing insights to future Council of Europe work on AI
Who is Eligible?
The call is open to local and regional authorities from Council of Europe member states.
Authorities may apply at any stage of AI adoption.
Eligible authorities may include those that are:
- Already using AI tools
- Piloting AI systems
- Planning future AI adoption
- Beginning to explore AI governance
- Seeking to understand AI risks and safeguards
- Interested in public sector transparency and accountability
The workshop is particularly relevant for authorities serving populations of at least 25,000 inhabitants.
Participant Structure
The programme will bring together 40 participants.
These participants will represent 20 local and regional authorities.
Each participating authority will be represented by:
- One elected official
- One staff member
This structure ensures that both political leadership and administrative staff are involved in learning, reflection, and implementation planning.
Language of the Workshop
The workshop will be conducted in English.
Participating authorities should ensure that both representatives are able to engage effectively in English during discussions, exercises, and peer-learning activities.
Why Local and Regional Authorities Should Participate
Local and regional authorities are increasingly likely to encounter AI in public services, planning, administration, communication, and decision-making.
The Academy helps them prepare for these changes before risks become difficult to manage.
Participation can help authorities strengthen governance systems, build internal knowledge, improve transparency, and develop safer approaches to AI use.
The programme is also valuable for authorities that want to ensure AI adoption supports local democracy and protects residents’ rights.
How the Academy Works
The Academy combines expert guidance, practical methodology, and peer exchange.
Participants bring or examine an AI use case relevant to local or regional government.
They then apply the HUDERIA step-by-step methodology to assess risks and identify safeguards.
Through discussions with experts and peers, authorities can improve their understanding of trustworthy AI governance and learn how other European authorities are approaching similar challenges.
How to Apply
Interested local and regional authorities should first confirm that they are located in a Council of Europe member state.
They should identify one elected official and one staff member who can participate in the English-language workshop.
Authorities should also identify an emblematic AI use case or AI governance challenge that can be explored during the Academy.
Applicants should explain their current stage of AI adoption, their motivation for joining, and how participation will support responsible AI governance in their authority.
Suggested Application Steps
- Confirm that the applicant is a local or regional authority in a Council of Europe member state.
- Identify one elected official and one staff member to represent the authority.
- Confirm that both participants can take part in English.
- Describe the authority’s current stage of AI adoption.
- Identify an AI use case, pilot, planned system, or governance challenge.
- Explain why responsible AI governance is important for the authority.
- Show how the authority will use the HUDERIA methodology after the Academy.
- Highlight interest in transparency, accountability, public trust, resident interaction, and participatory governance.
- Submit the application through the official Council of Europe process.
Why It Matters
Artificial intelligence can improve public services, but it can also create risks if used without proper oversight.
Local governments must understand how AI affects residents, public trust, democratic participation, and administrative fairness.
The HUDERIA Local Academy matters because it gives local and regional authorities practical tools to assess AI risks and apply safeguards.
By supporting a pan-European network of local practitioners, the programme helps authorities learn from one another and develop better models for trustworthy public sector AI.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Applicants should avoid treating AI governance as only a technical issue.
AI governance also involves legal, ethical, democratic, and participatory responsibilities.
Authorities should not apply without identifying participants who can engage actively in the programme.
Applications should not ignore the importance of transparency, accountability, and public trust.
Applicants should avoid vague descriptions of AI adoption and should clearly explain their current context or intended use case.
Authorities should also avoid assuming that the Academy is only for advanced AI users, because the call is open to authorities at any stage of AI adoption.
Tips for Strong Applications
A strong application should clearly explain why the authority wants to strengthen AI governance.
Applicants should describe a relevant AI use case or governance challenge that can be explored through the HUDERIA methodology.
The application should show commitment from both political and administrative levels.
Authorities should explain how participation will improve internal capacity, public trust, transparency, and responsible AI use.
A strong application should also show willingness to learn from peers and contribute to a wider European network of local AI governance practitioners.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is the HUDERIA Local Academy?
The HUDERIA Local Academy is a Council of Europe programme that supports local and regional authorities in developing responsible, transparent, and human-centred AI governance practices.
2. Who can apply?
Local and regional authorities from Council of Europe member states can apply.
3. Is the programme only for authorities already using AI?
No. The call is open to authorities at any stage of AI adoption, including those already piloting AI tools and those just beginning their AI journey.
4. How many participants will be selected?
The programme will bring together 40 participants representing 20 local and regional authorities.
5. Who should represent each authority?
Each participating authority should be represented by one elected official and one staff member.
6. What will participants learn?
Participants will learn about AI risks, safeguards, legal and ethical governance, participatory approaches, public trust, transparency, accountability, and application of the HUDERIA risk assessment methodology.
7. What language will be used?
The workshop will be conducted in English.
Conclusion
The Council of Europe HUDERIA Local Academy is an important opportunity for local and regional authorities to strengthen responsible AI governance.
The programme helps authorities understand AI risks, apply a structured risk assessment methodology, improve transparency and accountability, and prepare for emerging European AI governance requirements.
Authorities interested in trustworthy, human-centred, and democratic AI use should present a clear motivation, relevant AI use case, and commitment to learning with peers across Europe.
For more information, visit Council of Europe.
