€1 million grant from The Coca-Cola HBC Foundation for the regeneration of the fire-affected areas of Cyprus

For the implementation of the Anastasios G. Leventis Foundation's initiative for a comprehensive restoration programme of the Limassol Mountain Villages

Nicosia, 18 November 2025

Coca-Cola HBC Cyprus announced that The Coca-Cola HBC Foundation, reaffirming its practical commitment to supporting local communities in times of crisis, has donated 1 million euros for the regeneration of the fire-affected areas of Limassol.

The announcement was made on November 17^th, during a special event at Leventis Gallery in the presence of the President of Cyprus Republic, the President of the Parliament, the Minister of Interior, government and state officials and the municipality leaders of the fire affected areas.

The grant will be allocated to the MountMed Institute for Research and Development of Mediterranean Island Mountainous Areas for the implementation of the "Integrated Regeneration Programme for the Fire-Affected areas of Troodos Mountain Villages" which is being prepared in the framework of the Anastasios G. Leventis Foundation Initiative. 

The Anastasios G. Leventis Foundation, in the context of its long-standing contribution to Cyprus and especially to the mountainous areas, undertook the initiative with the funding of €200,000 to MountMed, for the development of a study for the diagnosis of the effects of the fire and - a Methodological Guide (Action Plan), with a holistic and locally oriented approach.  Through the Guide, prioritized actions were determined, which constitute the Integrated Programme for the Regeneration of the Fire-Affected Wine Villages.

The Coca-Cola HBC Foundation’s grant and its strategic partnership with the Anastasios G. Leventis Foundation, is the driving force of turning vision to reality as the grant makes it possible to implement the integrated program developed by MountMed and consists of six axes of intervention that combines environmental, productive and social actions. In addition, the integrated programme combines the immediate response to the needs of the region, with the pilot implementation of mild, immediate actions, such as the operation of a Mobile Community Support Unit and a Primary Sector Producer Support Unit.

The grant is part of the Foundation's broader commitment to supporting local communities in times of crisis and aligns closely with the Coca-Cola HBC Group's long-term vision of creating shared value. At the core of this vision are sustainability and practical support for communities, with the Foundation playing an active role in strengthening relief and rehabilitation actions, where there is a greater need.

The regeneration of fire-affected areas in Mountainous Limassol is a national priority, requiring swift and coordinated action to restore and reimagine sustainable development for Cyprus’s mountain communities.

A Comprehensive Regeneration Program

The Integrated Programme adopts a holistic agroecological and regenerative approach, which addresses the causes of vulnerability and enhances the sustainability of the natural environment and local communities. Through a coherent framework of six Axes of Intervention, it seeks to:

-       the restoration of natural and rural ecosystems, where this is recognized as necessary;

-       strengthening the primary sector with an emphasis on the local agri-food system, in order to make it attractive, competitive, sustainable and fair,

-       the preservation of the rural landscape and cultural heritage;

-       the development of educational and voluntary programmes and

-       strengthening the resilience and long-term sustainability of communities affected by the fires.

The implementation of the Programme extends over a three-year period (2026–2028) and combines strategic interventions of a medium-term nature with a pilot application of mild, immediate actions of high necessity.

The contribution of an expanded network of scientific and social bodies to this collective effort is of great importance.  The ERATOSTHENES Center of Excellence, the University of Thessaly, the Agricultural University of Athens, Terra Cypria - Cyprus Foundation for Environmental Protection, BirdLife Cyprus and the Network for Social Support of Mountainous Areas already participate in the network, while consultation with additional partners on its enlargement is ongoing.

The Coca-Cola HBC Foundation and the Anastasios G. Leventis Foundation, in close collaboration with the MountMed Institute, form an organized and cohesive cooperation framework that sets the stage for ecological, productive, and social regeneration, enhancing the resilience and sustainability of communities for generations to come.