Local authorities often lack the resources and capacity to address complex societal challenges, particularly those related to the Green Deal, while bottom-up community initiatives face barriers including poor communication with local governments and bureaucratic hurdles. These challenges hinder collaborative efforts that could leverage both local government resources and community-driven passion to tackle climate change and support vulnerable populations. The ACCTING project has demonstrated the benefits of partnerships between local governments and civil society organisations (CSOs) in addressing major societal challenges such as climate change. Successful partnerships should be systematic and strategic and be based on a shared vision of equity, transparency, and community engagement, with clear communication, flexibility, and a focus on sustainability. These strategic partnerships can help bridge the gap between local governments and CSOs, ultimately contributing to the Green Deal’s broader goals by fostering systemic change and community involvement.