<< Background >>BACKGROUND The fast-paced expansion of e-commerce, accelerated during the COVID-19 pandemic, has posted unprecedented pressures on Last Mile Deliveries (LMDs), revealing inefficiencies within the urban logistics chain related to the courier and postal (CEP) sectors’ environmental & social sustainability (air pollution, traffic congestion, road safety).In response, several economic operators from the CEP, retail & food sectors are switching to conventional & electric bike-based transport for short distance deliveries, contributing to the “greening” of urban logistics. This transformation is also propelled up by the EU Green Deal, national strategies towards zero carbon cities (Berlin, Amsterdam) and customers’ sustainability expectations. LMDs are now increasingly carried out with bike-based vehicles. The sales of cargo bikes increased by 153% within the last 2 years (CCCB, 2020) and it is expected that 50% of all motorised parcel deliveries will be shifted to cargo bikes (Wrighton, 2020). At same time, however, the higher number of LMD working cyclists (predominantly low skilled workers often without driving licenses or previous experience) on roads has led to an increased number of bike-related accidents & fatalities (ERSO, 2018).In this context, the strengthening of both formal and non-formal VET is therefore essential so that LMD working cyclists can acquire the skills needed for sustainable deliveries and safe, accident-free routes, which are also vital for the full exploitation of bikes’ potential in the last mile of urban deliveries.<< Objectives >>OBJECTIVESThe project forms a Cooperation Partnership to: 1. Define EU-wide occupational requirements for LMD cyclists that reflect current needs and shortages in green & safety skills2. Design and deliver a joint vocational curriculum & educational resources on sustainable & safe bike-based LMD operations to be embedded into existing formal & non-formal training provision.3. Introduce and pilot test flexible training delivery methods & open-access pedagogical resources, to support skills acquisition by LMD cyclists.4. Pave the way for the recognition, validation, integration of new skills requirements & a qualification for LMD cyclists into competence/certification schemes.<< Implementation >>ACTIVITIES-Extended skills intelligence gathering activities to define occupational requirements for LMD cyclists-Design of the structure of a joint vocational curriculum along with OERs on sustainable & safe bike-based LMD operations-Development, testing, delivery of a self-paced online course for LMD cyclists, enhancing VET openness and flexibility suitable to the sector specificities-Sectoral recognition of LMD cyclists’ green & safety skills requirements-Setup of an online examination portal for the validation of LMD cyclists’ skills acquired in different contexts-Update of relevant occupational profiles in ESCO and creation of qualification specs for LMD cyclists-Setup and operation of an online examination scheme for the recognition of LMD cyclists’ green & safety skills-Involvement of key stakeholders for the recognition of SAFE-LMD learning outcomes as well for supporting the inclusion of the new occupational profile and qualification in relevant competence/qualification schemes-Sharing of outputs with multiplier events & dissemination activities, inviting target groups to uptake SAFE-LMD results and act as additional multipliers<< Results >>RESULTS-Common competence framework with occupational requirements for LMD cyclists-Curriculum structure, trainer’s handbook, a learners’ e-book-Open Educational Resources for LMD cyclists in 6 languages incl. VOOC infrastructures with interactive content-Online examination scheme for the assessment, and validation of LMD cyclists’ green/safety skills & prior experience-Updated occupational profile(s) and specifications for an EU-wide VET qualification for LMD cyclists-4 national information days, 1 EU-wide dissemination event