Final results
From 2020 until 2022, the project focused on the implementation of the action plans. In this final report the main challenges and opportunities for ABCitiEs will be presented. Overall, the ABCitiEs project has given insight into the unique role that collaborative partnerships can play in regenerating cities and improving neighborhoods in the areas of inclusive growth, cooperation and cohesion, but has also highlighted that challenges that are faced by these collaborative partnerships and the importance of inclusive partnerships and mutually agreed base-based outcomes.
The final results leaflet is also available in the library.
Lessons learned
On the basis of the research and implementation phase, some of the most important challenges and opportunities that ABCitiEs faced were:
Opportunities
- Trust: in many areas, but especially in Vilnius and Athens, building trust is still a major challenge, both between SMEs and SMEs and municipalities.
- Timing: timing is crucial to create momentum, but not always easy to influence
- Complex nature of places: places comprise people and communities interacting with one another and with objects (such as roads, buildings and parks) within a range of urban settings or contexts. Complex sociotechnical systems (urban, transportation or warfare) are difficult to analyze and require an understanding of the whole system rather than the parts.
- Fragmented and siloed nature of policy development and implementation: there needs to be greater focus on higher level institutional culture of local government, which is currently too fragmented and siloed. Capacity is needed to overcome silos which limit place based development, but also skills and competencies to deliver effective place leadership.
Challenges
- Inclusiveness of collectives: places comprise people and communities interacting with one another and with objects, make sure to be inclusive to these people and communities and involve them in the decision process.
- Work with different scenarios: make sure to have a plan B and C if necessary to retain momentum.
- Attention for skills and training: pay attention to skills and training for all those who want to make positive change to their neighborhood, be it as an intermediary or as an SME or resident. Leadership, communication, management and financial skills are all crucial for building strong and successful collectives.
- Focus on mutually agreed place-based outcomes: outcomes should ultimately be place based rather than serving the purpose of a single organization. Therefore, we need to rethink what policy is an how it is done, as we shift to more flexible and iterative practices. A strong focus on mutually agreed place-based outcomes can further clarify intentions and improve successful collaboration.
