Approach for SDS development –
slides for discussions
Neils Balgalis
Grupa93
Valmiera, 07/05/07
The objective of the SDS
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is to form an integrated framework for the future development of border
regions involved for the period of next 15-20 years. The SDS will integrate
the physical and geographic dimensions of the partners existing strategies,
and will include commonly agreed innovative development solutions.
The Consultant will develop Spatial Development Strategy (SDS) for
Latgale, Vidzeme, Pskov and Leningrad regions”, consisting of 5 main
components:
a) development of transport infrastructure, services and accessibility:
b) polycentric development of cities and towns;
c) environment and nature protection;
d) development of information society;
e) political co-operation.
• SDS will include a list of priority projects and will have a clear description of
the foreseen future cooperation between the project partners as well a
clearly described objectives and projects to be worked on, in cooperation
and separately.
TRANSPORT CORRIDORS
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Borders
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Area, regions and subregions
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Cities (but we dont need centre???)
Road zones
“Special” areas
Overlaping of areas
“Similar” areas
“Outstanding” areas
Imaginary division of project area with
names
Approach
It is quite clear that the first step should:
• In practice focus on relative few number of aims and substrategies – otherwise it would not be strategy but shopping list;
• concentrate in the beginning to relative easy sectors (not in
high-technology etc), with special attention for building development
capacity and growing social capital (mutual understanding and trust)
Target groups
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The immediate beneficiary of the project will be project
partner organizations and municipalities (local and
regional governments) whom they represent.
• The major challenge for the project is to achieve real
involvement of the representatives from target groups,
otherwise expected result of “…established
cooperation network of the relevant players
in the remote regions along the EU external border” will
be hard to achieve.
Different stakeholders and their crucial
role in project development
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State level institutions
Local people
Local and international businesses
Municipalities
Development organisations
Other development projects/development zones
Public consultation process
• Public consultation process, which is described in Terms of
Reference, provides good basis for participatory process, but more
measures needs to be taken to achieve higher involvement. Usage
of internet (Web 2.0 approach) is crucial in communication process
– news, blogs, local portals, mixed discussions (EU-
Russia), web pages of interest groups, online
seminars and brainstorms – all those actions are needed.
For involvement of business people there is a need to arrange more
seminars, for politicians – common working sessions?
• As part of SDS strategy Consultant will prepare Public
Involvement Strategy, which will form the base for
common/targeted actions during project implementation and will be
directly linked to strategy elaboration process.
Planned outcomes
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The project will result in stakeholder support to the project idea and SDS and
established cooperation network of the relevant players in the remote regions along
the EU external border that will ensure a common effort on ensuring access and a
polycentric development based on "coopetition" - competition and cooperation
amongst the involved regions.
The main output - the SDS including a list of priority projects - will have
a clear description of the foreseen future cooperation between the project partners as
well a clearly described objectives and projects to be worked on, in cooperation and
separately.
It is expected that in the long term the SDS developed and approved during this
project will be implemented. Investments in transport infrastructure
and supporting services will be carried out and thus ensure that the remote
regions will have better accessibility to markets and main transport corridors and
development poles.
Also the territorial potentials will be exploited better, not only due to the
improved accessibility but also to the improved knowledge on the potential and on the
plans and potentials in neighbouring regions. Overall, the involved countries will
benefit from a more cohesive development in that the impacts of the borders, not
least the external border, will be diminished.
Major constrains
• The main problems related to the execution of the project are
following:
• short time for implementation of project activities (end of 2007 as
common deadline for Interreg funded projects); solution – focus on
effective project management;
• number of implemented and ongoing projects could lead to project
stakeholders (especially business people) confusion (who is doing
what and why they all look so similar); solution – differentiation,
simplicity and reality check;
• historical “weariness” of project partners (another SWOT in the
wall:); solution – be realistic and create small wins during the
process, differentiation starts with project team;
• limited resources and powers to “have your say” at EU_Russia level;
solution – wise lobbying techniques, permanent contacts and
involvement.
How to benefit from other projects?
• In which projects project partners are
involved right now?
• Previous experiences
• Creating links with all ongoing projects –
sharing the information and ideas/findings
• Common projects development platform –
way how to make or project The Hub
DIFFERENTIATION_distinction
• There's nothing wrong with not surprising people. In fact,
most of the time, you don't want to surprise people. I
don't want to be surprised when I use an electric drill,
and I don't want to be surprised when they're doing
surgery on me.
• But if you want the word to spread, if you expect me to
take action I've never taken before, it seems to me that
you need to do something that hasn't been done before.
It might not feel safe, but if you do the safe thing, I
guarantee you won't surprise anyone. And if you don't
surprise anyone, the word isn't going to spread.
We need The Name
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Remote Access
Project group
Let society work it out (DIY)
How easy is to reach mass media in Russia/Latvia?
How the process could look like?
• Any possibilities to replicate?
Who will implement The Strategy?
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Special organisation
Partners
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RemoteAccess1, RemoteAccess2,
RemoteAccess3, RemoteAccess4
Work plan
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