Project’s Objectives

To explore ways to effectively promote local development in times of economic crisis, by involving public and private stakeholders to find suitable innovative strategies for development, building on local assets and resources.

PROJECT SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES:

1. Develop and propose a general methodology to be applied to promote local development in a variety of different contexts. This methodology will consider, specifically, the following aspects: – Documental data collection: sources, documents and tools to collect and organise existing information on the local context; – “On the field” preliminary exploration: models to organise and manage dialogue and negotiations with local stakeholders: roundtables, surveys, communication methodologies;

– Priorities definition: how to analyse collected information to identify local development priorities and existing gaps: SWOT analysis, evaluation tools and grids, prioritization
– Action plan: how to structure a suitable action plan aiming at reaching the above mentioned priorities: involved stakeholders, available resources, proposed actions and chronoprogramme

Note : the learning partnership will only propose a methodology, that is to say  a theoretical framework to serve as a guidance for all local stakeholders  involved. The possible practical implementation of the proposed methodology  on a concrete situation will be proposed in a subsequent phase / project, if  feasible.

2. Exchange partners’ viewpoints and best practices, to contribute to the structuring of the proposed methodology by building on the experience of different kinds of stakeholders (e.g. public authorities, private companies working as local development facilitators, local associations etc.)

3. Discuss the structure, contents and potential applications of the proposed methodology with local public or private authorities which:  o work in co-operation with the project partners  and  o have recently undertaken already completed or ongoing experiences of local development  With the aim of refining the proposed methodology by comparing and  contrasting  it against some concrete “case studies” identified in the local  areas involved in the project.  These authorities could include, for instance   (non exhaustive list: Municipalities, Development Agencies, incubators,  Chambers of Commerce etc.)