Description
To empower the neighbourhoods and inhabitants caring about their living environment, NGO Linnalabor (Estonian Urban Lab) in partnership with Community Tools Ltd and eight neighbourhood associations from Tallinn start improving the communication between inhabitants and city representatives. The target groups of the project are all active neighbourhood associations in Tallinn, with whom a cooperation model for citizen-led urban development will be created as the input for local elections in October 2013. The advocacy skills of neighbourhood associations will improve through methodical trainings and thanks to the possibility to exchange experience with associations in other city parts; and the legitimacy of associations in the eyes of the city representatives, but also in the eyes of entrepreneurs and experts involved in spatial development will improve through better advocacy skills.
Summary of project results
The project helped to raise the self-awareness and legitimacy of neighbourhood associations in Tallinn and created more trust between the associations and the City Government of Tallinn. There were 11 associations actively involved in carrying out the project, and in general 22 associations in the communication field of the project. One major outcome was the formation of the Good Collaboration Pact – a legal document to guide the collaboration between Tallinn City Government departments and non-profit organisations active in Tallinn. Since the Good Collaboration Pact is not yet ratified by the City Council, the work with that continues also after the project. The neighbourhood associations continue meeting regularly and exchanging experiences and information through channels created during the project. Two associations – Telliskivi and Kassisaba – submitted project application for coordinating the future collaboration of neighbourhood associations and representing them in negotiations with the city officials and politicians.
Summary of bilateral results