Description
The objective of the project is to increase civic participation in 6 rural communities in Warmia and Mazury (Dźwierzuty, Górowo Iławeckie, Iława, Jonkowo, Kozłowo and Sorkwity) in local policy planning, mainly in updating communal strategies for solving social problems. Some of the strategies have not been updated for several years and the institutions of local administration did not find a solution to get the citizens and the NGOs involved in the process. The involvement of citizens is necessary in order to help in addressing social problems, supporting integration and improving educational and employment opportunities. In each of the communities, a variety of civic participation techniques will be used to develop local problem solving strategies.
Summary of project results
In municipalities of Warmińsko-Mazurskie voivodeship that are touched by many social problems (such as unemployment rate above 50%, percentage of people relying on social assistance higher than voivodeship average), so far the Municipal Strategies for Resolving Social Problems proved to be ineffective. Municipal Centres for Social Assistance decided that the problem results from the lack of participation of inhabitants in the process of developing local social policies, so their offer was not tailored to their needs. At the same time, they had no tools to enhance participation of inhabitants. The aim of the project was to tailor municipal social policies to local conditions and needs of inhabitants. In 6 rural municipalities (Kozłowo, Jonkowo, Dźwierzuty, Górowo Iławeckie, Sorkwity, Iława), new strategies for resolving social problems for the years 2015-2020 were developed with participation of inhabitants. During implementation of the project, 5 out of the 6 strategies were voted and accepted by municipal councils, while the sixth was accepted after the end of the project. In each of the 6 municipalities, a diagnosis of needs (questionnaire) was prepared, and then strategic planning workshops with participation of inhabitants were organised. Based on the results of the diagnosis and materials from workshops, experts prepared drafts of 6 strategies which then were consulted with inhabitants at 18 meetings. Drafts of strategies were amended to include opinions and remarks from consultations, presented to municipal councils, and 5 of them were accepted for implementation. Representatives of different groups of inhabitants (youth, elder people, people relying on social assistance, local leaders) - in all 547 persons - took part in the process of developing the strategies. The project was implemented in partnership with Municipal Centres for Social Assistance from each of the 6 municipalities. Partners participated in preparing the diagnosis, helped to organise meetings with inhabitants, invited participants of meetings, and presented drafts of strategies to local authorities."
Summary of bilateral results