Description
In Romania the importance of urban policies is not recognized and there is a low level of participation in planning processes. The legislation is imposing procedures with some guidelines, but the interest, the know-how and the financial resources are still very few. General objective: quality improvement of the decision making processes on urban development and urban policies for citizens and local public administration. The project intends to contribute to ensuring the access to information on urban development processes and strategies, to facilitate the interaction between groups involved in urban development and improve the performances of local public administration in the public consultation process. The partnership will use mixed skills and resources for creating a favorable context for long-term cooperation with public authorities using info graphics, web platform, events around the mobile interactive unit, online urban investigation kit, round tables, training session. The Bucharest inhabitants are the main target group. Others are experts and professionals in urban development, elected decision makers and civil servants in Bucharest.
Summary of project results
The project addressed the limited general knowledge about what urban planning is and how it can help solving cities’ problems. On one hand, the project was focused on capacity building for citizens through urban pedagogy and participation instruments, in order to increase the level of expectations towards the local authorities’ performance in participatory planning. On the other hand, the decision makers and the public servants needed to get familiar with the benefits of participatory planning and to open up more towards it. In terms of compulsory transparency methods in urban planning in Romania, even though there is a legal act - the Ministry Ordinance no. 2701/2010 - the obligations are, in general, only formally applied by municipalities. The Municipality of Bucharest, through the General Direction of Urban Development, support partner of the project, was introduced to an online instrument (Urbonline) that is directly connected to the content of Ordinance 2701 and this platform clearly represents a good practice. The project team helped making this instrument more visible with the support of both professionals and citizens, but also made recommendations for its improvement. The main activities of the project tackled the issues mentioned above through the creation of an online and offline set of tools that enabled both citizens and public servants to better understand participatory approach in urban planning – an online platform that showcases urbanistic plans for the city of Bucharest and a vehicle/car (Urboteca) that went in public spaces and involved directly the citizens in games constructed to make them more aware of urban planning and its benefits. Both instruments are still available and used by the promoter in further promotion and awareness of urban planning issues.
Summary of bilateral results
NUDA - Nordic Urban Design Association is a network bringing together experts in various fields. The discussions with NUDA coordinator, held before drafting the grant application for this project, led to the commitment that resource persons relevant for the project’s objectives will be identified and convinced to help the project team, without financial retribution from the budget of this project. Even though not an official partner in the project, two people from LEVA URBAN DESIGN were willing to engage in an exchange with the promoter. Their presence in the round table organised in October 2014 was very helpful: there were identified common issues related to pioneering in this field of facilitation for communication in urban planning. Both organisations (promoter and LEVA) have a mutual interest to identify resources that will make possible the collaboration in the future by participating in international consortia for grants. Also, the promoter will continue the cooperation with LEVA URBAN DESIGN because this company is specialised in offering communication facilitation services in urban planning and urban design to local authorities in Norway (Stavanger and Oslo). Considering the diminishing of grant resources for the NGO sector in Romania, non-governmental organisations will need to diversify their funding sources. Hence, the project team is very interested in further experience exchange with LEVA.