Description
The project “City districts plan!" is aimed at intensifying social dialogue on the level of districts of Kraków through: increasing competencies of its actors - activists and councillors, popularising the use of participation tools (civic budget, local initiative), and creating opportunities for strategic planning of local community development in the form of Participatory District Development Plans. Under the project, 24 persons in two mixed groups (councillors and activists) will be trained in practical use of dialogue tools. Then, the persons will start to animate groups around civic budget, local initiative, and take part in District Expert Panels. District Expert Panels will develop Participatory District Development Plans, being draft strategic documents for city districts for the following years.
Summary of project results
"In Kraków in the recent years, an increasing interest in city affairs and activism in general has been observed among inhabitants. Since 2012 Kraków was a leader e.g. in protests against ACTA, also Occupation of the Kraków Marketplace was organised, leading to the development of the movement The right to the city, a successful referendum against the Winter Olympics in Kraków was conducted, a marathon of writing comments to the Study on conditions and directions of city space planning was organised. As we noticed, the city inhabitants have been more and more interested in the problems of their neighbourhoods, but still more often are active in matters where they have to fight for their rights than in cooperation. The aim of the project was to strengthen the role of the city districts in the life of the city through enhanced communication between inhabitants, city officers and city councillors (and in particular, to overcome stereotypes common among inhabitants, city officers and councillors on each other) and to promote several tools for cooperation (local initiatives, strategic plans). The competencies of 28 city councillors and activists were strengthened during trainings organised under the Academy for Local Initiators. Three District Development Plans were developed, of which two were accepted by district authorities. Under the Academy for Local Initiators, five workshops and study visits were organised, and their participants were tutored. Under the Participation Support Bank, 21 experts advised 38 persons in 46 matters. We conducted one consultation process concerning planned new park in Zabłocie, and an opinion was prepared on changing traffic organisation in a housing complex in Kraków. As a result of work conducted by Civil District Panels, during eight consultation meetings three District Development Plans were prepared. The Kraków Forum for Participation Practitioners was organised and attended by 89 persons. The recipients of the project are both experienced and new city activists, city inhabitants interested in their neighbourhoods and local communities, and district councillors willing to be closer to their inhabitants. The Partner, the Development Department in Kraków City Hall, helped in organising consultation processes, and also consulted the feasibility of Development Plans."
Summary of bilateral results