Priority 2 Targeted Analysis based on Stakeholder Demand Steinar Johansen Norwegian Institute for Urban and Regional Research Potentials of Rural Regions.

Priority 2 Targeted Analysis based on Stakeholder Demand

Steinar JohansenNorwegian Institute for Urban and Regional Research

Potentials of Rural Regions(PURR)

In short, there are two main purposes• To assess the rural (territorial) potentials of five regions• To develop a methodology that can be applied when assessing the potentials of

other rural regions• In addition, the proposed methodology should be based on previous ESPON

research and existing data, indicators and typologies

The five regions are• Notodden (no)• Dumfries and Galloway (the UK)• North Yorkshire (the UK)• Cambrian Mountains (the UK)• Amata and Vidzeme (Latvia)

Purpose of the Project

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Stakeholder demand

• Inductive (Bottom Up) Approach

• Extensive Use of Local Information (qualitative and quantitative)– Starting point of project

Use of ESPON Information

• Data

• Indicators

• Typologies

Combination of these approaches

Approaches

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From exogenous to endogenous development perspective

Identify and utilise rural assets (capitals) to reach rural potentitals• Financial• Built• Natural• Social• Human• Cultural• Political

Different sources of information, not only existing (secondary) data, but just as important and necessary is local (qualitative and quantitative) information

New Rural Paradigm – Asset Based Community Development

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Step 1: Benchmarking the region based on existing information (European and National/regional) – the Magnifying Glass

Step 2: Regional Context and Stakeholder Perspective (supplementary information):

• Informal discussions with Stakeholders

• A more formalised work-shop discussion

• A “Template” for discussing benchmarking process, supplemented with questionnaire

• A SWOT analysis

Step 3: Assessing Territorial Potentials (based on step 1 & 2)

Step 4: Policy Options and Future Development (based on steps 1 to 3)

Four-Step Methodology

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Inception report (comments from ESPON CU)

Interim report (comments from ESPON CU)

Revised interim report (submitted July)

Draft Final Report (submitted August)

Final Report (to be submitted)

• TPG meeting in September/October postponed

Stakeholders different expectations

• From discussions to detailed plans

Partners

• Norwegian Institute for Urban and Regional Research

• London South Bank University

• Vidzeme University College

Project Status and Partners

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Five very diverse regions• What is a rural region? Based on five Stakeholder regions• Rich to poor regions. Different structures and development trends• Two see developing central town as important rural strategy – implying

local centralisation.

Methodology is “working”• Combining secondary info from different levels• Extensive use of stakeholder info• Methodology is no “Black Box”, where info is put in and potentials are

outputs• Methodology contributes to constructive discussions among stakeholders

and awareness regarding potentials• The stakeholders must be responsible for developing potentials, experts

can only give advice

Experience

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Regional level

• Rural regions do not fit NUTS levels (too small, or overlapping NUTS borders)

• Are the Stakeholder regions in PURR rural?

• Typologies and indicator lists (EDORA and others) can be applied, but use of Magnifying Glass

Structural information

• The development perspectives (potentials) of the PURR regions are based on more detailed information (for instance single firms)

Are the regional and structural level of ESPON tools and info relevant for developing these types of regions?

Use of ESPON tools

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Thank you

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