Social Concept Außerfern

Best Practice

Topics

• Policies and instruments
• New forms of decision-making

Short description

The accomplishment of social problems and challenges needs special concepts in rural, sparsely populated areas. The district of Reutte in the Northwest of Tyrol is a remoted area and struggles against movement of labour, migration of young people and brain drain. The Social Concept Außerfern provides a basis for developing rural regions, of improving quality of life in rural regions and of encouraging regional social co-operation (which are stated e.g. in the LEADER+ programme). It is a typical bottom-up-project, emerging from the problems of a region and was developed by the regional management organisation, the 'Regionalentwicklung Außerfern'.

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Project executive

Association Regionalentwicklung Außerfern (REA) with its 37 municipalities of the district of Reutte, the district governor, the Chamber of Labour, the Chamber of Agriculture, the Chamber of Commerce, Tourism Association, companies and private persons. The Association REA is responsible for the implementation of the Development Plan of Außerfern.

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Participants

There are five work groups concerning the following issues: alcohol/drugs/mental disorders, old people, integration of migrants, children/youth/family and handicapped people. There were more than 150 interested participants (residents politicians, entrepreneurs, authorities, church) and a steering committee. The process was co-ordinated by the REA.

Objectives

The project aims at developing guidelines, activities and measures for the social development of the district. There are several sub-goals: shaping of opinions, qualification of decision makers, co-ordination of existing and future activities, strengthening the regional responsibiliy, motivation and working together for the social development of the region, strengthening of regional identities.

Activities

After the public kick-off meeting and a public panel discussion the work groups were formed. Within about one year there were about 25 meetings of each work group where the modules and activities were discussed and defined. Five protocols with a preamble, goals, policies and activities were developed. The process was well documented and published on the internet and in other media.

Process

Start up was in 2003, when the idea of bringing the region's welfare services together arised. The District Commissioner and the representative of the Chamber of Labour, both members of the managing board of the 'Regionalentwicklung Außerfern', got the idea started. The 'Reionalentwicklung Außerfern' began to look for financial support. The responsible politicians and the executives of the provincial government of Tyrol were favourable to the project and provided financial support. The 'Regionalentwicklung Außerfern' also submitted the project to the LEADER+ Programme. The Social Concept for the district was completed and agreed in 2005. There were a start workshop, a panel discussion and several work shops.

Results

analysis of strenghts and weaknesses, broad mobilisation of residents and policy makers, development of a concept with five protocols, folder with all addresses and duties of social institutions etc. in the district of Reutte, which is available in all communities and institutions, common presentation of child care at a fair, development of several measures. The Außerfern is the first district in Austria with a social concept that was developed under broad participation of the population, policy makers and social institutions. The success factors of the project implementation are related with this process on a broad basis: the authors of the Social Concept are also the ones who implement measures. Another success factor has been the great political support, as the concept offers answers to pressing regional problems.

Evaluation

The project had not been evaluated yet.

Difficulties

mobilisation of many different actors in Reutte: At the beginning only interested residents and members of social institutions participated. A presentation at a mayor conference and a lot of individual talks were necessary to acquire also mayors of all municipalities.

Budget

30.000 (Euro)

Financial backer

Provincial government of Tyrol (department for welfare, education, youth and family) and the Leader+ programme of the European Union

Source of information

Competition

Participant at the 2005 Future in the Alps competition

Homepage

http://www.allesausserfern.at/rea/sozialesleitbild/

Publication

see http://www.allesausserfern.at/rea/sozialesleitbild/

Project executive as above

Contact person as above

Comments

Impact on nature and environment

There is no direct impact on nature and environment. A decentralised concept concerning social welfare is very important in sparsely populated areas (especially in the Lechtal valley) which can possibly lead to less individual transport.

Economic value added

An important objective of the project is to initiate co-operations and networks. This should enable cheaper social activities and services. Against the background of savings in public budgets co-operation, networks and efficiency play an important role to save social security for the future. There is no information about the quantity of these savings available.

Socio-cultural value added

Several actors and social institutions got to know each other better. Now they know what everyone is doing and what every institution offers. Young and old people, migrants and non-migrants, people from all social classes worked together.

Innovative content

The Außerfern ist the first district in Austria that has developed a social concept with broad participation.

Good governance

Politics intervenes when nuisances can't be ignored anymore. Often this intervenance comes too late in individual cases. In small regions people know each other, they have their own networks and potential for acting (subsidiarity). This principle is one of the main factors of the project.

PR impact

panel discussion, information booth at the district's fair, publication of a folder, internet and pr to regional and local newspapers.

Multiplier effect / networking

The project was presented at a panel discussion of the Federal Ministry for Families on 25 April 2005 in Vienna and at an expert meeting of the European Commission/DG Agri on 6 October 2004 in Brussels. There is a connex to the guideline for integration of Tyrol and to a cross border Euregio-analysis (Interreg IIIA). There is an exchange of experiences between the REA and the regional development association MIAR in the district of Landeck.

Transferability

There's an idea to develop a social concept also for the district of Landeck in Tyrol. There are good connections beween the MIAR in Landack and the REA in the Außerfern.

Remarks

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