All development is local – in Söderslätt 2020-1834 – Umbrella project

About the project

All development is local!

That local service, trust, and civil society are important for a sustainable society.

That the alternatives and the quality of life that exist in the villages outside the cities can remain, and perhaps find new ways to be active – by organizing, financing, engaging, and funding in new ways together in the local community.

How can one make visible the economic flow that exists in a village, and how can this benefit the local community?

How can one organize and mobilize engaged individuals?

What examples are there of collaboration between villages, and between villages and the municipality – and is this something that can be applied or further developed in Söderslätt?

This is a project that supports villages and communities in Söderslätt to collectively build their capacity around local development through broadened engagement, local financing, and circular economy, exchange of experiences – both between participating villages and between other Skåne and international examples.

By conducting Local Economic Analyses with accompanying action plans, the local resources are made visible and also what potential exists to further develop the village in various directions, depending on how these resources are mobilized. Local Economic Analyses and concrete action plans are a well-established tool for local development.

Each village has hosted a joint meeting where, in addition to a presentation of the village, participants share experiences based on a specific theme (communication, broadened engagement, storytelling, financing, organizing, etc. depending on needs) and we have the opportunity to invite specialists on the theme. During the project, the project employees are available for ongoing support and advice for both villages and officials, to look at the unique conditions that exist in each locality.

Three study visits have been conducted. The study visits are a good tool for development and networking, and we visited places and initiatives that can serve as inspiration and examples of how villages can work with local development, and in collaboration with municipalities. There will be a visit in Skåne, one in Denmark/Jutland, and one either in Germany/United Kingdom – all in places with several inspiring examples of sustainable
rural development. Podcasts are a new way to make visible, document, and spread the project and its experiences and results across different platforms.

The project will deliver a section for each participating locality and a summarizing section with overarching reflections and experiences. Here, the locally engaged will have their say, and the format is perfect for dissemination and listening via the web or mobile. Participating municipalities and villages include: Skurup, Vellinge, Svedala, Trelleborg, Södra Åby, Västra Ingelstad, Slimminge.

Idea-driven Development is a non-profit association that has worked with local development issues in Skåne for more than 15 years, and works based on the principles of popular education. We know that the experts on our local communities are those who live and work there, and together with expertise and other grassroots initiatives around Skåne and Europe, we are inspired to continue local development work, and build networks, learn from each other, and exchange experiences to become even better at what we do.

Contact person:

Nils Phillips, Mobile number 0736447738 Email address info@ideburenutveckling.se