Cities for Active Inclusion:

Investing in an Inclusive Society Rotterdam, 29 October 2013

Susana ForjanProject coordinator, EUROCITIES

Content of the presentation

1. Rotterdam and EUROCITIES

2. Summary of Cities for Active Inclusion partnership (2010-13)

3. Key findings Cities are important in

delivering Active Inclusion (AI)

Elements that facilitate the delivery of AI

Challenges to effective AI Recommendations

1. Rotterdam in EUROCITIES

The network of major European cities

Founded in 1986; Rotterdam founding member

More than 130 large cities in over 35 European countries

6 Thematic forums: Culture, economic development, environment, Knowledge society, transport and social affairs

Rotterdam very active especially in social affairs and knowledge society

Platform to share knowledge and ideas and develop innovative solutions

1

2. Summary of Cities for Active Inclusion partnership (2010-2013)

EU Recommendation on Active Inclusion

Integration of 3 pillars:-Income support

-Inclusive labour market

- Access to quality social services

Cities for Active Inclusion partnership 2010-13

Partner cities:

Barcelona (ES)

Birmingham (UK)

Bologna (IT)

Brno (CZ)

Copenhagen (DK)

Lille-Roubaix (FR)

Rotterdam (NL)

Sofia (BG)

Stockholm (SE)

Researching/analysing AI in cities: quality of social services, social economy, youth employment, preventative approaches, demographic change, etc.

Promoting mutual learning/study visits in cities: social economy, urban regeneration, social innovation, preventing homelessness

Awareness raising: workshops in cities, national websites, newsletters, events in Brussels

Objectives of the partnership (2010-13)

Main findings 1. Cities have a crucial role

in delivering AI

• Dealing with the territorial dimension of poverty (EU2020);

• Access to information on actual trends on poverty and social exclusion;

• Regulatory power for inclusive labour markets; - social clauses in public procurement;

- contracts with social economy associations to deliver social services;

Main findings

•Good governance/ policy coordination/ integrated approaches;

•Bottom-up approaches/working in partnership with citizens, users and NGOs;

•Area based approaches/urban regeneration; 

 

2. Successful elements: what facilitates effective AI in cities ?

Main findings

2. Successful elements: what facilitates effective AI? •Promoting social innovation•Prevention and early intervention•Invest to save principle: Social Return on Investment  (SROI)

Main findings

3 … The challenges…. •Budget cuts and financial constraints

• Increasing number/ new profiles of people at risk of social exclusion

• Governance to be improved (coordination between different level of governments)

Main findings

4. Conclusions and Recommendations •Improving visibility of AI in EU programmes/ funds/NRPs and CSP

•Promote mutual learning, research on what works/challenges

•Improving funding/ring-fenced money for AI at EU/National/local level

Main findings

4. Conclusions and Recommendations •Improving vertical coordination/working in partnership EU, national, local;

•Broadening the scope of AI: prevention, early intervention, education and family support, area-based approaches (SIP goes in this direction)

Further information can be found on our website…

www.eurocities-nlao.eu

Thank you for your attention!

Susana.forjan@eurocities.eu