Urbact – European Network CoNet: Exploring current approaches to strengthen social cohesion in neighbourhoods Social Enterprises
Urbact – European Network CoNet: Exploring current approaches to strengthen social cohesion in neighbourhoods Social Enterprises
Within the framework of Urbact, eleven European cities have joined to form CoNet – the social cohesion network. They exchange experience on how to better realise current integrated approaches in order to strengthen social cohesion in deprived neighbourhoods – especially in the fields of employment, education and neighbourhood life. It is hoped that this knowledge will evolve into innovative projects in each of the partner cities.
Integrated projects allow greater progress to be made: all stakeholders are involved, the citizens participate actively, and projects contributing to different aims and functions are bundled together. The opportunities offered by the use of integrated approaches have by no means been exhausted. Yet this is an important tool in the successful and sustainable fight against the increasing segregation and social polarisation faced by our cities.
Berlin initiated the network in 2008 and will coordinate it for the next two and a half years. The other members of the network are Liverpool (UK), Vaulx-en-Velin (FR), Sofia (BG), Alba Iulia (RO), Brussels (BE), Apeldoorn (NL), Zabrze (PL), Malmö (SE), Gijón (ES) and Palermo (IT). As the network's Lead Expert, Prof. Dr. Rotraut Weeber will support the project with methodological and thematic input. Furthermore, in collaboration with the partner cities, she authored the Baseline Study.
In Europe, these approaches of broadened cooperation and more intensive civil participation are currently being discussed under the term ‘new governance’. How to motivate stakeholders? How to steer the process? How to make decisions? How to actually get things done? These key methodological questions form the focus of the CoNet exchange. In improving the social stabilisation of deprived neighbourhoods it is especially worth applying and optimising these new approaches. However, there are also many associated unique questions and challenges that arise when putting these approaches into practice – particularly in the fields of employment, education, neighbourhood life and civil participation.




Commissioned by:
Berlin Senate Department for Urban Development, Section Socially Integrative CityPublication:
CoNet (Hrsg.); Weeber, Rotraut; Nothdorf, Petra; Fischer, Reinhard; Partner Cities (2011): CoNet's Guide to Social Cohesion. Integrated Approaches in Disadvantaged Neighbourhoods. Berlin. »publicationDocuments:
»Future Workshop
(CoNet Network Meeting Alba Iulia Mai 2010)
»Education and Youth Work
(CoNet Network Meeting Apeldoorn April 2010)
»Inclusion and Integration
(CoNet Network Meeting Sofia Februar 2010)
»Social Enterprises to offer jobs or training
(CoNet Network Meeting Sofia Februar 2010)
»Integrated Financing and Social Cohesion
(CoNet Network Meeting Brussels September 2009)
»Approaches to Community Development
(CoNet Network Meeting Malmö Juni 2009)
»Project - Action Plan - Integrated Services
(CoNet Network Meeting Liverpool Mai 2009)
Links:
www.urbact.euwww.stadtentwicklung.berlin.de
www.quartiersmanagement-berlin.de