takeaways

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New urban governance in SEiSMiC countries

In the spring of 2015 the first thematicnational workshops were held in each ofthe 10 SEiSMiC countries. Discussionsaddressed different challenges,expectations and hopes as societiesstrive for new, more socially innovativeforms of urban governance. Some ofthe most pressing topics in five selectedcountries are described below.

Hungary and the Czech Republic

Gender politics drove discussions inboth countries. Hungary focused on the

theme of new urban governanceshaped by a gender perspective.Participants at the country’s first nationalworkshop noted that “civicengagement” processes often reflectexisting power structures andinequalities and ignore genderdifferences and society’s diversity. TheSEiSMiC Gender Action Plan and Toolkit,released in November 2014, underlinedthe need for women’s civil society in itsmultiple forms to be represented inlocal participatory processes and socialinnovation networks. This is to ensurethat gender equality is recognised within

urban governance and social innovationpolicies. The Hungarian Women’s CivilSociety Network, which is representedin the Hungarian SEiSMiC NaNet,constitutes a “shadow” government inHungary. Each member shadows acounterpart in the government’s cabinetand provides critical feedback onnational policy debates, pointing out theexclusion of women’s needs andinterests in a male-dominated politicalscene. The Czech NaNet also works tolink social innovation with genderequality issues. An emergingproposal is to use the toolof gender budgeting,meaning a gender-balanced approachto policy making aswell as resourcedistribution. TheCzech NaNetbelieves thiswould improveaccountability andtransparency inpolicy design andensure a more equitableuse of public resources.

Austria

Multi-level governance topped theagenda at Austria’s first nationalworkshop in Graz. A crucial notion whendiscussing new forms of urbangovernance is better involvement ofcitizens in urban development anddecision making. New models ofparticipation are needed and theconsequences for urban administration,economy and governance have to beunderstood. Because urban policymakers are embedded in regional,national and European policy processes,the impacts and limitations of newurban governance approaches need tobe investigated in the context of theselarger systems. This might imply a shiftof values, the better consideration of

local actors along the entire decisionchain, a new way of aligning differentpolicy processes, or the re-definition ofregional governance.

Sweden

Members of the Swedish NaNetgathered near Gothenburg to reflect ontransformative processes in urbangovernance. As in other SEiSMiC nationalcontexts, this refers to the long-debated

shift from “government” to“governance”. The latter

involves a more multi-level approach to

public administration,endeavouring toestablish modes ofcommunicationand collaborationthat break out ofvertical “silos”. In

this context, thespecific issues

discussed ranged fromthe need for advanced

and developed knowledgeand new methods for

transdisciplinary process management,to the challenge of creating agovernmental system that can adjustbetter to local, grassroots and small-scale incentives.

Italy

SEiSMiC delegates met in Naples todiscuss innovative multi-levelgovernance in cities. The need toincrease partnerships among differenturban stakeholders and to improvecross-sector communication wasdiscussed in the context of collaborativemapping, new urban economies andcivic hacking activities. The ultimate goalis for local authorities and citizens tocollaborate in the monitoring of policyimplementation.

New urban governance in SEiSMiC countries

takeawaysThe SEiSMiC project helps tackle Europe's biggest urban problems by engaging citizens, identifying social innovation needs, and contributing to future urban policies and research strategies.SEiSMiC has received funding from the European Union's Seventh Framework Programme for research, technological development and demonstration under grant agreement no. 612493.

A crucial notion in new urbangovernance is better

involvement of citizensin urban decision

making.