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The Long Road between Small Towns: Barriers to Building Community
Development Partnerships in Rural BC
Laura Ryser and Greg Halseth
Outline
• Rural restructuring
• Partnership issues
• Methodology
• Network gaps
• Barriers to developing partnerships
• Policy implications
Rural Restructuring
• Began in 1980s
• More responsibilities downloaded to local governments
• More calls for local gov’t staff to form strategic partnerships
• Partnerships critical to strengthen local and regional capacities
Partnerships Issues
Partnerships increasingly important to:– pool resources and obtain expertise– address complex problems
Defining partnerships:– Compatible goals– Shared risk / accountability– Clear management structures
Equally involved in decision-making and governance– Financial contribution ≠ partnership– Even distribution of resources, responsibilities,
and benefits
Building Partnerships
• Partnerships built through:
– Social cohesion• Opportunities for interaction• Developing well-worn paths
– Social capital• Trust / confidence• Networks of support, information, and
resources
Partnership Challenges
Infrastructure• Isolation and limited communication
infrastructure
Human Resources• Limited staff and time• Partnership activities not incorporated into job
roles and expectations• Limited leadership• Lack of succession planning strategies
Methodology
Questions:• To assess routine interaction
– Gov’t, First Nations, economic development, and community groups
• To identify network / partnership activities• To assess trust amongst networks
Analysis:• Responses coded / categorized to identify
patterns and themes.
Routine Interaction
• Routine interaction with:– Neighbouring local / regional district
gov’ts– MLAs / Ministry of Community Services– Leading employer– Education / health care groups– Voluntary groups– Media
• Limited / no interaction with:– First Nations band council / tribal council– Economic alliances– Industrial associations
Activities I
General Support• Advice and support• Sharing information
– Discuss common issues– Updates
• Research and training• Funding
– Understand funding processes
Activities II
Targeted Support• Regulation and policy development
– Developing by-laws• Physical and social Infrastructure
– Joint regional infrastructure• Economic development initiatives
– Regional development initiatives– Tourism strategies– Employment transition programs
Developing Trust I
Sharing Resources• Human resources
– Access to staff support / free labour– Board participation
• Funding– Provide financial support / donations– Assist with fundraising
• Infrastructure– Shared space / equipment
Developing Trust II
Operations• Advice and support• Ability to follow through
– Competent, committed staff– Completed tasks / projects
• Shared responsibilities– To deliver services
• Communications– Time made for discussion– Quick responses to requests
Barriers to Building Partnerships I
Resources• Lack of human resources
– Out-migration of professionals / skilled labour
– Lack of skills / capacity– Fewer leaders– Recruitment / retention issues– Inactive groups
• Funding– Difficulty receiving timely funding– Lack of long-term funding programs
Barriers to Building Partnerships II
Operations• Slow processes• Inability to follow through
– Limited availability– No attendance at meetings– Job tasks not completed
• Lack of communication– Slow responses– Information / plans are not shared
Barriers to Building Partnerships III
Power• Lack of influence• Decisions not made locally• Lack of political will to support initiatives
Policy Implications I
Human Resources
• Support training programs
• Encourage succession planning strategies
• Support institutional learning habits
Meetings and Personal Contact
• Support more opportunities for formal and informal interaction
Policy Implications II
Innovation• Support / share success stories of innovation
– Regional economic development officerFunding• Need long-term funding programs• Special funding to acquire more staff• Promote funding opportunities to local
groups• Common sense funding applications and
reporting procedures• Flexible funding programs
Policy Implications III
Relationships with First Nations• More communication with band and tribal
councils• Support First Nations liaison positions• Encourage local groups to attend First
Nations meetings• Arrange transportation for First Nations
representatives• Support including First Nations
representatives in local and regional endeavours
Community Development Institute
(CDI)
3333 University Way, Prince George, BC, Canada
V2N 4Z9http://www.unbc.ca/cdi
Dr. Greg Halseth, Acting Director Phone: (250) 960 - 5826Fax: (250) 960 - 6533Email: [email protected]