Getting started with the RFSCGetting started with the RFSC
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The Reference Framework for Sustainable Cities
2Information provided by
What is the RFSC?
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What is the RFSC?
A toolkit for cities
• an interactive web-tool
• facilitating the dialogue about sustainable
and integrated urban development
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– within cities
– between cities
– with local stakeholders
– across sectors
– at different political levels (local, regional, national,
European)
– within different levels of governance
The content of the tool
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The content of the tool
Three main sections of RFSC
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Your city/institution profile
− describe your city
− add documents, photos
etc
− you can use existing
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− you can use existing
documents
− choose what is useful for
other cities to stimulate
exchange and learning
Networking/sharing experiences
- Search engine to find other
cities to start sharing and
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learning with
- Directory of cities and
institutions
- Catalogue of showcases
Three evaluation tools
1. check list tool to help
developing a sustainable
strategy
2. qualitative evaluation tool to
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2. qualitative evaluation tool to
assess the integrated approach
3. a quantitative evaluation tool
with a library of indicators
Choose what suits your needs!
3 main tools
Checklist to develop a sustainable urban
development strategy
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Check whether a strategy or project is
developed in an integrated manner
Build a monitoring system to evaluate a
strategy or project
The “core” of the 3 tools
25 objectives on sustainable urban development
• covering European objectives and principles
• inspired by practices in some 200 European cities
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• inspired by practices in some 200 European cities
• grouped by the 4 pillars of sustainability
– economy
– social affairs
– environment
– governance
• each objective specified with sub-objectives to go into
details and to stimulate further debate
Tool 1: Develop strategy or project
Helps to develop a sustainable urban development strategy
with a checklist
… in line with:
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… in line with:
− the city’s own priorities
− European objectives and
principles
− general and detailed
objectives
Tool 2: Check the integrated approach
Helps to check the integrated approach of an urban strategy
or project
−by checklist of questions
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−by checklist of questions
− based on a vision of a European
sustainable city
− stimulate discussions
− positive or negative impacts?
− conflicts or synergies in objectives?
− visualise the results
Tool 3: Build a monitor system
Helps to monitor the progress over time
Including:
– 33 recommended key indicators
(e.g. EU 2020)
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(e.g. EU 2020)
– some targeted values
– a broad collection of other useful
indicators
– possibility to add own indicators
– a spreadsheet to build own
monitoring systems
The functionalities of the RFSC
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The functionalities of the RFSC
Evaluating, checking and monitoring
All kind of urban and regional (integrated) strategies
– E.g. urban and spatial planning, integrated city plan, municipal plan
of sustainable development, strategic development plan, integrated
city development plan
– Also with a focus on strategies in deprived neighbourhoods (if
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– Also with a focus on strategies in deprived neighbourhoods (if
needed)
All kind of urban and regional projects
– E.g. develop/evaluate/update Agenda 21, development of Eco-
district, plans of urban regeneration/redevelopment, revitalisation
of urban streets/areas, environmental action plan, bicycle project,
development of technology centre, et cetera
– Also with a focus on project in deprived neighbourhoods
What are the benefits of the RFSC?
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What are the benefits of the RFSC?
Better communication
• about sustainable and integrated strategies and projects
• amongst and between different groups
– technical departments in the city administration
– elected representatives
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– elected representatives
– planners, practitioners and experts
– citizens and stakeholders
– at different political and multi governance levels (local, regional,
national, European)
• through illustrating and explaining decision-making processes
– compare the impact and results for different alternatives
– improve coordination
– give reasons for the choices taken
Better results
• making urban strategies and projects more sustainable
• fostering integrated thinking and actions
– raising awareness about potential synergies
– warning about possible gaps and conflicts
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– warning about possible gaps and conflicts
– creating cost-savings in the long run
• assessing progress over time
– identifying the potential need for adjustments
• building capacity in urban management
– learning step-by-step with a strong focus on the process
– finding useful examples and show cases from other cities
– exchanging with peer-cities and learning from each other
Background of RFSC
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Background of RFSC
Background and political context
Decisions of EU Ministers for urban development
• Leipzig Charter on Sustainable European Cities (2007)
– Promote the integrated approach
– Pay special attention to deprived neighbourhoods
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– Pay special attention to deprived neighbourhoods
• Marseille Statement (2008)
– Create a tool for cities to implement the Leipzig Charter
– France initiated the “Reference Framework”
• Toledo Declaration (2010)
– Prototype of the RFSC
– Test the RFSC with a larger group of cities (66)
• Poznan (2011)
– Improve and then diffuse among European cities
A joint European initiative
• Cities and local authorities networks (CEMR, Eurocities, ICLEI)
• Member States of the EU
• European Commission (DG REGIO)
• Multi-level working structure
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Multi-level working structure
– Urban Development Group (political monitoring committee)
– Member States and Institutions group (MSI group)
– National Support Groups
– Management Team (joint leadership: France, DG REGIO, trio presidencies)
• Expertise and support
– CSTB (technical expert, webmaster)
– National Support Groups
– Platform31, ICLEI and CEMR (RFSC secretariat, information, training)
A common European platform
No evaluation or judgement of cities
� but critical self-assessment of cities and conscious decision-
making
No standardisation of urban development
� but creating a space for debate
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� but creating a space for debate
� adaptable to the national context and the local situation
No measuring or ranking of cities
� but comparing different approaches and results
No obligation for cities, no precondition for funding
� but cities contributing to common European objectives
No fees for cities, no financial support
� but e-learning, exchanging and capacity building
How to start using the RFSC?
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How to start using the RFSC?
Contact secretariat [email protected]
Access to RFSC and
RFSC-secretariatrfsc.eu
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As visitor
• easy to explore the RFSC
• all tools and user guides available
• no sharing and networking
• no safeguard of work
As RFSC city
• sharing, networking and learning
• all your strategies and projects later
available for further developing/checking
• all kind of support of RFSC-secretariat
