Cities for Active Inclusion: Investing in an Inclusive Society

Cities for Active Inclusion: Investing in an Inclusive Society Rotterdam, 29 October 2013 Susana Forjan Project 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)

Objectives of the partnership (2010-13) • 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

Main findings • 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 2. Successful elements: what facilitates effective AI in cities ? • Good governance/ policy coordination/ integrated approaches; • Bottom-up approaches/working in partnership with citizens, users and NGOs; • Area based approaches/urban regeneration;

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

Cities for Active Inclusion: Investing in an Inclusive Society