Research Project: Expert opinion on the preparation of an inter-agency strategy for the "Social City"

Concept

Research concept

The elaboration of the basis for the inter-agency strategy consists of the following building blocks:

Building block I: to demonstrate social polarisation in cities

In a first step, the evaluation of available scientific studies, surveys, data and concepts provided an overview of the relevant social developments (e.g. demography, job market, educational opportunities, income development). On this basis the trends were identified which lead to a social polarisation with a corresponding relevance for urban development. It was emphasised that a strategy needs to incorporate a very broad approach and must involve different departments (a task for society as a whole).

Building block II: What can social urban development accomplish?

Building block II compiled a systematic overview of the departmental policies, where a social space orientation (Sozialraumorientierung) demonstrates which added value a social space orientation can contribute (e.g. more selective addressing of certain segments of the population, co-ordinated course of action of different disciplines, targeted involvement of local organisations/institutions) and which role the aid programme for urban development Social City plays. The empirical basis was an analysis of all relevant municipal departments in reference to their potential socio-spatial orientation. To this end research was conducted with exemplary in-depth studies from the municipal practice (e.g. social space orientation in youth work, in prevention policy, in social policy).

Building block III: to demonstrate innovative approaches at the federal state level

The federal states organise the general framework given by the Federal Government differently and so the range of aid programmes and aid focal points in the individual federal states is correspondingly broad. For the exemplary description of innovative co-operative approaches, interviews were therefore conducted in five state ministries with contact persons for the aid programme for urban development “Social City”. Ministries were selected which have already developed and implemented inter-agency strategies, so that it was possible to sample and analyse advantages, obstacles and transferability.

Building block IV: to strengthen the cooperation of the federal departments

The pooling and the interaction of offers and measures by different departments are the prerequisites for a successful district development on the constructional, the social and the economic level.

Many municipalities have established an inter-departmental co-operation in the last couple of years. The study analysed the state of implementation of systematic, co-ordinated approaches at the federal level as well. On the basis of an analysis of the federal programmes that are suitable for the social space orientation or that can be readjusted, potential integrated uses of different programmes in the areas of the Social City were examined and discussed within the context of expert talks with the respective persons in charge in the different federal departments.

Building block V: to generate new topics and key players for a social urban development

At present, new central social challenges are emerging, among other things from the demands of environmental justice, educational justice, social health justice or the demands of inclusion (in a comprehensive social understanding). There are also the demands of immigration policy and policy of integration, respectively. Intertwined with these are far-reaching implications and the need for renewal which partly go beyond municipal responsibilities, for instance in the area of education. These topics are – beyond the fundamental specific reform debate – very relevant for urban development. In the context of preparation for an inter-agency strategy, new topics were highlighted (e.g. strategic qualification of municipalities, qualification neighbourhood management, the interface between nutrition, health, environmental justice and sports), and recommendations were listed for the involvement of additional participants that could support the respective municipal strategies.

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Guiding research questions

For the compilation of the expert opinion, the following guiding research questions were essential:

• For which topic areas does the co-operation of different departments make the most sense and how can these be persuaded to participate?
• Which programmes, projects or objectives already in existence are especially suitable for an incorporation into the Social City?
• What could an intersection provide and at what point does it generate an added value for both sides – urban development and administrative departments?
• Which topics important for a social district development are not reflected in the programmes so far?
• In this context, how could a more binding, long-term oriented co-operation with civil society, welfare organisations, industry as well as foundations and Churches be envisioned?
• Why would a more efficient co-operation be of interest to them?

As for the methodology, assignment several approaches were selected within the framework of the research:

• Written evaluation of studies, experts opinions and data
• Expert talks with federal, state and municipal representatives
• Documentation of practice-oriented municipal socio-spatial approaches in different subject areas
• Conducting three workshops with representatives of different federal departments, state governments, organisations, foundations, academia and so on.

At the three workshops the focus was on key issues which are of great importance to the socio-spatially oriented district development:

• 1. Workshop: nutrition, health, environmental justice and sports
• 2. Workshop: employment, integration, job training and the economy
• 3. Workshop: education, poverty prevention and consumer protection

The objective of the workshops was to jointly discuss the possibilities and obstacles as well as the general framework of an inter-agency strategy for the "Social City" as the basis for the future co-operation within the Federal Government against the backdrop of different key issues. Participants of the workshops were representatives of different federal departments, subordinate agencies, state representatives, staff members of foundations and organisations as well as representatives from research departments.