Village Development Plans:

Presenting a base model of aninstrument of village assocations to

achieve self defined goals

Democratic bodiesFormal:

National

Regional

Local

Informal:

Village Association

Village associations:

Non-political, voluntary organisations that:

•Execute projects•Provide a legal person for initiatives of villagers•Communicate with local government• Represent the village• Make plans for the village

‘Ruling our own future!’

What is a VDP?

A Village Development Plan (VDP) is a plan outlining the desired

developments - according to the inhabitants – for the quality of life

within the village and in the immediate surroundings.

A VDP:

Identifies issues affecting the community – social, environmental and economic.It’s a statement about how a community sees itself developing over the next few years and what actions are needed to achieve that vision.

What issues/topics?

Amenities, traffic, housing, sense of community, recreation and sport,

nature, children etc.

Characteristics of a Village Development Plan

•For the whole villageand supported by the village

•10-15 ahead

•Comparison of the VDP to other villages

Benefits of a VDP:

What are the benefits of a VDP For all villagers, individuals and

the local government?

Benefits of a VDP:

For all villagers:

•Framework for village association• Supported by whole village-> bigger chance of implementation of plans• Enhanced social cohesion• Respond to government plans• Increased self awareness/confidence/determination • Enhanced local democracy

Benefits of a VDP:

For Individuals:Using /Learning skillsMore involvement to local matters For the (local) government:A VDP can help to realise goals (provide a framework)Leaving responsibility and tasks to villages

Approach/Getting started

Step 1: Defining topics:

Why a VDP?What does the village mean?What are the main themes?What is the time-frame?

Step 2: Getting everybody involved

What parties should have a say in the themes chosen? Inhabitants, local business people, clubs, schools, elderly people etc. Hard to involve groups:Youth, parents of young children, carers of housebound relatives, people with disabilities

Meeting youth...

Step 3: Collecting information

Making an inventory by:•Brainstorm•Survey•Kitchen table discussions•Panel of experts Combination of methods!? (sometimes more information needed) Other ways of expression?

Kitchen table discussions

Step 4:List of ideas

•Making list of ideas complete•Grouping raw data (bundling ideas)•‘Shaping ideas’ (advantages, disadvantages of solutions, add figures)

Step 5: Implementation/structure

Describing topics:

•Current situation (positive and negative)•Desired situation (what and why)•Solutions (what needs to happen in order to achieve the desired situation)•Action list (general overview of who / partners, what and when of the solutions described)• Level of priority chosen by villagers

Step 6: Drawing up the VDP•What led to the development of a VDP?•Steps followed and results •A description of the main topics: context, problem, possible solutions, etc.•Short, middle and long-term planning •Follow-up steps, project groups, co-operation•Appendices: participants in working groups, results of inventories, etc •Illustrations (photos, maps).

Step 7: Presentation

Creating and using momentum!

Presentation to:

•Villagers •Municipality•Local press

Forming working groups?

Time and costs

•Approximately 6 months, depending on varieties of plan making

• Costs?

CommunicationCreating support outside village:

•Inviting parties to initial meetingKeeping them notified at every step along the way.•Consulting on preparations for plans.

Key partner is local government, what do you expect from them?

Village development plan: possible actors

Lp-ap

The outcome: a confrontation LP<->AP Area program

VillageTopic 1 Development proposal Plan EU-regislation proposal agreementsTopic 2 Government policy proposal agreements proposal plans proposal Market partiesTopic 3 plans proposal Trends

Rapports

Local program

Follow up of the VDP

Forming project groups:

1.Decision-making based upon VDP2.Formulating3.Financing4.Realisation

Does ownership of projects fits the villagers?

Role of Doarpswurk:

•Informing interested parties of the objectives of and reasons for a VDP •Advising and helping on things such as approach/method, a step-by-step plan and structuring the organisation. •Leading a village meeting/discussion and other tasks•Acting as a ‘sparring partner’ in certain phases