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TurkishExamples of Good Practices
| Good Practice 1 | Porto Innovation District |
| Brief description of good practice | The Porto Innovation District is a project that aims to transform the eastern part of Porto into a hub for innovation, creativity and entrepreneurship. It involves renovating old industrial buildings, creating new public spaces and attracting start-ups, research centres and cultural institutions. The project is expected to generate economic growth, social cohesion and environmental sustainability. The district is one of Europe’s largest concentrations of talent, with over 14,000 people working in complex roles. The City of Porto is leading the project, providing physical space and technical and human resources.
Duration: Since 2016. Aim: To transform the eastern part of the city of Porto into a hub for innovation, creativity and entrepreneurship.
Implementation: Transforming the eastern region of Porto into a centre for entrepreneurship, innovation and creativity. This involves updating outdated structures, creating new public spaces and attracting start-ups, research and cultural institutions. The initiative, led by Porto City Council, focuses on ‘innovation in the transformation of the city’ and encourages collaboration with stakeholders. |
| Target group of the good practice | The target group includes start-ups, research centres and cultural institutions seeking collaboration and access to resources. They also aim to improve the services of the Municipality of Porto through creative methods. The target group is not based on age, but on needs, background and aspirations for innovation and urban development, contributing to economic growth, social cohesion and environmental sustainability. |
| Partners / Actors of good practice | The Porto Innovation District is led by the City of Porto, which provides physical space, technical and human resources, and implements the In-House Innovation pillar. The University of Porto, with over 38,000 students, 14 universities and several research institutes, hosts the Science and Technology Park (UPTEC) and supports over 40 business innovation centres. The Faculty of Engineering of the University of Porto (FEUP) in Asprela, with over 8,000 students and 500 faculty members, collaborates with several companies in the fields of engineering technologies, health sciences and entrepreneurship. Other faculties, schools, institutes and hospitals contribute to knowledge production and health services. Start-ups, research centres and cultural institutions also benefit from the project’s network and participation in the city’s innovation-driven transformation. |
| Success factors and difficulties / barriers to good practice | Success factors:
The city of Porto is leading a project with a clear vision: “Innovation in the transformation of the city”. The area is a hub of talent, knowledge and innovation, with over 14,000 employees and 38,000 students in higher education. The project fosters a vibrant ecosystem of start-ups, research centres and cultural institutions. Collaboration with stakeholders such as residents, artists, planners, policy makers and businesses are fostering a culture of innovation and creativity.
Difficulties / Barriers: The project faces the challenges of integrating local interests, balancing the preservation of historical and cultural heritage with innovation, ensuring the sustainability and scalability of innovation activities, adapting to changing needs and expectations, competing with other innovation districts and hubs, and attracting and retaining talent, customers, and investors. It also requires adapting to external factors and trends that influence innovation and urban development and measuring the impact and value of outcomes. |
| How can this good practice be linked to the CIVIC GREEN project, its scope and its activities? | These initiatives encourage collaboration and knowledge-sharing between different stakeholders, promoting a holistic approach to sustainability and well-being. By involving local people, artists, planners, decision-makers, businesses, educators and academics, these projects ensure that different perspectives are taken into account in achieving their goals. In addition, the use of a wide range of tools and materials allows for effective communication and dissemination of best practice, extending the impact of these initiatives beyond their immediate scope. |
| Related links | Website of the good practice:
Other links: www.web.fe.up.pt/~studyresearch/life-at-feup/innovation_district/
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| Good Practice 1 | Historic Villages of Portugal (Aldeias Históricas de Portugal) |
| Brief description of good practice | The project aims to restore and promote old Portuguese villages, improving their quality of life and prosperity. This includes training low-skilled people, developing unique business ideas and revitalising abandoned buildings. Visitors can enjoy activities such as walking trails and gastronomic festivals. The project encourages community spirit and social responsibility.
Duration: Since 2003.
Aims: To restore and promote a series of ancient villages/human settlements important in Portugal’s history, and to improve the quality of life, well-being and prosperity of the people who live in them.
Implementation: The project, led by the Aldeias Históricas de Portugal Association, has 19 members from 12 municipalities, four inter-municipalities, two regional development agencies and one tourism organisation. It focuses on urban and heritage regeneration, the creation of micro-enterprises in the tourism sector and the promotion of cultural tourism. The project is supported by Turismo de Portugal, the national tourism authority. |
| Target group of the good practice | The target group includes low-skilled people looking for employment opportunities, visitors wanting to explore the historical and cultural heritage of the 12 villages, and stakeholders looking for cooperation and social responsibility. The target group is not based on age, but on their needs, background and aspirations in relation to urban and heritage regeneration. The project aims to preserve and promote old villages and human settlements that are important in the history of Portugal. |
| Partners / Actors of good practice | The Aldeias Históricas de Portugal Association, run by 19 members, manages and develops a project involving villages in Portugal. The national tourism authority, Turismo de Portugal, provides financial and technical support, grants tourism status and focuses on cultural tourism. The University of Coimbra collaborates with the Association in the fields of town planning, architecture, heritage, tourism and social sciences. |
| Success factors and difficulties / barriers to good practice | Success factors:
Establish a network of public and private stakeholders working together to enhance the tourism potential and cultural assets of the historic villages. Develop programmes and workshops to foster a sense of community and entrepreneurship among local children, as they will be the future stewards of the villages. Develop a conceptual framework for old villages based on their characteristics, qualities and protection needs. Models should also be found to promote local entrepreneurship in low density areas. The inclusion and accessibility of historic villages, taking into account physical, educational, communication and transport factors, as well as the creation of accessible resources and goods for different types of visitors.
Difficulties / Barriers: Mobility is an issue, as some medieval villages have narrow streets that prevent social isolation during heavy visitor traffic, especially in the Covid-19 epidemic environment. The historic villages are in areas of low population density, with a declining and ageing population and low-income levels, resulting in a lack of financial resources and human capital. The preservation and maintenance of historical and cultural treasures must strike a balance between protecting their uniqueness and authenticity and adapting to the contemporary demands and expectations of tourists. This is particularly true of historic communities. To compete with other tourist attractions and attract new visitor demographics, including young people, families and people with disabilities, old villages need to promote themselves and raise awareness of their importance. |
| How can this good practice be linked to the CIVIC GREEN project, its scope and its activities? | The project aims to promote environmental awareness and conservation in villages by preserving and enhancing natural and cultural heritage, using renewable resources and reducing waste and pollution. It uses various tools and resources to share knowledge and best practices on environmental issues among stakeholders. The project also involves collecting environmental and socio-economic data, diagnosing material flows and waste streams, and promoting circular economy initiatives. The local community will be involved in decision-making and implementation processes, and citizens will be encouraged to understand civic spaces at different levels. The project links economic activities in each village, starting with business ideas inspired by local needs. Collaboration with public and private bodies, such as Turismo de Portugal, provides financial and technical support. The project contributes to global goals of sustainability and well-being. |
| Related links | Website of the good practice:
www.aldeiashistoricasdeportugal.com/projeto-aldeias-historicas-de-portugal-smart-land/
Other related resources that have been developed and are available online:
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Tools
| Tool 1 | Capacity Building Training Manual for Community Development Committee Leaders |
| Brief description of the tool | Aim: The strategic objective of the manual is to build capacities in thematic areas relevant for leaders entrusted with community development.
Short Description: This manual outlines five (5) competencies that are needed to enhance the functions of specific Community Development Committees (CDCs). These competencies were informed by the findings of assessments conducted by the Social Development Commission (SDC), where the weaknesses of the CDCs were identified. These competencies are standardized CDC training modules which indicate that the due process of the necessary research, retrofitting and conversion of content to training material was duly completed. This manual is divided into five (5) Modules namely: General Record Keeping, Event Planning, Fund Raising, Project Proposal Writing and Project Management.
Each module is structured similarly with project emphasis being placed on the “what is” (definitions) and the “how to” (methodology/steps) of the topic. |
| Target group of the tool | The target group for this training manual are the skills instructors and trainers engaged in implementing courses for enhancing the capacities of grassroots leaders in charge of community development committees. As this is a hands-on training course and the tool facilitates learning by doing, it is relevant also for all levels of engagement with community leaders. |
| The tool is developed by … | The tool was compiled by the Social Development Commission, which was sponsored by the United Nations Development Programme under the: Rejuvenating Communities: Building Resilience to Support Citizens Safety and Social Cohesion in West Kingston. |
| How this tool can be related to CIVIC GREEN Project and its scope and activities? | This Training Manual for Capacity Building of Community Development leaders is inspirational for CIVICGREEN as it provides a modular learning pathway for capacity development, which can be easily adapted to community engagement for climate and environment issues. |
| Related links | Access website of the tool: |
| Tool 2 | Handbook – Gamification and civic engagement tools for smart communities and rural areas |
| Brief description of the tool | Aim: The INTERREG Alpine Space SmartCommUnity project (2022-2025) aims to create a transnational community to change both the practices and perceptions of smart rural areas. The SmartCommUnity project aims to support Alpine rural areas, using all the benefits of digitalization, embracing smart transitions and creating a functional transnational community within EUSALP AG5 Smart Alps.
Short Description: Europe’s rural and mountain areas, both in perceptions and in practice, still lack urban areas’ level of attractiveness to work and live, the same level of (public) services, the same level of innovation in the economy and the same awareness of their own assets. This is mostly due to a lack of digital infrastructure, a lack of high-level (public) services, a gap in digital skills and competences, a lack of tailored smart actions and policies and a subsequent lack of economic opportunities that often result in instances of depopulation and economic decline. The SmartCommUnity project partners are willing to develop a digital platform that meet the need of creating Smart communities that could exchange practice and engage towards smart village pathway, adopting innovative tools embracing the functions of both civic engagement tool and gamification approach. |
| Target group of the tool | The Handbook – Gamification and civic engagement tools for smart communities and rural areas
developed by the SmartCommUnity project targets citizens, companies, research organisations and public authorities in the Alpine rural area in view to creating a functional transnational community. |
| The tool is developed by … | The handbook was developed under the coordination of University of Ljubljana with contributions from Poliedra – research and consultancy centre of Milan’s Polytechnic University on environment, Italy; Standortagentur Tirol GmbH, Austria; Swiss Center for mountain regions SAB, Switzerland; and Association for the networked development of territories and services, France. |
| How this tool can be related to CIVIC GREEN Project and its scope and activities? | This tool is important for CIVICGREEN as it is a digital tool to facilitate matchmaking, networking, and engagement activities in search of locally-tailored and led smart solutions, such as gamification and civic tech. The ways in which it has changed perceptions and created a smart vision for the Alps, and effectively communicated the opportunities and results in the Alps and beyond for more areas to join in can easily be a replicable model for others. |
| Related links | Access website of the tool: |
Resources
| Resource 1 | Chapter 11. Place-Making and Sustainable Community Development In book: Intellectual, Scientific, and Educational Influences on Sustainability Research (pp.253-272) |
| Short description of the resource | This review chapter explores place-making in terms of how it is linked with sustainable community development (SCD). Place-making as it relates to sustainable community development has not been understood in the practice of sustainability, urban planning, and community development.
Date: January 2019. |
| Target group of the resource | Academics and scientific community, but also all individuals interested in place-making and communities’ development. |
| The resource is published/broadcasted by … | Written by: Rosario Turvey, Lakehead University Orillia Campus.
Published by: IGI Global. |
| How this resource can be related to CIVIC GREEN Project and its scope and activities? | This Chapter 11 and CivicGreen are closely aligned in their goals. Chapter 11 emphasizes vibrant, inclusive urban spaces promoting well-being and sustainability, echoing CivicGreen’s focus on citizen engagement in environmental policies. Both share a commitment to sustainable community development, enhancing civic participation, and integrating environmental considerations. Chapter 11’s emphasis on community involvement dovetails with CivicGreen’s goal of promoting active citizenship in environmental issues. Moreover, CivicGreen’s mission to bolster citizens’ environmental knowledge complements Chapter 11’s emphasis on informed, engaged communities. Both highlight the significance of environmental integration in community development, emphasizing the creation of sustainable, inclusive urban environments. Chapter 11 often focuses on local-level initiatives, paralleling CivicGreen’s engagement of citizens in monitoring environmental policies, which directly impacts local communities. Both initiatives promote cross-sector collaboration, involving local governments, community organizations, and businesses. This collaboration is fundamental to achieving sustainable community development. Chapter 11 strives for vibrant, inclusive communities, a goal advanced by CivicGreen through active citizenship and environmental engagement. Together, they work towards liveable, inclusive communities designed for residents’ well-being. |
| Related links | Website of the resource: |
| Resource 2 | Creating better cities together |
| Short description of the resource | A report about placemaking and cities development in the framework of the project “PlaceCity”.
PlaceCity has the overarching goal of establishing a multidisciplinary and trans sectorial European Placemaking Network with the capacity to offer support and resources to local and national placemaking initiatives across Europe. The consortium aims to advance placemaking as a new approach to creating better cities together. The project aims to gather proven placemaking tools, testing them in real life case studies and make them readily available to every city in Europe. In addition to this, the project aims also to establish sustainable business models for placemaking in local contexts.
Date: 2021. |
| Target group of the resource | The target groups of the “PlaceCity” project include:
– Local Governments and Municipalities: PlaceCity aims to provide tools and strategies for local governments and municipalities to enhance urban spaces, making them more liveable, sustainable, and community-centred. – Urban Planners and Designers: Professionals involved in urban planning, architecture, and urban design are likely a key target group. – Community Organizations and NGOs: PlaceCity may seek to collaborate with community-based organizations and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) that are actively engaged in community development and urban revitalization efforts. – Citizens and Residents: The project aims to create places that benefit the residents and citizens of the cities involved. – Academic and Research Institutions: PlaceCity may seek to engage with academic and research institutions specializing in urban studies, sustainability, and community development to leverage their expertise. – Businesses and Developers: PlaceCity may engage with businesses and developers to promote sustainable and community-oriented development practices. This could involve strategies for creating vibrant commercial and public spaces. – Urban Activists and Advocacy Groups: The project may seek to collaborate with individuals and groups advocating for more inclusive, sustainable, and people-centric urban spaces. |
| The resource is published/broadcasted by … | Authors: Anna Louise Bradley – Stipo Laura Martinez Izquierdo – Nabolagshager AS Jorge Mosquera – Eutropian Bahanur Nasya – Eutropian Clara J. Reich – Nabolagshager AS Julia Tollmann – M.A. 18 Stadtentwicklung und Stadtplanung.
Published by: PlaceCity. |
| How this resource can be related to CIVIC GREEN Project and its scope and activities? | The CivicGreen and PlaceCity projects share common goals related to active citizenship, environmental awareness, and community engagement. Here’s how they can be related:
– Promoting Active Citizenship: Both projects aim to promote active citizenship by providing platforms and initiatives that encourage citizens to actively participate in the decision-making process. – Environmental Awareness and Knowledge: While CivicGreen focuses on improving citizens’ knowledge of environmental issues, PlaceCity, through its focus on urban development and placemaking, contributes to creating sustainable and environmentally conscious urban spaces. Both projects ultimately work towards creating environmentally aware and engaged communities. – Improving Conditions for Civic and Democratic Participation: CivicGreen seeks to improve conditions for civic and democratic participation in environmental policy-making. PlaceCity, by focusing on creating vibrant and inclusive urban spaces, also contributes to improved conditions for civic engagement and democratic participation at the local level. – Community Engagement in Sustainable Development: Both projects emphasize the importance of community engagement in achieving sustainability goals, whether it’s in the context of environmental policies or urban development initiatives. – Potential Synergies: There’s potential for CivicGreen and PlaceCity to complement each other in specific contexts. For example, if a PlaceCity project involves environmental initiatives (e.g., green spaces, sustainable transportation), it can align with CivicGreen’s goals. Similarly, if CivicGreen’s environmental policies impact urban areas, PlaceCity’s placemaking strategies could be relevant. |
| Related links | Website of the resource:
https://placemaking-europe.eu/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/FINAL-REPORT-PLACECITY.pdf |