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Cooperative
Planning
Cooperative planning is a methodology that brings together
diverse stakeholders in a facilitated process to build consensus
around concrete issues, such as infrastructure repair, housing,
environmental preservation, economic development, educational
opportunities, taxation, health standards and pollution,
social services and public safety. The process supports
cooperation among the NGO, government and business sectors,
and enhances citizen participation and empowerment towards
tangible outcomes for the community.
Partners has implemented cooperative planning processes
in more than 100 communities worldwide. First, Partners
analyses the community stakeholders and interests by interviewing
representatives from local government, NGOs, minority groups,
businesses, social services, and academic institutions.
30-40 representatives from all sectors are then selected
to participate in the full process. This group participates
in trainings to build the skills necessary to constructively
participate in the initiative, advocate for their interests,
and work with other viewpoints, including communication,
negotiation, facilitation and team building. Next, Partners
facilitates a series of planning sessions with the participants
to build consensus around an action plan to address a pressing
local issue that would benefit from collaborative decision-making.
Partners then works with the community to monitor and evaluate
the implementation of the action plan, and provides follow-up
technical assistance.
Highlights of Partners' Cooperative Planning programs include:
- In Buenos Aires Province, Partners-Argentina worked
with community members to stem the rise of violent crime
in the area, resulting in the development of a neighborhood
watch system and unprecedented citizen involvement in
public safety.
- Partners-Bulgaria facilitated a cooperative planning
session with local majority citizens, Romas, and municipal
officials in Chintulovo that resolved discriminatory land
distribution practices and averted several near-violent
disputes. In Vratza, the Center also convened a series
of decision-making meetings between municipal officials,
citizens, business representatives, and environmental
groups to agree upon citizen oversight of pollution levels.
- In Poti, Partners-Georgia convened citizens, youth groups
and elected officials to design programs for internally
displaced youth, resulting in two new youth NGOs that
provide free legal services and job training, summer camps
for internally displaced persons, and a youth government
that consults with the municipal government.
- Partners-Hungary convened a cooperative planning process
in Tatabanya, a city facing high unemployment and dilapidated
housing among its Roma population, resulting in the employment
of several hundred Romas to rebuild their neighborhood.
The Center also implemented a cooperative planning process
in the divided town of Tiszavasvari that is largely credited
for the election of Roma Minority Self-Government. In
Nagykanizsa, Partners-Hungary worked with community stakeholders
to revamp the city's local taxation system, resulting
in the first instance of direct citizen involvement in
tax reform in Hungary.
- In Raciborz, Partners-Poland mobilized citizen and local
government leaders to design and implement a regional
disaster preparedness and recovery program in the wake
of devastating floods. The Center also implemented a cooperative
planning program in the city of Lomianki that included
youth and local leaders to address street violence, unemployment
and substance abuse among youth.
In addition, Partners has developed an innovative variation
on the cooperative planning methodology, entitled the Partners
Collaboration Model (PCM).
This model integrates a multicultural dimension to the process
to facilitate meaningful, in-depth social change in diverse
communities, and also empowers stakeholders themselves to
serve as process conveners.
In-depth Examples of Partners' Impact through Cooperative
Planning:
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