Participation Hub
The LIFE Participation Hub supports strategic learning and capability building in the LIFE programme, focused on promoting and upholding democratic, participatory approaches in deployment of nature-based solutions.
What is the Hub?
The Hub works at two levels:
- Locally
In support of more expanded participation in neighbourhood-scale projects - for example assisting with participatory design activities in pilot sites.
- Globally
To connect people, places and processes and foster cross-border, interdisciplinary collaboration and innovation in democratic practice, in service of project cities and their communities.
Hub goals
- To create conditions for connection, collaboration, and capability building as partners and project cities take this learning journey together.
- To encourage more participatory, democratic ways of thinking and doing differently for best chances of successful deployment of nature-based solutions in project cities, and ultimately, urban, community and climate resilience.
- To support translation of field learnings from pilot sites into the ‘Replication Model’ for deployment of nature-based solutions.
What is the Replicable Model?
The Replicable Model in the LIFE-PACT programme supports deployment of nature-based solutions in project cities. Currently in development (as at July 2022), it provides practical, accessible, interactive ‘guidance’ on different conditions and factors for successful deployment that upholds values of democracy, equity, inclusiveness and participation. It will be deployed to replication sites in Leuven, Madrid and Kraków from late 2022. It offers evidence-based practices and recommendations for consideration, but requires a local, place-based approach for adoption at replication sites.
Hub actions so far
- Stakeholder engagement interviews in Ter Putkapelle pilot site (Leuven);
- Citizen engagement interviews in the Spaanse Kroon pilot site (Leuven);
- Supported the design and implementation of participatory design workshops with residents, care staff and city stakeholders in the Ter Putkapelle pilot site (Leuven);
- Gone ‘on the road’ to project cities Leuven and Madrid in June and July 2022 to
- Get closer to people and places to help grow connections and capabilities for thinking and doing that will help spread nature-based solutions in appropriate, locally relevant ways.
- Test ‘Replication Model’ building blocks with key actors on the ground in each city.
- Ongoing translation of learnings from stakeholder and citizen engagement, Hub on the Road activities, and partner liaison into the ‘Replication Model’.
