1 URBAN II – the Urban Community Initiative Daniel Mouqué Evaluation Unit, DG REGIO Ex post evaluation

2 What was URBAN II? Urban « neighbourhoods in crisis » 70 programmes, 14 MSs, 2.2 million people 754m ERDF, 1.6bn total The « URBAN method » Integrated approach: economic, social and physical regeneration Strong local partnership

3 The evaluation Review of 70 programmes (documents, indicators, data, programme manager interviews) 15 indepth case studies (representative sample), including: 120 stakeholder interviews 10 project-level mini case studies Evaluation of URBACT I 3 scientific experts (balanced panel)

4 Outputs & results In the slides that follow, I present: physical regeneration: reversing urban decay building the local economy tackling social exclusion Presented as separate themes, but strong integration at both project and programme level

5 Key outputs: physical regeneration & reversing urban decay 372 restoration projects (urban heritage) 2,314,000 m² of buildings converted and renovated (community centres, museums, libraries, creches) A further 557,115 m² developed for social, sports, education and health uses 3,238,000 m² of new green space 80 km of cycle and footpaths plus 11,614 m² of renovated surfaces for cyclists and pedestrians

6 Key outputs: building the local economy 108,000 individuals trained 6,000 small/micro-businesses and new entrepreneurs supported: incubators business services microfinance 2,000 jobs created Keyword: micro. Case studies found larger ambitions « swamped » by changes in broader economy (eg parent city, region)

7 Key outputs: tackling social exclusion Of the 108,000 people trained, > ½ from vulnerable groups (helped to overcome illiteracy, continue education, enter labour market for 1st time) 8/15 case studies found impacts from new social services and resources (eg centres offering information, advice and other support to residents) 247 projects to reduce local crime, delivered in collaboration with community groups : street wardens CCTV, landscaping and street lighting

8 Key success factor: local partnership Successful projects: local ownership… …Unsuccessful projects: imposed from above 80% of programmes led by the local authority > 80% of partnerships characterised as inclusive (community groups, private sector, employment agencies, training providers, development agencies, law enforcement, health professionals) The voluntary sector led some 10% of projects, key partner in implementation of many more

9 But crucial role for larger players Larger partners (agencies, city, region, MS) can: Provide expertise and help build capacity of local players 593 initiatives. In one case (Burnley in the UK), led to 134 people getting into community management. Sustain projects in longer term. 60 % of projects continue after URBAN II – support of a larger partner usually key Provide good economic framework conditions in whole city or region – strong influence on URBAN II areas EU helped build capacity through URBACT: But more personal knowledge, less documents

10 Better planning, monitoring and evaluation Ambitious start, planning 4120 indicators (= 59/programme) … for ERDF of 11m/prog! … but 35% of indicators not collected Intervention logic unclear in a few cases… … and relevant indicators often missed (eg 31 progs counted vocational training places, only 1 the obvious outcome: qualifications gained) => Clear intervention logic, few (but relevant) indicators, collected consistently

11 Recommendations « Small is beautiful… economics as if people mattered » - Joseph Schumpeter Local partnership, ownership (« local development ») But clear role for larger players in lending expertise, building capacity Micro-measures, not overambitious Integrated approach in a small area Clear intervention logic, few but relevant indicators, collected consistently