1. Village Development Plans:
Presenting a base model of an
instrument of village assocations to achieve self defined goals

2. Formal: National Regional Local Informal: Village Association
Democratic bodies
Formal:
National
Regional
Local
Informal:
Village Association

3. 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!’

4. 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.

5. 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.

6. What issues/topics?
Amenities, traffic, housing, sense of community, recreation and sport, nature, children etc.

7. Characteristics of a Village Development Plan
For the whole village
and supported by the village
10-15 ahead
Comparison of the VDP to other villages

8. Benefits of a VDP:
What are the benefits of a VDP For all villagers, individuals and the local government?

9. Benefits of a VDP: Framework for village association
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

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

11. Approach/Getting started
1. Village association
2. Gives assignment for a VDP
3.Establishing working group
4.Leads the process of making the VDP
5.Delivers the finished VDP

12. Step 1: Defining topics:
Why a VDP?
What does the village mean?
What are the main themes?
What is the time-frame?

13. 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

14. Meeting youth...

15. 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?

16. Kitchen table discussions

17. Step 4:List of ideas Making list of ideas complete
Grouping raw data (bundling ideas)
‘Shaping ideas’ (advantages, disadvantages of solutions, add figures)

18. 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

19. 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).

20. Step 7: Presentation Creating and using momentum! Presentation to:
Villagers
Municipality
Local press
Forming working groups?

21. Approximately 6 months, depending on varieties of plan making Costs?
Time and costs
Approximately 6 months, depending on varieties of plan making
Costs?

22. Communication Creating support outside village:
Inviting parties to initial meeting Keeping them notified at every step along the way.
Consulting on preparations for plans.
Key partner is local government, what do you expect from them?

23. Village development plan: possible actors

24. The outcome: a confrontation LP<->AP
Area program
Village
Topic Development
proposal Plan EU-regislation
proposal agreements
Topic Government policy
proposal plans
proposal Market parties
Topic plans
proposal Trends
Rapports
Local program
Lp-ap

25. Follow up of the VDP Forming project groups:
1.Decision-making based upon VDP
2.Formulating
3.Financing
4.Realisation
Does ownership of projects fits the villagers?

26. 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