Influencing and enhancing externally driven initiatives: the use of participatory approaches in local government, Poland

This article depicts the participative consultation of the Zbojna Commune for an EU-funded community development programme. In 1998, Zbojna Commune, situated in the North-East part of Poland, took part in the EU ECOS Overture Integrated programme as a partner and test area. From the beginning, it was determined by the EU Programme that plans were to be developed for the Zbojna Commune in three directions: developing agri-tourism; increasing milk production; improving the natural environment. Before the development of the programme the Commune authorities decided to consult with as many of the inhabitants of Zbojna as possible, so that the new strategies being developed would reflect the wider public's expectations and priorities and enhance the chances of the commune's citizens taking responsibility for them. Certain citizens of the Commune were trained as facilitators to the process, and it was agreed that the H-diagram method would be used during consultations. This method allowed people to express on a single sheet of A4 paper what they think about the three proposed directions for the development of the Commune, and asked to indicate on a scale form 0 to 10 how they felt about each of the EU proposed directions. 17 people were trained as facilitators and 410 citizens interviewed. The authors conclude that the project has set an example for new development projects, and that one of the benefits of this type of process is that it allows for greater opportunity to receive external financial resources.