BEAC COMMUNICATION PROJECT Rebecka Snefuglli Sondell Project Coordinator, IBS

OUTLINE Background Project plan and methodology Feedback from working groups Communication strategy Information platform Conclusion

BACKGROUND Online survey Responses from 70 WG members

SURVEY RESULT

Asks for: More cooperation with other WGs Better communication Increase participation Redefine mandates

COMMUNICATION PROJECT Aim Three parts: – Evaluation study of the BEAC working groups – Regional communication strategy – Information platform for WG projects Cooperation partners Supported by the Norwegian Barents Secretariat

EVALUATION STUDY OF WGs Continuation of survey 12 working groups Interview questions Analysis of feedback Recommendations

Stronger vertical relations «I feel like the group is hanging there, but there is no one to catch what we are doing. Who is actually taking notice of the work that we are doing?» (JWGT)

PROPOSALS More engagement from CSO and RC. Participation of WGs in other BEAC events. Connect mandates to overarching BEAC goals.

COMMON PLATFORM FOR WGs « An information platform is a very good idea [...] so that when we start thinking about possible cooperation between the working groups, it will be more visible for us how the projects that are discussed in one group may intertwine with the topics of other groups. » (JWGC)

PROPOSALS Common intraweb Back-to-back meetings Regional / National WG meetings

SECRETARIAL SUPPORT « Since we have no permanent secretary, and there are new people coming every second year [...], it would be of great help to have a more active International Barents Secretariat. » (JWGC)

PROPOSALS Expand IBS capacity – WG secretary? Improve the information about IBS services.

CLEAR GUIDELINES FOR STRUCTURES AND PROCESSES «The challenges that we had may have to do with the [...] loose agreements and attachment. [...] For an efficient working groups, it would of course be better to have much more regulated, financed and clear mandates.» (RWGIEC) PROPOSAL: Standardise WG mandates

PROJECTS GIVE CONTINUITY «When we had the Barents Freeway Project we were very available and active and discussed [...] very actively. We were preparing projects, exchanging ideas and we had more meetings too. [...] It is difficult to communicate between meetings if we don’t have any projects.» (RWGTL)

FINANCING

WORK CAPACITY

PROPOSALS Financial mechanism for BEAC Clearer mandates from home organisations Share information between WGs Intraweb for WGs

COMMUNICATION STRATEGY Developed by Kainuu Regional Council Adopted in May 2016 Aim: facilitate communication Continuous process

INFORMATION PLATFORM Current challenges Aim: dissemination of information about BEAC projects

CONCLUSION Vertically disconnected. Organisational development up on the agenda.

Thank you! Rebecka Snefuglli Sondell Project Coordinator, IBS