1. Colm Downey Assistant Principal URBACT National Co-Ordination Unit Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government INTERREG Information Day, 11th June 2015

2. OPPORTUNITIES FOR IRELAND IN URBACT III
Presentation
WHAT IS URBACT? (Definition, Objectives, Activities, Thematic areas)
WHO CAN APPLY FOR URBACT SUPPORT?
WHY SHOULD I APPLY?
IRISH ENGAGEMENT TO DATE
Additional Information
WHAT DO URBACT PARTNERSHIPS LOOK LIKE?
HOW DO I FIND A PARTNER & JOIN A NETWORK?
WHAT FUNDS ARE AVAILABLE?
ARE MATCH FUNDS NEEDED?
WHAT DO I DO NEXT? (Timetable, Calls for proposals, Websites, Contacts)

3. WHAT IS URBACT?
URBACT is an ETC programme to foster sustainable integrated urban development in cities across Europe. It is an instrument of Cohesion Policy, co-financed by ERDF and by Member & Partner States.  It is not an investment programme, but does provide finance for transnational exchange and learning networks. 
The main aim of the programme is to enable cities and towns in different EU countries to work together and develop integrated solutions to common urban challenges. How?
By networking
By learning from one another’s experiences & from the experts
By drawing lessons
By identifying good practices to improve urban policies.
Encouraged by the success of Irish local authority projects in the previous programme, DECLG is working on improving URBACT’s profile within our local government sector for the next programme

4. URBACT’s 4 main objectives
To improve the capacity of cities to manage sustainable urban policies and practices in an integrated and participative way
To improve the design of integrated urban & sustainable strategies/ action plans in cities
To improve the implementation of integrated urban & sustainable strategies/ action plans in cities
To ensure that practitioners and decision makers at all levels have access to knowledge and share know-how on all aspects of sustainable urban development.
URBACT HAS A VERY LOOSE DEFINITION OF “CITY”
URBACT IS OPEN TO APPLICATIONS FROM (VERY) SMALL TOWNS

5. 3 MAIN STRANDS OF ACTIVITY
TRANSNATIONAL NETWORKS
3 types of networks
CAPACITY-BUILDING
Framework supporting
local stakeholders, local support groups, etc
CAPITALISATION &
DISSEMINATION OF KNOWLEDGE
Urbact has tools for practitioners to gain access to Urbact knowledge, to share SUD know-how, and to improve policymaking
(Tools like National Contact Points, expertise, seminars, open universities, etc)

6. WHAT THEMATIC AREAS DOES URBACT PRIORITISE?
URBACT III to cover 10 Thematic Objectives
Research, technological development and innovation (TO1)
Access to, use and quality of ICT (TO2)
Competitiveness of SMEs (TO3)
Shift towards a low carbon economy in all sectors (TO4)
Climate change adaptation, risk prevention & management (TO5)
Environment & resource efficiency (TO6)
Sustainable transport & bottlenecks in key network infrastructures (TO7)
Employment and labour mobility (TO8)
Social inclusion & combating poverty (TO9)
Education, skills & lifelong learning (TO10)
Thematic concentration
70% networking resources to be allocated to TO
Integrated approach
N/works select 1 main TO & can explore contributions to other TO 6

7. WHO CAN APPLY FOR URBACT SUPPORT?
Main beneficiaries
Cities from EU 28 Member States, Norway & Switzerland including:
Cities, municipalities, towns without limit of size
Intra-municipal tiers of government
Metropolitan authorities & organised agglomerations
Other beneficiaries
Local agencies
Provincial, regional and national authorities
Universities and research centers
All beneficiaries shall be public or public equivalent bodies

8. WHY I SHOULD APPLY FOR URBACT III SUPPORT?
Participation in Urbact III Programme will:
Help you formulate (and/or implement) a plan to address a key urban challenge you are facing
b) Help you build your European networks
Working in EU networks is central to most EU funding calls Urbact will provide you with expertise in addressing your urban challenge, and finance to engage with your network
c) Help you prepare derivative applications for infrastructural support from ERDF and other funds to to take your plans forward

9. IRISH ENGAGEMENT TO DATE - SUCCESS @ URBACT 2
Dun Laoghaire / Rathdown “Placemaking 4 Cities” was a pilot project on the transfer of good practice between 4 European Cities & connecting people in public space
Dublin City ”UseACT”, on ways to achieve opportunities for people and businesses to settle in existing locations without consumption of further land.
Kilkenny “LINKS” project on eco-restoration of historic buildings and associated socio-economic and environmental benefits
Monaghan, partner in “Woodfootprint” network.

10. URBACT II: Kilkenny’s Experience

11. Kilkenny Project Initially 9 Partner Cities in 2009
8 completed the project cycle;
Bayonne (lead), Delft, Anderlecht, Veria, Almeria, Brasov, Budrio and Kilkenny
Eco restoration of historic and heritage buildings
Sustainable development of historic centres
Participation of citizens in process of change

12. ‘Historic Centres must evolve to exist’
LINKS partners claim that it is possible to combine heritage and environmental issues and propose to Europe to rely on its network of historic cities to promote sustainable development; which are energy efficient and environmentally sensitive, revealing opportunities for local economies and better quality of life

13. URBACT provides: Shared space to try new ways of working
Identify and learn from best practice
Emphasis on co designing plans for Local Authorities, public bodies, private sector and the wider community
Local Action Plans and ULSG’s
Input into EU, National and local policies

15. Personal reflection...
‘URBACT is about the social Europe; the one that at times seems to have been forgotten through the crisis. In my view our City’s experience in the exchange will continue to inform policy and placemaking, collaboration, inspiration and provide new opportunities for further partnerships throughout the EU. It has also brought about new friendships between people and cities through a shared common goal of sustainable development’.

16. WHAT DO URBACT PARTNERSHIPS LOOK LIKE?
3 types of networks proposed
Action Planning Networks
Implementation Networks
Transfer Networks

17. Action-planning networks
Main purpose
To support cities with the design of integrated sustainable urban strategies/ action plans
Who?
Cities sharing common urban challenges and willing to address them by developing integrated solutions
Expected outcomes
Integrated strategies/ action plans for sustainable urban development
Integrated action plans on one or several policy areas (to operationalise an existing strategy)
Learning and recommendations for EU cities

18. Implementation networks
Main purpose
To support cities with the implementation of integrated sustainable urban strategies/ action plan
Who?
Cities implementing integrated strategies and action plans having secured different types of funding, including cities implementing integrated urban strategies and actions under article 7 (eg ITI, CLLD)
Expected outcomes
Enhanced implementation of integrated strategies/ action plans for sustainable urban development (monitoring, timely delivery of actions, etc.)
Learning and recommendations for EU cities

19. Transfer networks Main purpose
To support cities with the transfer of good practice so as to improve the implementation of integrated sustainable urban strategies/ action plans
Who?
Cities willing to transfer practices of integrated urban development identified and tested in other EU cities
Expected outcomes
Transferred good practice in receiving cities
Enhanced good practice
Learning and recommendations for EU cities

20. A limited number of partners
PARTNERSHIPS
A lead partner city
A limited number of partners
8-12 partners in Action-planning & Implement° networks
6-8 partners in Transfer networks
A majority of cities – 3 non-city partners max
Balance between partners from less developed regions and partners from more developed/ transition regions 20

21. Transnational Exchange ERDF co-financing
Co-financing from ERDF of beneficiary cities and other eligible beneficiaries for the actions implemented
Less developed and transition regions shall receive 85% ERDF contribution
More developed shall receive 70% ERDF contribution

22. HOW CAN I FIND A PARTNER AND JOIN A NETWORK?
There was a large Irish presence at the Riga festival in May.
The dates and venue of the next next festival to be confirmed
Browse the partner market place at: Add a project idea at: roject-idea
To make the bridge between URBACT II and III
To present the results of URBACT II
To allow space and time for partner networking
To anchor the Festival in the City of Riga
Title of presentation I Tuesday 26 22

23. WHAT FUNDING IS AVAILABLE ? DO I NEED TO PROVIDE MATCHING FUNDS?
Network budget = €600,000 / €750,000 euros
Budget = ERDF + local contributions from partners
Less developed & transition: 85% ERDF / More developed: 70% ERDF
Note –
Local Contributions do not necessarily need additional resource requirements
URBACT (for Ireland) operates a 70:30 ratio (URBACT to Irish Local Authority) however it should be noted that there is no cash outlay required directly by our LAs.  Staff time invested in the project is the LA contribution. LAs could introduce URBACT into their training & development plans for staff (planning & community areas).  All travel expenses related to a project involving an LA is recoupable. 
Additional envelope for expert support (up to €127,000 / network)
Ongoing support from the URBACT Secretariat (tools, methods, training, etc.) 23

24. SO WHAT DO I NEED TO DO NEXT?
End March 2015
Call Launched - 1°call for Action-planning networks
Beginning 2016
Launch 1°call for Transfer networks
Launch 1° call for Implementation networks 24

25. 1st CALL FOR ACTION-PLANNING NETWORKS
A 2-stage process
Calendar 25

26. !!! !!! Call for Proposals Submission First proposal
Eligibility check & Assessment
Approval by MC & funding
6-month to develop Final proposal
Submission of Final proposal
24 month to implement network activities and deliver
Call for Proposals
Initial partnership
with identified
common
urban challenge
!!!
Extended
partnership with
complete
network proposal
!!!

27. PROVISIONAL CALENDAR 1st CALL FOR ACTION-PLANNING NETWORKS
End March 2015: 1st call Action-planning
April- 16 June 2015: applicants preparing bids
16 June 2015: submission of proposals
July-Aug 2015: eligibility check & assessment
Sept 2015: MC approval funding 6-month preparatory phase
Mid Sept Mid March 2016: 6-month Prep Phase
Mid March 2016: submission Final Proposals
March-April 2016: eligibility check & assessment
April 2016: MC final approval funding for network
April 2016-April 2018: 24-month for network activities
Partner search
facility on
URBACT website
NOTE OPPORTUNITY
TO JOIN PLAN
NETWORK AT STAGE 2

28. Key Web Sites and Contacts
Background information
For URBACT III in general, visit
Browse the partner market place at:
Add a project idea at:
Irish Facebook page (
Irish twitter account (
URBACT Secretariat
Twitter page at
Facebook account at
National Contact Point for Urbact in Ireland
Professor Mark Boyle (National Institute for Regional & Spatial Analysis)
Caroline Creamer (International Centre for Local & Regional Development)
National Coordination Unit in Ireland
Department of Environment, Community & Local Government
Colm Downey