Decentralization of LAAAB: boosting relationship with the rural world and addressing depopulation (ESARG0005)

Commitment ID

ESARG0005

Commitment Title

Decentralization of LAAAB: boosting relationship with the rural world and addressing depopulation

Problem

Rural development and depopulation pose huge challenges for Aragon. Our region has over 1.3 million inhabitants and is scarcely populated. In some districts, our population density is that of demographic deserts (<10 inhabitants/km2), while the city of Zaragoza contains over 50% of the total population. This depopulation translates into 77 Aragonese municipalities with fewer than 40 inhabitants and 600 with fewer than 1,000. This territorial characteristic makes it difficult to exercise citizenship fully and constitutes a challenge for participation and for equitable territorial development. In addition, rural areas in the region are tackling a series of challenges related to the shortage of services, migration to urban areas (above all among young people), depopulation, and an ageing population. Furthermore, many activities, policies and perspectives are geared towards the urban environment. Nevertheless, stereotypes about the rural environment persist, as does the romanticizing of rural life or its negative counterparts, without recognizing the real diversity of these regions and their human, heritage, cultural, environmental, scenic, economic, and social potential.

Status quo

The Government of Aragon has carried out several initiatives in collaboration with the rural world although it has been less proactive with regard to citizen participation. In 2023, LAAAB collaborated with young rural revitalizers on LAAAB Made in Rural and launched a Network of Actions for Rural Development and Advancement pilot proposal although the development of this latter initiative has been limited until now. With regard to events, training cycles and innovation projects, of the 36 completed from 2020–2023, 90% took place in Zaragoza (33) and 1% in rural areas with less than 20,000 inhabitants (only three). Generally speaking, the hybrid model (in person and online) has been promoted to include rural participation but there is no specific data on its impact. In addition, Rural Pride was established, driven by the Rural Mining Citizenship Platform, which was warmly welcomed but it is only celebrated in a few districts.

Action

A recurring concern of the Government of Aragon is the structure of the Aragonese territory and how to maintain activity in the rural environment and stop depopulation. For this planning period, it is considered that once the LAAAB project is consolidated in the physical space of Plaza del Pilar, its activities will be decentralized to other areas while specific collaborations have been proposed with organizations that revitalize the rural environment. To this end, it is crucial to facilitate citizen participation in matters perceived as relevant to improve quality of life, with visible progress. Coordination spaces should also be created that make it possible for all formal and informal networks in the area to collaborate and share, and actively support the local fabric (voluntary, business and services sectors) and develop initiatives that have an impact on and in the territory. Lastly, self-perception, identity, and rural pride need to be worked on with the full participation of all of the social stakeholders of the territory.

How will the commitment contribute to solving the public problem described above?

The aim is to promote the Made in Rural project, an initiative for implementing innovative youth initiatives on community development in rural areas to revitalize and transform its territories and promote shared knowledge networks among rural youth (aged 18–35). In addition, through the Gloria Villalba Awards, there will be collaboration with the training, promotion, and support for innovative projects developed in schools to create a space for participation and social entrepreneurship in education through informal educational methods (youth aged 15–17). Rural Pride will also be extended, promoted initially in the districts of Cuencas Mineras and Jiloca, to raise awareness and connect with more districts, town councils, and networks. This expansion aims to strengthen rural identity and collaboration between different entities. Lastly, the aim is to promote participatory processes according to the specific demands of the rural world, promoting a more inclusive democracy that is sensitive to local needs.

What long-term goal as identified in your Open Government Strategy does this commitment relate to?

Social Innovation and the Right to Do. Right to co-produce government, right to produce your community, right to try, right to learn by trying, right to make mistakes.

Primary Policy Area

Civic Space, Inclusion

Primary Sector

Cross-sectoral, Land & Spatial Planning

What OGP value is this commitment relevant to?