Transcript The Long Road between Small Towns: Barriers to Building

The Long Road between Small Towns:
Barriers to Building Community
Development Partnerships in Rural BC
Laura Ryser and Greg Halseth
OBAC Region
Outline
• Rural restructuring
• Partnership issues
• Methodology
• Network gaps
• Barriers to developing partnerships
• Policy implications
Rural Restructuring
• Began in 1980s
• More responsibilities downloaded to local
governments
• More calls for local gov’t staff to form
strategic partnerships
• Partnerships critical to strengthen local and
regional capacities
Partnerships Issues
Partnerships increasingly important to:
– pool resources and obtain expertise
– address complex problems
Defining partnerships:
– Compatible goals
– Shared risk / accountability
– Clear management structures
Equally involved in decision-making and governance
– Financial contribution ≠ partnership
– Even distribution of resources, responsibilities,
and benefits
Building Partnerships
• Partnerships built through:
– Social cohesion
• Opportunities for interaction
• Developing well-worn paths
– Social capital
• Trust / confidence
• Networks of support, information, and
resources
Partnership Challenges
Infrastructure
• Isolation and limited communication
infrastructure
Human Resources
• Limited staff and time
• Partnership activities not incorporated into job
roles and expectations
• Limited leadership
• Lack of succession planning strategies
OBAC Region
Methodology
Questions:
• To assess routine interaction
– Gov’t, First Nations, economic
development, and community groups
• To identify network / partnership activities
• To assess trust amongst networks
Analysis:
• Responses coded / categorized to identify
patterns and themes.
Routine Interaction
• Routine interaction with:
– Neighbouring local / regional district
gov’ts
– MLAs / Ministry of Community Services
– Leading employer
– Education / health care groups
– Voluntary groups
– Media
• Limited / no interaction with:
– First Nations band council / tribal council
– Economic alliances
– Industrial associations
Activities I
General Support
• Advice and support
• Sharing information
– Discuss common issues
– Updates
• Research and training
• Funding
– Understand funding processes
Activities II
Targeted Support
• Regulation and policy development
– Developing by-laws
• Physical and social Infrastructure
– Joint regional infrastructure
• Economic development initiatives
– Regional development initiatives
– Tourism strategies
– Employment transition programs
Developing Trust I
Sharing Resources
• Human resources
– Access to staff support / free labour
– Board participation
• Funding
– Provide financial support / donations
– Assist with fundraising
• Infrastructure
– Shared space / equipment
Developing Trust II
Operations
• Advice and support
• Ability to follow through
– Competent, committed staff
– Completed tasks / projects
• Shared responsibilities
– To deliver services
• Communications
– Time made for discussion
– Quick responses to requests
Barriers to Building
Partnerships I
Resources
• Lack of human resources
– Out-migration of professionals / skilled
labour
– Lack of skills / capacity
– Fewer leaders
– Recruitment / retention issues
– Inactive groups
• Funding
– Difficulty receiving timely funding
– Lack of long-term funding programs
Barriers to Building
Partnerships II
Operations
• Slow processes
• Inability to follow through
– Limited availability
– No attendance at meetings
– Job tasks not completed
• Lack of communication
– Slow responses
– Information / plans are not shared
Barriers to Building
Partnerships III
Power
• Lack of influence
• Decisions not made locally
• Lack of political will to support initiatives
Policy Implications I
Human Resources
• Support training programs
• Encourage succession planning strategies
• Support institutional learning habits
Meetings and Personal Contact
• Support more opportunities for formal and
informal interaction
Policy Implications II
Innovation
• Support / share success stories of innovation
– Regional economic development officer
Funding
• Need long-term funding programs
• Special funding to acquire more staff
• Promote funding opportunities to local
groups
• Common sense funding applications and
reporting procedures
• Flexible funding programs
Policy Implications III
Relationships with First Nations
• More communication with band and tribal
councils
• Support First Nations liaison positions
• Encourage local groups to attend First
Nations meetings
• Arrange transportation for First Nations
representatives
• Support including First Nations
representatives in local and regional
endeavours
Community Development Institute
(CDI)
3333 University Way,
Prince George, BC, Canada
V2N 4Z9
http://www.unbc.ca/cdi
Dr. Greg Halseth, Acting Director
Phone: (250) 960 - 5826
Fax:
(250) 960 - 6533
Email: [email protected]