ESIRA

Enhancing Social Innovation in Rural Areas

Summary

ESIRA aims to support innovation and grassroots community building in marginalised rural communities. Consortium members will monitor, research and facilitate innovation spaces created and led by rural communities, as well as support the implementation of social economic initiatives that strengthen the empowerment and improvement of living conditions of different vulnerable groups of the population, through improved (social) services, economic diversification and sustainable management of natural capital.

The core of ESIRA’s accomplishment lies within its collaborative network. The project unites a diverse consortium comprising 15 partners from 8 countries, including Spain, Hungary, Serbia, Poland, Lithuania, Italy, Norway, and France. These partners consist of universities, research institutes, networks, and local organizations responsible for project implementation. This collaborative endeavor underscores a shared dedication to driving positive transformations in rural regions.

Activities and outputs

To achieve it, ESIRA will implement a work plan focused on (i) the research of community-led rural innovation spaces able to connect and empower actors, reinforce the social capital and sense of community, considering the great diversity of rural areas within Europe, and eventually (ii) nurturing and piloting social economy initiatives that strengthen the inclusiveness and living conditions of different groups of population in vulnerable situation, from the improvement in the provision of (social) services, economic diversification, and sustainable management of the natural capital. This will enable to (iii) stocktake and formulate recommendations for policymakers to better support the third sector and local communities, increasing the understanding of the needs and challenges of vulnerable groups of population and social economy, and (iv) boost the knowledge-exchange among local actors, building up their capacities and facilitating the scale up and replication of social economy initiatives across Rural Europe.

Partnership

Coordinator

Universidad de Burgos (ES)

Partners

• HETFA Research Institute (HU)
• Fundacion Oxigeno (ES)
• Magyar Református Szeretetszolgálat Alapítvány (HU)
• Institut za Razvoj i Inovacije -IRI (SR)
• European Rural Development Network (PL)
• Lietuvos Socialiniu Mokslu Centras (LT)
• Druskininku Vietos Vieklos Grupe (LT)
• EURICSE (IT)
• Borghiin Rete di Imprese (IT)
• Federazione Trentina della Cooperazione sc (IT)
• Hogskolen I Innlandet (NO)
• Innlandet Fylkeskommune (NO)
• Euromontana (FR)

Contact & more info

For more information about the project, please contact:

internationaloffice@hetfa.hu