Finding A new Direction in a Situation Run Aground - Social Impact Project, Poland
Good Practice UN-Habitat 2000

Lead Idea

Sustainable environmental protection calls for motivation and endurance to help master failures and crisis situations too. The best guarantee for this is a high level of knowledge which enables the people involved to think about alternatives when necessary. Training and educational programmes aimed at developing economic ideas were launched in four Polish cities and have given new drive to the environmental sector.

The Issue at Stake

Following a first euphoria Poland was faced with a time of stagnation in the 90ies. Small cities in particular were threatened to fall back into the old pattern of indifference and local environmental NGOs were beginning to lose membership. The economic success required to provide continuous development did not materialize. High rates of unemployment further reduced motivation to engage in reforms.

Possible Solutions, Resources

The Prince of Wales Business Leaders Forum (PWBLF), a British research unit supported by international corporations, assumed the task of negotiating with Phoenix Bespoke Consulting Company. The latter, having offered a special price for its services, was able to interest two good environmental economy schools in cooperating with Polish NGOs on developing a training model for environmental marketing in four Polish cities. The cities involved were Chorzow, Niepolomice, Malbork and Gorlice. The crucial point was not to distribute money in a neocolonialist manner but to establish a constructive model of cooperation.

Process, Effects

The fours cities chose different ways to solve their problems. Malbork in particular, with local elections just behind, was highly motivated to carry out new projects. In Gorlice many unemployed people were interested in retraining to become environmental managers and business owners of small enterprises wanted to become active in this field as well. People saw the point of educational projects and motivation rose. In Gorlice a Green Business Park was developed, in Malbork, NGOs prepared a financing concept for environmental projects, Chorzow specialized in revitalising ailing business enterprises and reintegrating unemployed people into the labour market and Niepolomice took up the old and neglected programme for sustainable development.

Experiences, Transferability

The activities of the four cities are safely held by a climate of international cooperation, where contacts and channels within the city are equally exploited. The municipality, the NGOs, members of the business community and young entrepreneurs of the environmental sector prepare joint environmental plans and investment concepts with long-term economic advantages. Other Polish municipalities, such as Chelm with its ailing Rugby concrete factory, and 8 other cities with a high rate of unemployment, are interested in attending workshops and seminars on new ways of development. In Tarnow, a special programme was launched for unemployed women aged 35 and over, in Grybow a similar programme was started for the Roma community.

Participation: Top down
Participants: environmental NGOs, an educational organisation which supported by international corporations, municipalities, owners of small businesses, unemployed
Structure: educational project raises motivation to take one's own initiative and to fight economic stagnation by finding creative financing concepts. Contacts with international economy enable cooperation and networking.
Financing: international corporations invest into a fund for the support of environmentally adequate economic training in Poland

Social Impact Project in the UN HABITAT database