Supporting Nature-Based Solutions via Nature-Based Thinking across European and Latin American cities.

Nature-Based Solutions concepts and practices are being used worldwide as part of attempts to address societal challenges but have also been criticised for not dealing with deeper transformations needed to face urgent issues including biodiversity loss, climate change and inclusion. In this paper, we explore how an inclusive, integrated and long-sighted approach, emphasising a more radical integration of nature within cities, might support the transformations needed to endure major contemporary challenges. Addressing important emerging critiques of Nature-Based Solutions, we consider the potential of a more incisive form of Nature-Based Thinking (NBT) in cities, based on more holistic perspectives. The paper draws on a reflective and iterative research process that engaged both the research and practice communities through a symposium and a series of futures workshops that together explored the potential of NBT to develop future nature-cities relations in Europe and Latin America. The results of the reflective process suggest that notions of nature with people-not for people- new organisational structures, and the intention and capacity to apply long-term perspectives, are needed when planning for NBS interventions aimed at sustainable urban development. This includes developing a cultural-structural change based on new and inclusive understandings of human-nature relations, and novel governance paradigms that allow cross-sectoral coordination and engagement of local stakeholders beyond formal organisational structures.

Co-production and Voice in Policymaking: Participatory Processes in the European Periphery.

Co-production is now the gold standard in policymaking, characterised by national and international actors with different types of knowledge working together to contribute to a collaborative decision-making process. The benefits of co-production in policymaking can include improved knowledge generation that merges practice-centred, political and technical knowledge and incorporates local knowledges to provide complementary information and increase ownership over policymaking processes. Nevertheless, it can also present pitfalls such as multiple and diverging interests, incomplete and asymmetric information, and resource asymmetries and elite capture as highlighted by Bender in (Eur J Dev Res, 2022). By reviewing a case in the European periphery, we document and illustrate situations of collaboration and conflict, benefits and pitfalls resulting from policymaking co-production, throughout recent Portuguese history and in present-day participatory budget initiatives. From competing national actors to influences from the Global North and Global South, the final outcome reflects a learning process in collaboration but also underlying power struggles.

La co-création est désormais la référence en matière d'élaboration des politiques. Elle est caractérisée par des acteurs nationaux et internationaux dotés de différents types de connaissances qui travaillent ensemble pour contribuer à un processus décisionnel collaboratif. Les avantages de la co-création dans l'élaboration des politiques peuvent inclure une meilleure création de connaissances qui permet de fusionner les connaissances politiques et techniques centrées sur la pratique et qui intègre les connaissances locales pour fournir des informations complémentaires et accroître l'appropriation des processus d'élaboration des politiques. Néanmoins, la co-création peut également présenter des écueils tels que des intérêts multiples et divergents, des informations incomplètes et asymétriques, des asymétries de ressources et une accaparation par les élites, comme le souligne Bender in in (Eur J Dev Res, 2022). Par le biais d'une étude de cas dans la zone européenne, nous documentons et illustrons des situations de collaboration et de conflit, ainsi que les avantages et les inconvénients résultant de la co-création de politiques, grâce à l'histoire portugaise récente et, actuellement, dans le cadre des initiatives budgétaires participatives. Qu'il soit question d'acteurs nationaux concurrents ou d'influences issues des pays du Nord et du Sud, le résultat final reflète un processus d'apprentissage collaboratif ainsi que des luttes de pouvoir sous-jacentes.

The evaluation of citizen participation in policymaking: Insights from Portugal.

While citizen participation in policymaking is on the rise worldwide, the scholarly debate centring around its evaluation has not developed to the same extent. The article discusses the methodology and findings of the evaluation of the project "Portugal Participa: Caminhos para a Inovação Societal" which started at the end of 2014, and was implemented in 2015 and 2016, in Portugal. As the project promoted actions at both national and local levels, the evaluation accounted for both layers with a major focus on the analysis of procedures and outputs to examine its success. Through the application of a multi-method approach - data collection and analysis, cost-effectiveness assessment, interviews, pre-post surveys, and counterfactual focus groups - involving a wide array of agents - political representatives, civil servants, NGOs, citizens, national academia, and the funding sponsor - findings have helped retrieve three main insights that aim to contribute to future research on the evaluation of citizen participation in policymaking, which should shed light on: the (re)connection of multiple agents; the role within the governance systems; and the pursuit of social inclusion.

The Participation of Senior Citizens in Policy-Making: Patterning Initiatives in Europe.

Worldwide, active aging policy calls for greater participation of senior citizens in the social, economic, and political realms. Despite emerging evidence of initiatives engaging senior citizens in social activities, little is known about the use of participatory approaches in the design and/or implementation of policies that matter to older citizens. This article identifies initiatives facilitating the civic participation of older people in policy-making in European Union member and associate states, drawing on a review of the literature, consultation of national policy experts, and exemplary case studies. Four main patterns of senior civic participation are identified: adopting consultative or co-decisional participatory approaches in policy design or policy implementation. The four are represented to varying degrees at different geographical levels (national, regional, local), with different actor configurations (appointed, elected/nominated, corporate representation), and with varying degree of institutionalization (temporary/permanent). Case studies illustrate approaches taken to enhance the quality and effectiveness of public services for senior citizens. Future research should strengthen this line of enquiry to cast further light on conditions facilitating the civic participation of senior citizens.