Participatory Planning at the National Level - the Case of Sustainable and Integrated Urban Development Strategy of Serbia

Abstract

The paper focuses on the assessment of participatory process in formulation of national urban development policy of Serbia until 2030. The assessment of participation is attached to the complexities in defining auxiliary set of evaluation criteria, while the process itself requires activities focused on individuals, organizations and their institutional environment, and the linkages between the different governance levels and instruments. The assessment in this paper is based on a mixed method approach. Quantification is used to measure the level of satisfaction/dissatisfaction of actors involved in the process, while the qualitative analysis provides an in-depth understanding on the visible and less visible results of their engagement. Findings point out the increase in participants’ knowledge and understanding of the planning process, and the possibility of institutionalising such a process in a way that coordination and cooperation are continually unfolding. The most important elements of active stakeholder involvement were recognised in the possibility to attain the public discourse which enabled: 1) prioritization of the national urban development programs, 2) linking planning with financing, and 3) better understanding of the relation between traditional spatial/urban planning and new governance instruments. The identified challenges relate to the need for further support to the implementation of the strategy through legislation, institutions, capacities and funding. The fragility of institutions and resistance to change in the transitional context of the post-socialist country is present. At the same time there is a need to deal with complexity and uncertanity, where the findings point out at the necessity to rely on the openness and vitality of the local level and experts involved in the process.