ESIRA activities have enabled the description of rural ecosystems (including the actors involved, their relationships, governance structures, economic activities, and social context) and the identification of the drivers of social inclusion in nine regions across seven countries (Spain, Hungary, Lithuania, Italy, Poland, Serbia, and Norway). These analyses, together with the establishment of nine Multi-Actor Platforms (MAPs), serve as the basis for launching and developing community-led innovative spaces and social economy initiatives in nine European regions. The ESIRA project has made significant progress in researching the drivers of rural marginalisation and the opportunities for community-led social economy initiatives to foster social inclusion.
The benchmark study on social inclusion in rural areas synthesises information on the situation of the ESIRA pilot areas and their local communities. The analysis captures the living conditions of people in the pilot areas across the selected regions, highlighting social and economic similarities and differences in the challenges they face. The study also examines the drivers of vulnerability and social exclusion in representative rural contexts, considering the specific characteristics of different geographical areas and population groups. Furthermore, a multi-level analysis of social economy initiatives in rural regions explores the untapped potential of the social economy in addressing the key challenges facing rural areas.
During the reporting period, ESIRA has achieved important progress across its Multi-Actor Platforms. The Train-the-Trainers programme was designed and implemented in each MAP, including the development of training materials and the delivery of over 15 training activities. Regional dissemination actions were carried out to raise awareness about social inclusion, social innovation, and the social economy within each MAP territory. Both international and regional Communities of Practice (CoPs) have been launched and are now operational. In addition, Rural Labs have been established to support social economy initiatives and foster social innovation, while monitoring and evaluation have already begun. A first batch of over 50 social economy initiatives has been identified, with 45 currently receiving tailored support and guidance.
