Handbook on participatory planning for small islands

The handbook summarises the experience gained from the “Islands of Hope” programme, a collective expression and participatory planning project for island communities, implemented in Samothrace from January to December 2021. The aim of the project was to contribute to the democratic activation of the local community and to support the co-planning of a proposal for the island’s future that will be attentive to the needs of the residents and take into account the challenges and opportunities of the island environment. The main focus was to actively involve individuals and institutions in the co-design of a vision for the future of the island that is both sustainable and expressive of the community. This process involves amplifying voices that are difficult to hear and resolving conflicts so that all views can be expressed. In this way, convergences can be more easily identified and disagreements can be made visible, so that they can be mitigated.

This publication sets a framework for discussion on public consultation and participatory planning in small islands, while summarising and documenting the key findings from our experience so that they can be easily available for similar initiatives. At the same time, it is a tool for reflection on the difficulties and unpredictable factors that occur during the implementation of such a project. Finally, it examines a number of innovative tools for democratic consultation that deserve the attention of those working on similar issues.

Language: Greek