Citizen panel 'Friends of the Stiemer' - Genk

'Friends of the Stiemer' is a citizen panel initiated in 2019 that is involved in supporting the Stiemer Valley (Genk, Belgium) development process by providing feedback and supporting the narrative around the valley and its severe water issues (e.g. the overflowing of sewage water into the canalized creek during heavy rainfalls). This initiative was developed during the finalizing stage of the Masterplan for the Redevelopment of the Stiemer Valley. The aim of the initiative was to guarantee sustainable citizen involvement for new developments and actions within the valley after the masterplan's participatory process had concluded. The city is using this initiative to prototype a new governance structure and community engagement approach for empowering local residents to become ambassadors and caretakers of the Stiemer Valley. Supported by a communication and participation strategy, the city hopes to use the citizen panel as a tool to increase transparency, support social cohesion and realize behavioral change. The strategy includes giving citizens insights on the agenda of the city, as well as the (sometimes cumbersome processes behind) decision-making, while also capturing the wishes of the citizens. Furthermore, it includes the coproduction and implementation of actions, events and other initiatives.

Overview

Type of instrument:

Agreement-based or cooperative instrument›Public-community agreement

Challenges addressed

Ecologic connectivity
Water management (e.g. reuse)
Green space management (e.g. accessibility)
Watershed restoration/water quality
Flood risk: pluvial and fluvial / soil permeability
Social cohesion
Social equity
Nature appropriation / stewardship
Reconnection to the biosphere / environmental education
Human health, comfort and well-being

Consideration of nature-based solutions:

Besides achieving the goals set out in the masterplan of the Stiemer Valley, the citizen panel aims to increase social cohesion and stewardship of the valley and creek.

Targeted (peri-)urban areas:

Parks and (semi)natural urban green areas

Allotments, community gardens or agricultural areas

Blue areas

Green areas for water management

Good practice characteristics:

Support multifunctional NBS

Sustainable in the long-term

Locally appropriate

Potential to be replicated / upscaled

Inclusivity

Governance

Government body/bodies

Initiating body:

Municipality of Genk

Instrument design:

Details about how the instrument was designed:

The panel was designed and initiated by the municipality of Genk as a continuation of the citizen consultation rounds that were part of the development of the Masterplan for the Redevelopment of the Stiemer Valley.

Instrument implementation:

Type of involvement:

Participants of the citizens panel are involved with the planning of the actions, initiatives and developments of the Stiemer Valley and have an advisory role. Furthermore, they are seen as ambassadors of the valley who make the connection to the local society. The panel comes together three times a year to learn and provide input on the latest developments. The agenda is proposed by the city, but citizens can also add discussion points.

Type of non-governmental actors involved:

Citizen councils or consultation for co-planning (e.g. workshops, surveys)

Citizen oversight (e.g. boards, advisory role)

Citizen monitoring and review

Targeted actors:

Citizens or community groups (CBOs), NGOs

Financing

Sources of funding:

Public local authority’s budget

Budget:

Less than 50 000 €

Details about instrument financing:

The main cost is the time of municipal staff spend to organize and follow up the meetings of the citizens panel. Besides drinks and snacks, the participating members of the panel are not compensated for their time.

Monitoring, evaluation and impacts

Is a monitoring framework in place?:

Did an evaluation take place?:

Yes

The city applies reflexive monitoring to evaluate their approach, in which they define learning questions in order to learn lessons and make motivated decisions on how to further develop the Stiemer programme. Staff of the department of environment and sustainable development who work on the Stiemer programme have a meet on reflexive monitoring every two months.

Achieved outcomes and impacts:

The implementation of the citizens panel allowed for the aligning of new plans and developments with the needs and wishes of citizens. It contributed to the maintenance and increase of public support and involvement of interested citizens for the development of the valley. By involving citizens, it became clear that there are individuals and groups with a great interest in the area as well as who are motivated to make voluntary contributions (e.g. helping with management of the valley, collection of monitoring data, sharing information in their own networks, participating in activities in the valley). The panel placed local residents in a stronger position of responsibility for the valley, while they also act as ambassadors to reach out to other residents about the valley and ongoing developments.

Success factors and lessons learned:

The creation of the citizen panel attracted motivated citizens with a passion for the valley, resulting in active involvement in decision-making processes. Some individuals were already involved through citizen consultations for the Masterplan for the Redevelopment of the Stiemer Valley, and through this instrument they could stay involved and contribute to new developments. Through citizen consultations and the opportunity to share their perspectives, some citizens indicate that this has brought the vision of the city more in line with their ideas and concerns. However, the city does not necessarily commit to all of the citizens' suggestions. Some residents were not sure what was being done with their input. This could potentially reinforce the feeling of mistrust among those who already have less confidence in (local) politics. Furthermore, achieving diversity within the panel in pracitce is a challenge, both in terms of diversity in age, culture and the involvement of vulnerable groups.

Sources and further information

References

List of references:

Hill, A.V. (ed) (2022). Process Design: an Explorer's Guide, Nature-Based Solutions, Connecting Nature, Genk. Osmos Foundation, Amsterdam

Tas, A., Dekeyser, L., Leone, M., Verheyden, W., Turkelboom, F., Mortelmans, D., Carmen, R., Wanner, S. & Jacobs, S. (2021). Onderzoek voor Groene Infrastructuur in steden: Het voorbeeld van de Stiemerbeekvallei in Genk. Rapporten van het Instituut voor Natuur- en Bosonderzoek 2021 (27). Instituut voor Natuur- en Bosonderzoek, Brussel. DOI: doi.org/10.21436/inbor.37421014

Tractebel, ADR architects/ George Descombes, IMDC. (2019). Stiemervallei Masterplan.

Interview(s):

City of Genk

Further documents

Weblinks:

https://www.genk.be/vrienden-van-de-stiemer

http://stiemervallei.be

Photos

@Ciudad de Genk