Stiemerdeals - Genk | Interlace Hub

The Stiemerdeals is a framework to create new alliances between stakeholders who wish to contribute to the transformation of the Stiemer Valley, a valley and creek with severe water issues in Genk, Belgium. The valley is faced with, for example, sewage water overflowing into the canalized creek during heavy rainfalls. Within the framework, new grassroots ideas that contribute to the socio-economic development of the valley can be tested and promoted. Citizens, entrepreneurs and associations are able to suggest initiatives for the valley that create win-wins, i.e. the initiative should benefit the valley as well as the interested party. The city and interested parties discuss how they can collaborate on a shared objective of sustainably developing the valley. Once an initiative is approved, the city of Genk can provide support through printed material, make connections with relevant stakeholders/networks, organize activities and offer a small subsidy to help get a project off the ground. Some examples of Stiemerdeals are Stiemer-honey (beekeeping in the valley), Stiemer-icecream and Stiemer-cookies (made with Stiemer-honey), Stiemer-beer (made with hop from the valley), tours, art projects and nature management (in one case by a vulnerable community).

Overview

Type of instrument:

Agreement-based or cooperative instrument›Public-private community-based 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:

Stiemerdeals search for socio-economic opportunities within the valley. Deals can be created within 8 themes: nature, recreation, meeting people, happyness, growth, water, creativity and entrepreneurship. The deals search specifically for win-wins between the objectives for the Stiemer Valley and other socio-economic opportunities.

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

Innovative

Inclusivity

Governance

Government body/bodies

Initiating body:

Municipality of Genk

Instrument design:

Details about how the instrument was designed:

The city of Genk participated in the European Union-funded project ‘Connecting Nature’ and was challenged by the consortium to think about innovative approaches for co-creation. Early plans for the Stiemerdeals acted as a basis for the design of the final instrument and its development was supported by the Connecting Nature consortium. Within the municipality, the department of social affairs and the department of environment and sustainable development collaborated. Furthermore, potential partners of the Stiemerdeal, who were involved with the initial plans of the Stiemerdeal, were invited to collaborate to optimize and fine-tune the instrument.

Involvement of non-governmental actors:

Researchers, university

Citizens or community groups / NGOs

Type of actor involvement:

Co-planning or co-design of instrument (e.g. boards, advisory role)

Instrument implementation:

Type of involvement:

Any private group or individual can make a proposition for a Stiemerdeal to the city, which is then discussed between the party and a steering group. The (updated) proposition is then shared with the city council, who makes the final decision on whether or not a Stiemerdeal is approved.

Type of non-governmental actors involved:

Co-design of the socio-economic activities that create win-wins for the Stiemer Valley

Targeted actors:

Public sector institution (e.g. school or hospital)

Private: household, real estate developer, business , financial

Citizens or community groups (CBOs), NGOs

Financing

Sources of funding:

Public local authority’s budget

Budget:

50 000€ - 100 000€

Details about instrument financing:

Most of the budget is spent on municipal staff (including a dedicated staff member), who follow up on the proposals and the approved deals. Partners who have a Stiemerdeal with the city can apply for the Stiemerfund, i.e. a small subsidy to support the Stiemerdeal and the development of the valley. A partner can request max. €500 up to two times per year. The request should be in line with the goals and themes of the Stiemerdeal. The city of Genk and the Stiemerdeal should be added to the communication of the partner in relation to the application of the subsidy. The city allocates a maximum of €15000 per year for the Stiemerfund. Furthermore, the city can support a Stiemerdeal with printed materials, graphic design or lending of material. These costs have never been calculated.

Monitoring, evaluation and impacts

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:

A total of 45 Stiemerdeals have been approved since the start of the Stiemerdeals (of which some have already finished) and captured multiple opportunities for socio-economic development. It has been proven to be a platform for innovation, ideation and prototyping as it places local entrepreneurs in a stronger position of responsibility for the valley. Many small initiatives still have a substantial impact and contribute to the goals of the city for the sustainable redevelopment of the Stiemer Valley.

Success factors and lessons learned:

The Stiemerdeals is in part successful due to the designation of a dedicated staff member, who has the time and expertise to build a large network for the Stiemerdeals. Working with a dedicated staff member increases trust among the parties, as they work together with a familiar face over time and someone who keeps investing in their professional relationship. The Stiemerdeals proved to be a low-barrier initiative to build win-win opportunities with local entrepreneurs. The decision-making in favor of a new Stiemerdeal is considered to be fast; the steering group comes quickly together for a new proposal and shares it with the city council in a short time. The Stiemerdeals allowed for many small ideas to be pitched and showcased the value of the Stiemer Valley without large infrastructure investments. The partners of the Stiemerdeals can be seen as local ambassadors that help to build engagement (more inhabitants to be involved with and experience the valley). It acts as a launching board to get projects off the ground through the help of the city with communication, networking and a small subsidy.

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

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

Interview(s):

City of Genk

Further documents

Weblinks:

https://www.genk.be/stiemerdeals

http://stiemervallei.be

Photos

@Marc Lemmens