Strengthening Place‑Based Governance to Address Urban Segregation

Strengthening Place‑Based Governance to Address Urban Segregation

Project type

URBACT Action Network

Project focus

The project focuses on strengthening integrated, area‑based governance models to address neighbourhood‑level challenges such as socio‑spatial segregation, fragmented services and unequal access to opportunities.

The project supports cities in moving beyond siloed, sector‑based governance towards coordinated, place‑based leadership, combining cross‑sectoral collaboration, data‑informed decision‑making and local stakeholder engagement.

Local context (Vantaa, Finland)

Vantaa faces challenges common to many European cities: segregation patterns, complex social needs and fragmented service delivery at neighbourhood level. Traditional governance structures have proven insufficient to address these place‑specific and interconnected issues.

In response, the city has piloted an area‑based governance model built around area‑level leadership groups that bring together:

• municipal sectors,
• public authorities,
• local organisations and service providers, and
• residents.

The model aims to build shared situational awareness, align goals and actions across sectors, and improve the effectiveness of local interventions. While early results are promising, further development, refinement and international peer learning are needed to strengthen the model and embed it into mainstream governance.

Project ambitions

The Action Network aims to develop, test and strengthen integrated, place‑based governance approaches through transnational cooperation.

At network level, the project will:

• compare different area‑based governance and leadership models,
• co‑develop practical tools and methodologies for cross‑sectoral coordination,
• strengthen the use of data, local knowledge and stakeholder input, and
• produce a shared Action Playbook capturing models, tools and lessons learned.

At local level, partner cities will:

• establish or strengthen URBACT Local Groups,
• design and implement concrete local actions addressing social cohesion and territorial equity, and
• embed successful approaches into long‑term urban governance and strategies.

Why URBACT?

URBACT provides a structured and supportive framework for:

• peer learning between cities,
• experimentation in real urban contexts,
• active involvement of local stakeholders, and
• linking strategic objectives to concrete neighbourhood‑level action.

Type of partner cities sought

The network is looking for European cities that:

• face neighbourhood‑level challenges related to segregation, inequality or service fragmentation,
• are experimenting with or planning place‑based, cross‑sectoral governance approaches,
• want to move from pilots towards more systematic and sustainable governance models, and
• are committed to active participation, peer exchange and local action within the URBACT framework.

Cities at different stages of development are welcome, as diversity of contexts is seen as a key strength for mutual learning.