Consistent with the greater economic focus of the PEACE ll Programme, a key concern is to promote local regeneration and sustainability. There is a particular need to build on much of the community development work undertaken during the PEACE l Programme and the social inclusion priority of this Programme in pursuit of social and financial benefits and greater sustainability. This need is recognised in policy statements at European, national and regional levels – often under the title of the social economy – and the draft Northern Ireland Programme for Government contains the following target – “by April 2001, working in conjunction with the voluntary and community sectors, agree an integrated approach to the development of the social economy in order to maximise its contribution”.
This Measure, which provides the ERDF support, will focus on social economy actions and particularly in securing the local benefits to be identified in this new strategy. The aim is that Local Strategy Partnerships operating at district council level will act in concert to prioritise actions and projects.
To co-ordinate the Structural Funds at local level through an integrated approach which will provide a clear interface between local actions and those supported under other EU funding priorities and government programmes and provide an opportunity for the setting of local requirements. It will specifically promote the development of the social economy and address the issue of equality for opportunity across the ‘main traditions' in Northern Ireland , ensuring that all communities have equal opportunity to benefit from such actions. This Measure will also seek to ensure the participation of women in those groups addressing local economic regeneration and will take into account the protection and improvement of the environment.
There is no single, precise definition to cover the social economy. It is a broad concept covering a wide range of social economy enterprises ranging from environmental clean-up under contract to significant, sustainable professional businesses in a not for profit company format. The precise types of action to be funded will be specified in the local strategies but will be consistent with the targets identified in the emerging strategy document. This document will be prepared on a partnership basis involving key community sector interests. The types of actions are likely to include:
