Smart Villages in Poland
Ideas for designing support in the future CAP Strategic Plans
Description
The “Smart Villages in Poland: ideas for designing support in the future CAP Strategic Plans” briefing introduced the main suggestions of how the design of Smart Villages could be supported in future Strategic Plans (SP) under the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) in Poland. According to the briefing, Member States should apply the following procedure when deciding on the support to be provided to Smart Villages: 1) Identify the needs of the rural communities of potential Smart Villages, 2) Analyse the existing policy support framework to identify any opportunities and gaps; and 3) Compile a targeted package of interventions that wouldallow rural communities to take an initial idea for change through to its sustainable scale-up.
Technology
The document identifies the internet as key factor in rural development, and draws attention to the European Network for Rural Development (ENRD) Smart Villages Portal as a repository of information on Smart Villages in the EU that can serve as a guide to stakeholders involved in the design of support of Smart Villages. Furthermore, the winner of the Smart Villages Competition organized in Poland in 2019, the village of Piaseczna Górka, uses social networks to engage the community and promote innovations including the use of solar power technology to power public lamps in community centres and gardens.
Target
The primary beneficiaries are national policy-makers and implementers, who are supported in the development of rural policies. Rural communities in Poland, on the other hand, can benefit from the case studies in the strategic plans submitted for the Smart Village competition, which can serve as inspirations for future interventions.
Impact
Internet access and digital skills in Poland are lower in rural areas, but are essential for rural development in many fields. The careful design of interventions in support of Smart Villages will allow them to respond in a fast and flexible manner to the economic, social and environmental needs of local communities. Such an approach will avoid duplications with existing structures and strategies and policy support tools, will advise what worked and what did not in previous applications, and will aid in the design of targeted interventions.
Partners
European Commission
Four Betters
Better environment
Better life
