In May 2021, research partners from the University of Pisa organised a meeting to support MAP Facilitators and Monitors in running a Foresight exercise within their platforms.
This task is part of the MAP’s second cycle, and the scenarios identified will contribute to the design of their vision for 2040.
During the meeting, Sabrina Arcuri and Marina Knickel (University of Pisa) presented Joint Research Centre’s (JRC) scenarios to the MAP facilitators suggesting how to adjust them to the local context of each MAP.
The JRC scenarios are built around two main driving forces: (a) Multi-level governance (fragmented vs. networked) and (b) Rural demography (expanding vs. shrinking). The four scenarios are called: (i) Rurbanities, (ii) Rural Renewal, (iii) Rural Connections and (iv) Rural Specialisations. These four scenarios are meant to guide the Foresight process and support the MAPs in the exploration of possible futures.
As part of the meeting, the cluster members also reflected on the:
- main driving forces at a local level;
- specific rural demography of the MAPs;
- importance of a multi-level governance approach when designing scenarios;
- differing visions for the region of various stakeholders (for instance differences in the visions of decision makers and researchers).
All in all, the meeting provided MAPs with necessary guidance and resources to run the Foresight exercise. The first Foresight workshop will be organised by the Tuscany MAP before the end of June 2021 when the European Commission’s Communication on a Long-Term Vision for Rural Areas is to be published. At the next SHERPA Foresight Cluster meeting planned for September / October 2021 the drafting of the MAP Position Paper will be discussed.