Open Door: Bilbao la Vieja (Spain)

Reference Date: 26-07-1998

Experience selected in the 1998 Dubai Award for Best Practice, and catalogued as GOOD. ( Best Practices Database.)
País/Country: Spain

United Nations Region: Europe
Ecological region: River Basin
Activity: Neighbourhood
Partnerships: Local Authority. European Commission. Non-governmental organization (NGO).

Themes = Civic Engagement and Cultural Vitality: community participation; social and cultural vitality; the arts. Economic Development: enterprise development (formal and informal sectors); entrepreneurialship; investment development; training. Urban and Regional Planning: community-based planning; consultative process; cultural heritage conservation; urban renewal.

Main contact:
Ricardo Barkala / Marcos Muro
Lan Ekintza-Bilbao S.A. (Local Authority)
Uribitarte 18 - 4. Dcha
Bilbao
Bizkaia
SPAIN
48001
+34 94 420 53 00
+34 94 420 53 13
E-mail: lan-ekintza@lane.bilbao.net

Partner:
Marios Camhis
European Commission - D.G. XVI
Rue de Loi, 200
Bruxelles
Bruxelles
BELGIUM
B-1049
Tel: +32-2 295 71 01
Fax: +32-2 296 32 73

Partner One Support Type: Financial Support

Partner:
Angel Nieva
SURBISA
Mitxel Labegerie, 1 -2.
Bilbao
Bizkaia
SPAIN
48005
Tel: +34-94-415 99 55
Fax: +34-94-415 99 93

Partner Two Support Type: Technical Support

Partner:
Piedad Arbaiza
Sortazari Association (Non-governmental organization)
Plaza de la Cantera, 5
Bilbao
Bizkaia
SPAIN
48003
Tel: +34-94 420 53 77
Fax: +34-94 420 53 63

Partner Three Support Type: Technical Support

Nominating Organization:
Marta García Nart
Spanish National Committee
Paseo de la Castellana 67
Ministerio de Fomento
Madrid
Madrid
SPAIN
28071
Tel: +34-91 597 75 72
Fax: +34-91 597 86 04
E-mail: mgnart@mfom.es

Key Dates

S U M M A R Y

N A R R A T I V E

1. Situation before the initiative

• High unemployment
  
• Low qualifications
  
• High level of drug traffic and consumption
  
• Prostitution
  
• Increasing migrant population with problems for social integration
  
• Bad housing
  
• Lack of equipments for social use

2. Objectives, strategies and mobilization of resources
To set up facilities and activities that become "centres of attraction" capable of favouring access to the district and revitalizing it socially and economically.

To offer an opportunity for training and employment of those unemployed in the area, by qualifying them through practical works to paralelly promote rehabilitation of bad housing.

3. Process

• Training and employment schemes
  
• Rehabilitation of 3 public buildings
  
• Creation of 6 "centres of attraction"
  
• Promotion of rehabilitatiion of bad housing

The main problem was the very difficult starting-point. Main problems have been overcome by internal evaluation during the process.

4. Results achieved

• More than 1,200 people with higher qualifications (over a population of 15,000).
  
• 471 unemployed have been employed in the rehabilitation works.
  
• 6 new "centres of attraction" are now operative in 3 different matters (employment, arts and youth).
  
• New economic activities have been created in the area.
  
• Other investments and programs have reached to the area.
  
• Disadvantaged groups are now socially and labourly integrated.

Leasons learned
The City Council of Bilbao is in continous contact with other regeneration projects, specially in urban areas. This exchange of experiences has enable us to be more effective and efficient in planning, developping and evaluating of the project.

Transferability
The methodology used has been analysed and improved and it's now being used in other underpriviliged areas of the town. Best practices have been transferred to other projects at regional, national, european and worldwide level.

We think that our experience can be a good example to follow in order to maximaze the endogenous potencial of the residents in underpriviliged areas.

5. The experience in numbers
Financial Profile:
The project has finished by 31.12.97.
For the total project there has been a budget of 8.2 Mecu,

• 60% financed by Local Authorities.
  
• 40% by the European Commission.