12. Engaged City: Community, Youth, and The Third Sector

Tarnów is struggling with low civic engagement, limited public dialogue, and a lack of effective cooperation between public institutions and non-governmental organisations (NGOs). Particularly evident is the decline in youth engagement; this group requires enhanced educational and social opportunities to feel connected to the local community. Research indicates that only 21.5% of residents participate in local community meetings, and voter turnout remains below the regional average. The ‘White Paper on Dialogue’ (2023) highlights the urgent need for NGO networking and providing them with active institutional support. The objective of this action is to strengthen civil society and increase resident participation in decision-making processes by improving cooperation between NGOs and the city, enhancing the institutional capacity of non-governmental organisations, and encouraging greater youth activity.

The action aligns with the ‘Tarnów 2030 City Development Strategy’ and the principles of transparent management and social participation. The project will be implemented through three key areas: the ‘Base for NGOs’ grant programme, the ‘Community Power’ educational series, and the development of a city-wide youth policy. The grant programme supports NGOs in their institutional development and cooperation by funding environmental, economic, and social initiatives, as well as the purchase of necessary tools and training. Grants are awarded through a participatory system, with project management entrusted to an NGO selected via a competitive tender. The programme aims to award at least 30 grants. The ‘Community Power’ educational series engages residents through consultations, debates, and workshops featuring experts and local officials. Topics include the participatory budget, climate change, urban space planning, and the role of advisory bodies. Furthermore, a dedicated consultation point will be established to provide information on municipal investments and the participatory budgeting process. The development of a youth-oriented policy is carried out in cooperation with social organisations, universities, and experts. It defines the framework for youth spaces—areas for learning and leisure—and includes educational games designed to strengthen young people’s identification with the city. Planned activities are extensively consulted with residents, the City Council, and the Youth City Council.

The entire initiative supports the development of an active society, the education of new community leaders, and civic participation. Its innovative model is designed to be scalable and can be adopted by other local governments. The total value of this action is 720,500.00 PLN, and it is fully covered by grant funding.