Current status

Submitted

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Contributor(s)

First contributor: Järfälla municipality

Summary

The civil cooperation council is a politically initiated council that started in 2021. It should work for good meetings over the boundaries of civil society, for increased cooperation and increased understanding of each other and strengthen the positive force of civil society in terms of integration.

It gathers NGOs, faith-based organization, sport associations and study associations (sv. studieförbund). To participate in the council, the organizations need to apply to certain criteria, they must work in the municipality with a focus on improving integration and preventing segregation. There are currently 26 organizations included in the board and four are waiting for approval to be included.

We have meetings 4-6 times a year where there is an open dialogue between the municipality, politicians and the NGOs and other organizations included in the council.

Administrative level

Local (Municipality)

Year of implementation

2021-2022

Policy area(s)

Other

Further details

Integration and segretation

Jakobsbergs folkhögskola

Civil society organisation

Contact info

Tipology of involvement in the initiative

Participating with a direct involvement

Svenska med baby

Civil society organisation

Contact info

Tipology of involvement in the initiative

Participating with a direct involvement

Imam Ali Islamic Center

Civil society organisation

Contact info

Tipology of involvement in the initiative

Participating with a direct involvement

Swedish church in Järfälla

Civil society organisation

Contact info

Tipology of involvement in the initiative

Participating with a direct involvement

Föreningen Jasminhuset

Civil society organisation

Contact info

Tipology of involvement in the initiative

Participating with a direct involvement

Ideella integrationsguiden

Civil society organisation

Contact info

Tipology of involvement in the initiative

Participating with a direct involvement

SWAT

Civil society organisation

Contact info

Tipology of involvement in the initiative

Participating with a direct involvement

Järfälla red cross

Civil society organisation

Contact info

Tipology of involvement in the initiative

Participating with a direct involvement

Järfälla ryttarförening

Civil society organisation

Contact info

Tipology of involvement in the initiative

Participating with a direct involvement

S:t Jakob Syriska kyrkan i Järfälla (St: Jakob Syrian church in Järfälla)

Civil society organisation

Contact info

Tipology of involvement in the initiative

Participating with a direct involvement

Järfälla municipality

Public Authority

Contact info

Tipology of involvement in the initiative

Initiating (i.e., advocating for and starting the process
Organising
Funding
Participating with a direct involvement

Level of Participation

Information
Dialogue
Partnership

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By level of participation we refer to the type of involvement in the decision-making process. The levels are identified by the intensity of participation: going from “information” to “consultation” to ” dialogue” to “partnership”. Do you want to learn more - click here

Developed practice(s)

The council is important for sharing information between actors; there is a dialogue between the municipality and civil society actors about what is being done and what needs to be done. The council is currently planning a partnership with the civil society actors included in the council. All the organizations will be able to apply for funding from the municipality to implement work related to the aims of the council.

Step(s) of the political decision-making process at which the practice was implemented

Decision-making on policy

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There are six different steps of the political decision-making process: agenda setting, drafting of policy, decision-making, implementation of policy, monitoring and reformulation of policy. Each step offer opportunities for CSOs and public authorities to interact. Do you want to learn more - click here

How the initiative was implemented

Situation

We have challenges considering integration and segregation in Järfälla. That is why politicians took this initiative. It was confirmed in the city council. Previously we had a smaller council that was for dialogue between different religious organizations that are represented in Järfälla.

Activities performed

4-6 meetings annually and possibility to apply for funding the future

Tools and mechanisms applied

We have criteria documented

Goals of the civil participation initiative

At community level

That the community participates in the work to improve integration and prevent segregation

From Civil society organisation's perspective

To improve integration and prevent segregation in the municipality

From Public Authority's Perspective

To improve integration and prevent segregation in the municipality

Results expected prior to the implementation

We are currently working with the council to achieve the goals mentioned above.

Immediate results achieved after implementation

We have not finished the work yet - but hopefully the community will be more included in the work to improve integration and prevent segregation.

Long-term impact

Hopefully the long-term impact will be a sustainable municipality when the work is done where the community is involved in the work to improve integration and prevent segregation.

Practice lessons learnt (obstacles and solutions)

Agency (i.e., political conditions/power structures)	Obstacles	Politically there was not a consensus
Agency (i.e., political conditions/power structures)	Solutions	Had a majority to start the council
Legislative	Obstacles
Legislative	Solutions
Administrative	Obstacles
Administrative	Solutions
Socio-cultural	Obstacles	The initiative was prioritised to open a dialogue between all ethnicities in the municipalities and it takes time to achieve that goal
Socio-cultural	Solutions	We continue to work from the municipality that these organization work with the municipality and each other to advance integration
Economic	Obstacles
Economic	Solutions	Through the budget
Human capital	Obstacles
Human capital	Solutions
Other	Obstacles
Other	Solutions

Further information

Self-assessment

The self-assessment presents the opinion of the contributor about on what extent the following principles for Civil Participation have been reflected in the implementation of the initiative/practice/case-study, ranging from 1 (min) to 4 (max) (N/A: not applicable, do not know)

Openness	4
Explanation	The council is open to all views and suggestions from its members.
Trust	4
Explanation	We believe that there is mutual trust between the municipality representatives, NGOs and organizations included. The municipality listens to the opinion of all its members.
Independence	4
Explanation	We have no demands on the NGOs and organizations in the council. They are independent and have their own free will. They are welcome to apply for participation in the council if they work with integration and segregation issues in the municipality.
Participation	3
Explanation	The NGOs and organizations participate on many levels. The municipality is now in the process of starting to fund projects implemented by members of the council. The municipality will have some focus areas that the NGOs and organizations must work from. But the plan is to have a dialogue with the NGOs and organization to discuss their ideas and how they can participate in the municipalities work to improve integration and prevent segregation.
Transparency	4
Explanation	We have rules of procedure that we work according to. These are given to the NGOs and organizations when they apply to participate in the council. To participate in the council, the NGOs and organizations must write a formal application letter where they describe how their work complies with the aims of the council.
Accessibility	4
Explanation	That is done and if they have any questions, they can contact the representatives of the municipality.
Non-discrimination	3
Explanation	NGOs and organizations must apply to participate in the council and to be accepted to the council they must comply with certain criteria and work in line with the aims of the council, which is to increase integration and prevent segregation in the municipality.
Inclusiveness	4
Explanation	When the municipality started the work with the council, they informed all NGOs and organizations that work with these issues in the municipality by email and encouraged them to participate. There was also an announcement in the local media. Some organizations that did not apply, but clearly work towards the aim of the council, have been contacted again to make sure that they know about the work of the council and the possibility to join.
Accountability	4
Explanation	Council meetings are held 2-3 times each semester. Minutes are taken and sent to all members, and they are open to the public. The municipality will start funding some projects of the NGOs and organizations later this year and it will be done based on accountability.

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