Policy Implications of Coronavirus Crisis for Rural Development

The Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD)

This policy note examines the policy implications of the coronavirus crisis for rural development, and considers the policy responses that OECD member countries are adopting, using national examples to highlight good practice. The note also summarises how governments can prepare to leverage opportunities, and highlights the key opportunities and challenges.

Rural 3.0. People-Centered Rural Policy: Policy Highlights 2019

The Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD)

Described as a ‘road-map for delivering wellbeing in rural regions’, this policy framework aims to help national governments support rural development. It highlights the contribution that rural areas make to OECD economies, as well as the current challenges. 

Social Enterprise World Forum

Online Policy Library

The Social Enterprise World Forum website hosts a resource library, which allows you to easily navigate through local, regional, national, and international examples of social enterprise policy. This library is the one of the most extensive online collections of social enterprise resources globally, and the collection is always expanding and being updated.

Advancing Social Enterprise in Nova Scotia

Regional Strategy

Outlines the regional strategy for advancing social enterprise in Nova Scotia, a province in the Canadian Maritimes. The strategy builds from the Scottish Social Enterprise Survey, highlighting the fact that ‘progress is most pronounced in remote rural and island communities’, of which there are many across Nova Scotia.

Social Enterprise Strategy: Victoria State Government

Regional Strategy

Outlines the social enterprise strategy for the state of Victoria, in south-eastern Australia. The strategy recognises a specific role for social enterprise in rural areas, especially as community-driven responses to local issues.

The Way Forward: Social Action Plan

Regional Strategy for Newfoundland and Labrador

This action plan sets out the focus for developing social enterprise in Newfoundland and Labrador from 2018-2021. References to rural social enterprise are limited, although it does commit to use research to understand the social enterprise sector, and identify and support new social enterprise opportunities in both urban and rural areas.

SENVIC Regional Mini-Conference Manifesto

Accelerating Social Enterprise in Rural and Regional Victoria

Social Enterprise Network Victoria (SENVIC) is a practitioner-led network with a clear purpose – to establish a thriving social enterprise sector. Since 2020 ACRE has partnered with SENVIC to develop and grow a Local Leads model across regional and rural Victoria, Australia.

A SENVIC Regional Mini-Conference Manifesto has been devised for accelerating social enterprise in rural and regional Victoria. The manifesto is an invitation for Government and philanthropy to recognise the fundamental differences in the way that rural and regional communities connect with social enterprise.

You can read more about the background of the manifesto here.

EU Rural Review 32

Long-term Vision for rural areas

This edition of the EU Rural Review  looks at the future of rural areas in digital, environmental and social terms, as well as in terms of resilience. The content builds on the outcomes of the ENRD work on the Long-Term Rural Vision and of Rural Vision Week.

A new blueprint for Scotland’s rural economy: Recommendations to Scottish Ministers

National Council of Rural Advisors

This report produced in September 2018 calls for the strategic importance of the rural economy to be mainstream in all policy and decision making processes.

Click here to read the report. 

“We believe the rural economy is one of Scotland’s greatest assets. Our rural industries feed and fuel homes and businesses across the country. Our rural landscapes attract tourists from across the world. Our rural communities are brimming with creativity, resilience and entrepreneurial spirit. And according to the latest figures, our rural economy contributes over a quarter of the total value of the Scottish economy – £34.6bn in 2015, which was almost as much as Edinburgh and Glasgow combined (£38.1bn)”.

The recommendations are being implemented by the Rural Economy Action Group. 

Click here to learn more about the Rural Economy Action Group.

20 Minute Neighbourhoods in Rural & Island Scotland

Report from Practitioner Roundtable – January 2022

Organised by Scottish Rural Action, the Scottish Rural & Islands Transport Community and SURF – Scotland’s Regeneration Forum, the roundtable brought together practitioners from different rural and island geographies to discuss the application of 20 Minute Neighbourhoods in place planning.

Scotland’s National Strategy for Economic Transformation

Delivering Economic Prosperity: Commercial Summary

The Scottish Government’s vision for Scotland in 2032 is a wellbeing economy: thriving across economic, social and environmental dimensions, one that delivers economic prosperity for all Scotland’s people and places.

This summary version of the strategy highlights the main priorities and actions the Scottish Government will take forward in the next decade to achieve their vision.

More information about the strategy can be found here.

Wellbeing Economy Governments (WEGo)

Understanding the Key Priorities for a Wellbeing Economy

Scotland is a founding member of the Wellbeing Economy Governments (WEGo) group, an initiative where member countries are working together to understand the key priorities for a wellbeing economy.

Building a Wellbeing Economy is a top priority for the Scottish Government. This means building an economy that is inclusive and that promotes sustainability, prosperity and resilience, where businesses can thrive and innovate, and that supports all of our communities across Scotland to access opportunities that deliver local growth and wellbeing.

South of Scotland Draft Regional Economic Strategy

A draft of the first ever Regional Economic Strategy for the South of Scotland

Published in June 2021, this strategy has been created following extensive and far-reaching engagement earlier this year. This has helped the REP to set out their 10-year vision, built around six essential themes they believe will help create a greener, fairer and flourishing South of Scotland. One of these key themes is centred around building the capability and capacity of social enterprises and the Third Sector.

Social Enterprise Policy Framework

An Overview of Social Enterprise Policy Development in Scotland

This policy framework outlines the process for social enterprise policy development and implementation in Scotland, and points to resources that will provide further detail and information. 

Inclusive Growth through Social Enterprise

Action Plan 2021-2024

This plan sets out the first steps to deliver the vision set out in the Social Enterprise Strategy, focusing on key priorities. This action plan may be subject to revision in the light of the Coronavirus pandemic, and its impact on the economy.

Scotland’s Social Enterprise Strategy 2016-2026

National Strategy

Published in 2016 this lays out the ten-year national strategy for social enterprise in Scotland setting out shared ambitions for the development of social enterprise in rural and urban areas across Scotland.

National Performance Framework

Illustrating Outcomes

Scotland’s National Performance Framework (NPF) was developed with the people of Scotland. It reflects our values as a nation and our aspirations for the future. The NPF also incorporates Scotland’s commitment to the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The SDGs aim to improve wellbeing across the world.

The illustration below tells the story of how the work done by the Scottish Government connects with people and places with the National Performance Framework at the centre.

Credit – Linda Hunter

Community Empowerment (Scotland) Act 2015

National Legislation

This is a key piece of legislation that extended the community right to buy, already available to rural communities via the Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2003, to urban ones. It provides a framework for communities to have a greater say in the design and delivery of local services via participation requests and establishes the right to request the transfer of assets.

It allows different types of communities bodies to be involved in forestry leasing and requires local authorities to develop local food strategies. The Act establishes the National Outcomes in law and requires local authorities to establish Community Planning Partnerships and to involve local communities in all stages of community planning.

Community Wealth Building in Rural & Island Scotland

Report from practitioner roundtable – December 2021

Organised by Scottish Rural Action, InspirAlba and the David Hume Institute, the roundtable brought together experienced practitioners to discuss rural and island wealth building strategies and to explore how wealth building policy, particularly the Preston model adopted by the Scottish Government may be leveraged to strengthen these strategies. This report summarises discussions for the Advisory Group on Scotland’s National Strategy for Economic Transformation.

A Manifesto for Rural and Island Scotland

Based on work from the Scottish Rural Parliament

An updated Manifesto for Rural and Island Scotland was launched this week by Scottish Rural Action. The Manifesto has sprung from the work of the Scottish Rural Parliament. First held in Oban in 2014, the inaugural Rural Parliament attracted 400 attendees. Three further Rural Parliaments were held in 2016, 2018 and, most recently, in 2021.

The Scottish Rural Development Programme 2014-2020

National Programme

The SRDP is part of the EU Common Agricultural Policy, and is funded by the European Commission and the Scottish Government. Its purpose is to help achieve sustainable economic growth in Scotland’s rural areas. The most familiar SRDP schemes to social enterprise are LEADER and the Forestry Grant Scheme.

Repeopling Emptied Places

Discussion Paper – 2019

The Scottish Land Commission has commissioned a series of independent discussion papers on land reform issues to stimulate public debate. This paper provides centenary reflections on the significance and the enduring legacy of the Land Settlement (Scotland) Act 1919.

“The way we own and use land is central to big public policy challenges including climate action, productivity, and inclusive growth. Reforms to both land ownership and use are needed to unlock opportunities for inclusive growth and to make the most of our land for the benefit of all.”

The Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2016

National Legislation

The Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2016, placed a duty on Scottish Ministers to produce a statement of land rights and responsibilities, set up the Scottish Land Commission, and made provision for various changes to land ownership and management.

The Scottish Land Rights and Responsibilities Statement (LRRS) (September 2017) sets out six key principles and expectations for the relationship between people and land. It reflects changing expectations for the ways in which decisions about land are made. Together with the Scottish Government’s Guidance on Engaging Communities in Decisions about Land, it makes it clear that a wider range of voices should be able to influence and benefit from land use decisions.

• A commitment to create a framework that promotes, respects and fulfils human rights in relation to land.
• There should be a more diverse pattern of land ownership.
• There should be greater community ownership, leasing and use of buildings and land.
• Those that hold land rights and responsibilities to exercise them to meet high standards of land ownership, management and use.
• Improved transparency of information about ownership and use of land
• Greater collaboration and community engagement in decisions about land.