From evidence to action
How do cities transform?
The OurCity Initiative Annual Workshop
Topic: Youth – Opportunities – Cities – Territory
By: Diana Senior , Territorial Leader of Education and Employment
At this convention, we met in Cluj, Romania, along with representatives from the cities of Tanga, Koforidua, and Manta. Representing Barranquilla were Susana Calero, Coordinator of the Nuestra Barranquilla program, and myself, Diana Senior, Territorial Coordinator of the Corona Foundation.
We were invited as part of the implementing organizations of OurCity, to learn about the progress of the network of cities, share lessons learned and discuss the evolution of the E2A (Evidence to Action) model and Governance of the initiative.
The topic that most occupied my thoughts during the event was how to capitalize on the lessons learned from these initiatives to inform the models we have at Fundación Corona. As implementers, these initiatives acquire local knowledge, stimulate the system around agendas of interest, and achieve knowledge and learning management that could be of interest to us. Therefore, Fundación Corona could establish learning agendas with these initiatives so that their contribution, beyond their administrative management, can be viewed through a shared, two-way learning process.
Barbara Bulc of SDG Colab, who led the incubation of the OurCluj initiative, demonstrated a deep understanding of the system and its actors, enabling her to interpret power dynamics and envision how similar initiatives can significantly contribute to the city's development. These are fundamental lessons that we should all consider when undertaking similar initiatives.
The dinner on the first day was truly enriching. The choice of venue and format facilitated stronger relationships between the teams, broke the ice with the other delegations, and allowed for relaxed conversations about the opportunities and challenges of implementation. Furthermore, it laid the groundwork for the following days of the week.
I highlight this event because, although it was not directly linked to a specific project, I believe it is fundamental to the mission of these spaces: to establish connections between cities and discuss initiatives as part of a collaborative network.
The 3 main lessons I learned from my experience were:
The evolution of each initiative is different; this is due to the contexts and other elements that can enable and accelerate the initiatives. In somewhat more complex contexts, initiatives face greater initial challenges than in those where there is a focus on youth.
Measurement proves challenging in these types of initiatives, where results are intertwined with deeper transformations that must be communicated to build trust in the system. Traditional measurement with output indicators should not be overlooked, but it is also essential to map the system's transformations stemming from the intervention.
Planning a 10-year initiative means ensuring its sustainability once the implementation period is complete. It's important to consider how the initiative will integrate into the existing system, how it will be managed by local partners, and how it will be financially secure.
A further reflection on these lessons is the need to view the mapping of the system and its actors as a cyclical and continuous process. This mapping should be undertaken by GOYN, Nuestra Barranquilla, and Fundación Corona (as administrator of these initiatives) as a single, comprehensive mapping effort across the territory, encompassing all variables of interest to the teams.
In the case of Cluj, it took them almost two years to have a clear mapping related even to the themes to be worked on in the city, but this time served to understand the system sufficiently and to identify the initiatives that are in accordance with the spirit of the project.
As an initiative that's part of a global network, I believe this is a valuable experience that fosters a sense of belonging to the network while facilitating the exchange of knowledge. But above all, I think it allows us to connect with a shared purpose: it generates alignment, provides feedback to the partner organization, and strengthens relationships between cities.