PAZIN ROCks is an innovative model of participatory approach that offers a recognition of common values among those with conflicting interests around a local problem, so future cooperation can be built upon those values. A model involves building strategic relationships between the project team and each stakeholder; training of stakeholders for Organising and Public Narrative and empowerment of stakeholders to find solutions and prepare a joint Roadmap.

Pazin, Istria County, Croatia

Although it is close to the mass tourism destinations, Pazin managed to remain almost intact by tourism development. Yet, tourism boards started to promote Pazincica River attractions as top touristic sites in Central Istria, and the number of tourists and local tourism providers increased. Locals want a river for recreation and education, farmers for irrigation, tourist providers, and authorities for tourists with no restrictions. Management Plan for Pazincica River was supposed to address those different needs, but has been is in not transparent enough preparation since 2014. Those conflicting interests still exist and are getting worse every year.

Our target groups with different perspectives are:
Nas Potok - a civic initiative with that wants to preserve Pazincica for future generations; local farmers - their need is irrigation, especially during the summer; tourism providers in Pazin area and Tourist Board of Central Istria - their need is to attract as many tourists possible; The City of Pazin - with no idea what to do with Pazincica River; Natura Histrica, a County entity for managing protected areas with lack of desire and capacity; Hrvatske vode, a legal entity for water management, that has financial resources.
Our beneficiaries are all inhabitants of Pazin and surroundings; future visitors and local governments, CSOs, civic initiatives, and interested citizens form other local communities with similar challenges.

Developing a Plan for Communication
Introducing the project to stakeholders and building a strategic relationship with each of them through a set of individual meetings
Analyzing gathered information on values and goals of each stakeholder and forming 3 groups of 6 people with shared interests for training purposes
Promoting project (web site, social media, etc)
Developing custom made organizing and public narrative training curriculum
Delivering 3 days of intensive training
Organizing Roadmap Drafting Event where each group delivers what has been trained and coached for and all groups together develop the Roadmap that will lead to the responsible management of Pazincica River.
Advocating the Roadmap implementation
Organizing a concert to celebrate a successful cooperation

All stakeholders will be empowered and eager to implement jointly defined Roadmap. Both tourists and locals will enjoy Pazincica River attractions in a responsible manner. A rudimental infrastructure for educational trails will be built, while the environment protected and its protection promoted. Irrigation for farmland will be planned and ensured. Links between fellow citizens will be strengthened.
The capacities of the local community will be empowered and new initiatives created. The developed model becomes a good practice example applicable elsewhere.

This project brings together groups with opposing views and interests and teaches and empowers them to tell a story of shared values, build relationships based on commitment to work around shared values related the local issue, as well as to structure and strategize creative use of their own resources to achieve clear objectives and challenge people to take specific, measurable action for which they are accountable. All participating stakeholders will be able to apply what has been learned during the project implementation to other areas of interest. In the future, this will result will other initiatives that are base on citizens' participation.

First of all, we are citizens of Pazin, we care about Pazincica River and want to have a responsible Management Plan adopted and implemented. Since that has been a problem for years now, we see a great challenge in participating in finding an adequate solution. We are interested in how others will react to the methodology proposed and are excited in advance for an innovative approach that could be locally rooted and eventually become a model for other communities - we want to share a good practice!

Personnel costs 18500
Consulting fees and services 11050
Communication and promotion costs 3500
Travel and accommodation costs 1700
Office costs and supplies 2500
Other costs 11500

All comments are more than welcome!