This document offers insights into a comprehensive capacity-building set designed to support digitally enabled district renovation processes, focused on fostering local economic development and social innovation. It elaborates on a structured framework that includes methodologies, training module insights, and best practices to equip local stakeholders—such as public authorities, businesses, and residents— with the skills and knowledge required to implement renovation or urban regeneration projects effectively.
Throughout the document, readers can find guidance and examples on capacity assessments, stakeholder engagement, capacity building set content development, and how to tailor these approaches and methodologies to the specific needs of urban regeneration and target groups.
The multidisciplinary approach has allowed the elaboration of an integral and tailored capacity-building set to address district renovation projects as ambitious as those proposed by drOp. The current needs of the demo case in Ermua, derived from the Santa Ana neighborhood were explored to define a demanded capacity assessment. In collaboration with the Ermua council, the authors of this report discovered the main capacity gaps regarding energy efficiency, digitalisation, participation and engagement and urban regeneration. By also examining the current training programs of the municipality, the authors have been able to delineate comprehensive capacity-building content and tailor these approaches and methodologies to the specific needs of urban regeneration according to a variety of target groups: residents, local stakeholders and technicians from the council.
Innovative energy efficiency and renovation financing models jointly with many inspirational examples of capacity-building sets specifically tailored to district or urban renovation are presented in the document. The wide variety of existing EU instruments at the local and regional levels, tailored to facilitate the implementation of renovation projects have been explored and they provide the municipality with the main policy frameworks and funding instruments available at the EU level. The drOp project is particularly interested in the revised version of the EED, as it mandates Member States to prioritise vulnerable customers and social housing in their energy-saving initiatives.
The overall goal of the capacity-building set is to empower communities to drive sustainable, inclusive, and smart neighbourhood transformations, using a human-centered approach and innovative technologies.
All modules have been tailored to each targetted group. Consequently, Santa Ana residents—both employed and unemployed—local businesses, and council technicians will benefit from the modules designed to address their specific capacity gaps. Residents have taken part in some training pills arranged under the drOp project regarding energy efficiency awareness, the neighbourhood office and digital applications for participatory process in recovering the built environment. They will also receive professional learning from one educational centre selected by Ermua in District Renovation skills. Additionally, other educational companies will provide courses on Energy Communities, digital skills as well as in entrepreneurship. The second module of the capacity-set, oriented to Local Commerce, has been also designed to improve their digital , innovation management and energy efficiency knowledge and skills. Finally, the third group receiving tailored training programmes, the municipal technicians will benefit from a participation and engagement module and from a multidisciplinary program combined with external stakeholders. Overall, the tailored capacity-building set presented in this document empowers citizens, technicians and SMEs and microenterprises to enhance their skills, fosters adaptability to changing environments, improves overall efficiency, and strengthens teamwork for the digitally enabled district renovation processes. It also promotes targeted growth, ensuring that resources are maximized for optimal local impact and long-term sustainability, that is, promoting local economic development and social innovation.
The capacity-building set described in this document offers a versatile framework for other urban and regional contexts. By customizing methodologies, training modules, and stakeholder engagement to local needs, it helps regions, cities, and communities develop the skills necessary for sustainable district renovation and urban regeneration. Emphasizing digitalization, collaboration, and long-term capacity development, it empowers local actors to create inclusive, innovative, and economically resilient communities. This approach can be replicated across Europe and beyond, utilizing the provided insights, best practices, and innovative models.
Check the full draft report below.
