Reconciliation Fund Projects

Navigating the challenges in cross-border cooperation

ICBAN has delivered a number of innovative projects with support from the Department of Foreign Affairs’ Reconciliation Fund. These have covered a range of projects including; good relations and engagements with communities, the impacts of Brexit on the region, and regional strategic development. 

These initiatives enable ICBAN and stakeholders to focus on the challenges of a changing environment. The projects promote peace and reconciliation and help build positive linkages between both jurisdictions on the island.  They each focus on particular macro-challenges such as climate change, Brexit, economic shocks and political changes, and which require organisations such as ICBAN to react and respond accordingly.

OPERATIONAL COSTS 2022 – 2024

ICBAN has received €20,000 for 2022 and €56,269 for each of 2023 and 2024 to help towards the organisation’s operational costs. These contributions have enhanced and strengthened the cross-border partnership’s existing and new activities, operations and interests. These are enabled to develop and thrive through a more proactive delivery of resources focusing on engaging and developing relationships, networks and connections on an East-West as well as North-South basis.

BORDER TRANSITION, 2022

A new community development initiative with a focus on climate change was delivered for the communities in and around both Upper and Lower Lough MacNean during 2022. Six communities were involved, covering both sides of the border in Cavan, Leitrim and Fermanagh, and with representation from both main traditions: Belcoo, Blacklion, Cashel, Glenfarne, Killesher and Kiltyclogher.

For this initiative ICBAN partnered with Tasc, the Think tank for Action on Social Change based in Dublin, and who have been running other successful Peoples Transition initiatives. The project provided the opportunity for border citizens to communicate the local issues they feel are most pressing, and to then receive expert support and guidance to develop solutions that promote community wealth and well-being, whilst being climate / environment friendly.

Tackling climate change as individuals is often daunting and we don’t tend to see the long terms benefits of our actions. So, the idea of Border Transition is that by acting collectively across borders and generations, our responses as communities to climate change are more effective and achievable. People at the moment have plenty to think about already, in terms of the cost of living and other issues as we come out of the pandemic. We therefore sought to impress that action on Climate is really an opportunity, and not a burden. It’s also an opportunity to make the beautiful environment around Lough MacNean even more attractive and accessible for local people and tourists.

Participation involved coming to some discussions involving all the various communities in the Lough MacNean area. During these the key local issues were raised, aired and shared. Through these participants construct a detailed picture of the issues, needs and demographics of the areas (conducted by survey) to ensure that did not miss any specific issues or omitted to engage with any section of the local communities. Through analysis and discussion these gave rise to potential solutions that were then set in the form of a vision for the area, and which has now been readied for bringing to potential funders and relevant stakeholders. It is the communities themselves who have decided what the issues are, and we, ICBAN and Tasc, have helped them to identify and start developing their optimum solutions, which include: Geothermal energy; an Anaerobic digestion cooperative; social farming; and slow food tourism.

The project formally completed before Christmas 2022 with the release of a toolkit for the area, “Border Transition: Building Peace through Community-led Climate Action”. ICBAN and Tasc continue to work with the communities in progressing the identified solutions.

 

BORDER CATALYST, 2021

Border Catalyst is the fourth in a series of research projects between ICBAN and Queen’s University Belfast on the impacts of Brexit on border region communities.

The partners provided the opportunity for the widest possible group of people living or working in the Central Border Region to air their voices on the impact of Brexit and the Protocol. Views from younger and older people, and women were encouraged

Working with a small team from Queen’s University Belfast, the Border Catalyst Project will gather responses from the widest possible group of people living or working in the Central Border Region on the impact of Brexit and the Protocol. Views from younger and older people, and women are particularly welcomed. The purpose of the study is to create an opportunity for the voices of local people on both sides of the border to be heard.

From the first week in January 2021, QUB conducted a ‘temperature gauge’ on Brexit and the Protocol in which they kept track of relevant media stories and events across these islands. This formed the basis of a Blog every six weeks, which summarised the main stories and occurrences. There were four Blogs for each of the following weeks: 1-5, 6-12, 13-18, and 19-25.

‘The Border after Brexit’ report was released on 22nd October 2021 and can be accessed here.

 

BORDER NAVIGATOR 2019/2020

The initiative provides an opportunity to build upon the outcomes of the 2018 Border Compass Project and has two key project elements.

  • ‘The Border into Brexit’ study

This will be the third study completed between ICBAN and Queen’s University Belfast. This latest project provides a voice for border region residents and works on the impacts of Brexit on everyday life and the potential for a ‘No Deal’ Brexit scenario. The initiative included an online survey, focus groups and engagements with key stakeholders. The final report ‘The Border into Brexit’ was published in December 2019.

  • Strategic Development Forum

The ‘Border Compass’ Project had highlighted that there was a renewed commitment to continued cross-border cooperation by local authorities and other stakeholders to help deal with the challenges of our time. ‘Border Navigator’ now provides opportunities for these stakeholders to come together and focus on the most important strategic development opportunities and challenges. ICBAN will be working closely with the International Centre for Local and Regional Development (ICLRD) on this project element – a key element of which will be the production of a new ‘Strategic Action Plan for the Central Border Region’.

 

BORDER COMPASS 2018

The Border Compass Project has also had a series of elements, which required collaborative working between different project partners.

‘Brexit at the Border’ study

‘Brexit at the Border’ was a study in partnership with Queen’s University Belfast and was published in June 2018. The study built on the work of the 2016 research initiative with QUB – ‘Bordering on Brexit’. The study gave a voice to border citizens and undertook to record those voices – through both an online survey which received almost 600 responses and a series of focus groups with 49 participants from across the Central Border Region. The resultant report highlighted the hopes and fears of border citizens in a post-Brexit world and the overriding need to return to protect a hard won and valued peace.

ICBAN ensured those voices were heard by disseminating the resultant report to those involved in high-level negotiations, including the EU’s negotiating team and the UK and Irish Governments. To date, the study has been referenced in over 120 media publications worldwide and a research video was also produced.

‘Youthful Voices’

The Youthful Voices initiative was delivered with Verbal Arts. The focus of the work was with 14-17 year olds – those who were unable to vote in the Referendum: by virtue of age or jurisdiction. Throughput the duration of the Youthful Voices programme, 54 Reading Room workshops were delivered to 29 young people. A two-day residential was held in Donegal which enabled some intensive discussion sessions, as well as some outdoor activities to encourage the breaking down of barriers. In November a ‘Top Table’ type event was organised which gave young people the opportunity to question local Councillors, MLAs, MPs and TDs on issues pertinent to them. The Youthful Voices programme resulted in a number of young people gaining an OCN Level 3 Accreditation as a Peer Facilitator, which will enable them to deliver the programme to other young people, as ‘Cross-Border Champions’.

A short digital film of the Youthful Voices programme was produced, capturing the enthusiasm and aspirations of young people living in this border area.

 

‘Looking Beyond Our Borders’

This element focussed on the experience and learning from other border regions of Europe to help counter the consequences of returning to a back-to-back development as a potential consequence of Brexit. The paper examines strategies, models and solutions from other border regions of Europe, where one area within the EU adjoins another area outside of the EU. It explores some of the incentives for cooperation across borders in a changing environment. The report is authored by Mr Martín Guillermo-Ramírez of the Association of European Border Regions and includes case studies from different regions with an EU and non-EU interface.

Sustainable Solutions

The aim of the Sustainable Solutions element of the project was to bring together the learning and the outputs of the various elements referenced above into a set of tangible and long-lasting solutions to the challenges facing the Central Border Region. Three Sustainable Solutions workshops were held, with 53 participants attending. These included a workshop between Senior Council Officers and elected representatives on the Board of ICBAN, a session between Community Planning Coordinators from across the area, and a ‘Top Table’ type event which gave young people the opportunity to question local Councillors, MLAs, MPs and TDs on issues pertinent to them.

ICBAN has also produced a Community Planning Mapping document covering the eight Member Council areas. This document has been shared and refined with Community Planners and developed as a resource to inform future cross-border planning and activities.

The need for continued cross-border cooperation was highlighted as a priority as part of a renewed commitment given to future collaboration. Discussions are underway to devise the most appropriate mechanism to enhance the involvement of both the executive and democratic functions of local government in working together through the cross-border partnership.

Final Conference

The Border Compass Final Conference event on ‘The Future of Cross Border Cooperation’ was held in the Slieve Russell Hotel, County Cavan on 30 November 2018. Mr. Breandán Ó Caoimh (Research Affiliate of the International Centre for Local and Regional Development – ICLRD) chaired and facilitated the gathering. 70 delegates attended; with all eight Member Councils of the ICBAN Partnership represented. The key theme was that the challenges facing cross-border cooperation will require concerted efforts across the entire border corridor area. The conference featured several inspiring Case Studies in Cross-Border Cooperation including the UNESCO Global Geopark initiative between Fermanagh & Omagh District Council and Cavan County Council, and work on ‘Developing a Statement of Cooperation on Planning’ by Mid Ulster District Council and Monaghan County Council. The panel session saw questions and answers to stakeholders from across the Region on facets of cross-border cooperation, including, community safety, well-being, maintaining current employment levels and the environment. Presentations from the event are available in ICBAN’s online Library.

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