The fourth and final Capacity Building Lab of RURAL RiSE took place in Brussels under the title “Made in Rural Europe: From Plans to Action”. The event brought together project partners, participants and organisations from Italy, Serbia, Spain and Belgium to share the main outcomes achieved across the participating rural territories.
Hosted at the Maison des Associations, the event created a European space for networking, mutual learning and reflection on the role of the Social Economy in strengthening rural communities. The programme focused particularly on the Local Action Plans developed through the project and on the cooperation established between local authorities, Social Economy organisations and community stakeholders.
A shared reflection on the future of rural areas
The event opened with a networking session that allowed participants to exchange experiences and establish new connections.
MateraHub introduced the RURAL RiSE project, its objectives and the journey undertaken by the consortium, while Diesis Network presented the programme of the day and guided participants through the different sessions.
These opening contributions placed the project’s results within a broader European context and highlighted the importance of supporting rural areas through skills development, cooperation and locally adapted strategies.
Three rural territories, three local approaches
A central part of the event was dedicated to the presentation of the experiences developed in Italy, Serbia and Spain. Each case study showed how the project methodology was adapted to the characteristics, needs and opportunities of each territory.
Miglionico and MateraHub presented the Italian experience, focused on designing rural futures through the Social Economy. Their contribution highlighted the importance of connecting local resources, community participation and sustainable development strategies.
Young Ambassadors and the Municipality of Palilula shared the main outcomes achieved in Serbia and presented the results of their Local Action Plan. Their intervention showed how cooperation, local knowledge and capacity building can help rural stakeholders define shared priorities and practical actions.
Wazo Coop and the Municipality of Valdefuentes presented the Spanish case study and the co-designed strategy developed to address youth and women’s unemployment and rural depopulation. The presentation explored how the Local Action Plan can support participation, skills development and new opportunities linked to the Social Economy in Valdefuentes.
From local challenges to practical action
The three case studies demonstrated that rural territories face common challenges while requiring responses that reflect their own social, economic and cultural contexts. The Local Action Plans developed through RURAL RiSE translate these territorial needs into shared priorities and possible lines of action.
The Brussels event provided an opportunity to compare these different approaches, identify common lessons and strengthen the transfer of knowledge between the participating countries. It also highlighted the value of cooperation between municipalities and Social Economy organisations as a foundation for more inclusive and sustainable rural development.
A European process built on cooperation
CBL4 completed the series of Capacity Building Labs developed by RURAL RiSE in Italy, Serbia, Spain and Belgium. Throughout this process, the project has supported peer learning, the exchange of practices and the development of skills among local authorities, Social Economy organisations and other rural stakeholders.
The final session included conclusions, questions and an open discussion on the lessons generated by the project. Participants reflected on how the knowledge, partnerships and Local Action Plans developed through RURAL RiSE can continue to support future initiatives in rural territories.
Made in Rural Europe: From Plans to Action represented an important moment for connecting local experiences with European cooperation. The event showed how rural communities can move from identifying challenges to designing shared strategies based on participation, inclusion and the Social Economy.
RURAL RiSE – Rural Reskilling and upskilling for Social Enterprises is co-funded by the European Union under the Single Market Programme. The project supports training, reskilling and upskilling opportunities for unemployed people in rural areas, with particular attention to young people and women.
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