Navigating Immigration Integration: North Karelia’s Pathway to Sustainable Growth

Nestled in the eastern reaches of Finland, North Karelia emerges as a unique region, standing as the easternmost within the continental EU. Approximately 450 km away from the bustling capital, Helsinki, this expanse boasts a population of 162,540 individuals, with a sparse density of 7.1 inhabitants per km². The distinctive character of North Karelia is underscored by the fact that about 50% of its population resides in rural areas, contributing to its predominantly rural ambiance.

Transition Focus: Socio-economic and Demographic Dynamics

In the spotlight of North Karelia is the imminent socio-economic and demographic transition. This shift gains significance due to the region’s dwindling and aging population, presenting a formidable challenge. In response, the North Karelian Living Lab takes center stage, aligning its efforts to craft innovative strategies, plans, and policies that address the pressing need for managing demographic changes.

Key Challenges and Their Ramifications

The identified challenges in North Karelia are manifold. A declining and aging population, coupled with the shortage of skilled labor, long-term unemployment, immigrant retention, and regional accessibility, paints a complex picture. The concentration of the population in the regional center, Joensuu, poses a threat to essential services like healthcare, transportation, and infrastructure in rural areas. The aging demographic impacts the availability of skilled labor, leading to lower tax revenues and potential strains on public services.

The COVID-19 pandemic has fueled the trend of multilocal working in Finland, making North Karelia an attractive destination for those seeking a blend of remote work and rural living. However, setbacks in regional accessibility, such as reduced regional flights and the closure of the Saimaa Canal Sea connection, pose challenges.

Living Lab Challenge: Immigrant Retention

Against this backdrop, the North Karelian Living Lab identifies immigrant retention as its focal challenge. Recognizing the role of immigration in mitigating population decline, the region aims to enhance strategies that promote settlement and integration, ensuring that immigrants become long-term contributors to the region’s growth.

Research Questions and Rationale

Rationale:

The Regional Council of North Karelia (RCNK), representing 13 municipalities, holds a pivotal role in immigrants’ integration promotion. With Finland undergoing a comprehensive reform of the Integration Act, set to take effect in 2025, the municipalities’ responsibility for integration promotion is heightened. The RUSTIK project aligns with this reform, providing crucial data to support efficient integration services and improve immigrants’ settlement in North Karelia.

Research Questions:
  • What is the current status of immigration and integration promotion in the North Karelian municipalities?
  • How can the introduction of new forms of data into the policy process support targeted integration promotion in the municipalities?

Emerging Data Needs

In the upcoming phase of the North Karelian Living Lab, generating comprehensive, up-to-date data takes center stage. Three key areas of focus include:

  1. Status of Immigration and Integration:
  • Population trends
  • Jobs by sector
  • Immigrant backgrounds
  1. Integration aspects (work, housing, participation, health, and well-being):
  • Integration Promotion Programs:
  • Analysis of current programs
  • Benchmarking with international models
  1. Goal setting and monitoring methods:
  • Immigrant Experiences:
  • Maptionnaire survey on well-being and challenges
  • Narratives on integration and settlement

Data Availability and Limitations

While national quantitative data sources, including Statistics Finland, will be instrumental, a desk study on integration programs and interviews with municipal representatives will complement the research. Challenges may arise in collecting experiential data from immigrants due to language barriers and the need to establish trust. The Maptionnaire survey will be a valuable tool, distributed through stakeholders, including educational institutions, civil society organizations, and employers.

Capacities

The Living Lab partners, equipped with expertise in data analysis, have strong relations with municipalities. While accessing statistical data poses minimal challenges, additional support may be required for setting up the Maptionnaire survey and ensuring its accessibility across various languages spoken by immigrants.

As North Karelia gears up to navigate these transitions, the RUSTIK project emerges as a beacon, shedding light on the intricate dynamics shaping the region’s future. Stay tuned as we embark on this transformative journey!

Troyan-Apriltsi-Ugаrchin, Bulgaria: Navigating the Unknown Potential of Rural Food Systems

 

Nestled in the heart of the Balkans, the Troyan-Apriltsi-Ugаrchin (TAU) region in Bulgaria stands as a pilot for transformative initiatives. Covering Troyan, Apriltsi, and Ugarchin municipalities, this area spans 1,650.2 km² with a population of 33,858. TAU is positioned strategically, just 150 km northeast of Sofia, with a pivotal role in connecting the capital to the Black Sea. 

Transition Focus: Socio-economic and Demographic Shifts

The TAU region faces socio-economic and demographic challenges, with depopulation at its core. The informal economy, job nature, and ethnic segregation contribute to this issue. Despite rich natural resources, the region struggles to capitalize on them for economic and social development.

Living Lab Challenge: Navigating the Unknown Potential of Rural Food Systems 

The primary challenge identified in TAU revolves around understanding the untapped potential of the rural food system to address socio-economic and demographic transitions. Data gaps in the linkages between food production and consumption, as well as the lack of cooperation between local actors, hinder progress. TAU aims to foster rural food systems, bridge gaps between vocational schools and local businesses, and tackle issues like unfair payments and undeclared jobs in the agri-food sector. 

Rationale: Spotlight on Food as a Unifying Force 

Food emerges as a pivotal focus for TAU, transcending differences and offering a lens to examine public and private practices. The lack of policy support in this domain highlights a significant data gap. By concentrating on food systems, the experiment aims to delve into demographic change and social inequalities. 

Policy Relevance: Paving the Way for Rural Food Policy 

TAU lacks a comprehensive rural food policy. The Rustik experiment strives to fill this void by providing knowledge, data, and models for its development. Aligning with regional and local policies, the experiment could address depopulation concerns and promote sustainable economic growth through food-related initiatives. 

Research Questions: Unveiling the Dynamics of Rural Food Systems 

The experiment seeks answers to crucial questions: 

  • How does the rural food system impact local entrepreneurship and depopulation trends? 
  • What role do family gardens play in local economies and socio-economic inequalities? 
  • How do rural food systems interact with urban economies, and which urban economies influence them? 
  • Can the preservation of local food traditions contribute to community resilience and a sense of identity? 
  • What factors make the local food sector attractive to newcomers and tourists, promoting sustainable local economies? 

Emerging Data Needs: Bridging the Knowledge Gap 

The experiment faces a lack of data on various aspects, such as the local population’s access to fresh, seasonal, and local food, cooperation between vocational schools and local agri-food businesses, and the role of family gardens in sustaining local food traditions. To address this, new and existing sources are being explored to create a comprehensive rural food map. 

Data Availability: Sources to Fuel the Experiment 

The experiment relies on a mix of available data sources, including registers of farmers, food processing enterprises, social kitchens, and more. However, limitations arise due to the non-public nature of certain datasets, hindering a granular analysis. 

Challenges and Capacities: Navigating the Road Ahead 

Challenges include limited access to crucial datasets and the absence of registers, such as that of family gardens. However, partners involved possess the necessary competencies to overcome these challenges, with additional capacity available if required. 

As the Rustik experiment unfolds in TAU, it promises not only to uncover the potential of rural food systems but also to pave the way for informed policies that can foster sustainable development, address depopulation concerns, and contribute to the region’s resilience and identity. Stay tuned for updates as TAU embarks on this transformative journey.