Resilient Neighbourhoods

Settlements across Slovenia are increasingly facing a combination of climate, spatial, transport, health and social challenges. Heatwaves, heavier rainfall, flood risks, a lack of green space, car dependency and the declining quality of public space all affect residents’ everyday lives, with vulnerable groups often experiencing the greatest impacts.

The Resilient Neighbourhoods project responds to these challenges through an integrated approach that brings together climate change adaptation, sustainable mobility, public health, quality of life and social cohesion.

The project aims to develop and test a resilient neighbourhood model that can be transferred to other local contexts across Slovenia. It will establish a professional framework for the development of resilient neighbourhoods, carry out participatory processes in two pilot municipalities, and work with local residents, young people, vulnerable groups, municipal staff and local institutions to prepare action plans for two pilot neighbourhoods.

Activities will include a review of existing practices in Slovenia and abroad, interviews with experts, municipal representatives and decision-makers, an open call to select two participating municipalities, local analyses, workshops and other forms of community engagement.

Particular attention will be given to young people. They will take part in the co-design of the pilot neighbourhoods, a study seminar and a series of interactive lectures. The project will also produce guidelines for involving young people in the development of resilient neighbourhoods.

We will lead the preparation of the project framework and the report Opportunities and Barriers to the Development of Resilient Neighbourhoods in Slovenia. We will also contribute to monitoring and evaluating project activities and lead the transfer of knowledge to other municipalities and the professional community.

The project will additionally include shadowing opportunities that enable other municipalities to follow the development of the pilot projects, a professional conference for decision-makers and practitioners, and an online toolkit entitled How to Create a Resilient Neighbourhood?. The toolkit will remain freely available to interested users after the project has ended.

The project results will contribute to a better understanding of how measures supporting resilient neighbourhoods and settlements can be planned and implemented in Slovenia. Municipalities and professionals will gain access to practical tools, action plans, examples of good practice and recommendations for applying the approach in other settlements.

Partners: Prostorož, lead partner; IPoP – Institute for Spatial Policies

Duration: April 2026–April 2028

Funding: The Resilient Neighbourhoods project is co-financed by the Slovenian Environmental Public Fund and the Ministry of the Environment and Spatial Planning through the Climate Change Fund.