Social vulnerability very easily leads to isolation and disempowerment. Both individuals and certain groups of people within a society are affected. The threat of social exclusion is particularly high in times of economic restructuring, natural disasters but also - as recently - during pandemics. Vulnerability can be a consequence of social exclusion, but can also cause social exclusion itself. In rural areas, this vulnerability often manifests itself in specific ways. An interdisciplinary and systematic approach appears necessary to analyze these relationships, whereby the abilities and potential of people in vulnerable situations must also be considered.
Objective
This project aims to generate evidence-based practical and theoretical knowledge on how Social and Solidarity Economy (SSE) can generate resilience, social inclusion and a good life in European rural areas. Based on the project results, recommendations, framework conditions and policy measures will be developed to achieve these goals through constructive discussions with stakeholders at different levels
Planned procedure
The drivers of social exclusion in relation to marginalization processes and social inequalities will first be identified in different types of regions. Five co-creation pilots will then be initiated. Stakeholders will carry out experiments with various vulnerable groups involving local organizations and the wider community, which should lead to the empowerment of vulnerable groups in a multi-actor design. The following co-creation pilots are planned:
- Austria: Refugee women from Afghanistan, Chechnya and Arab countries, in Carinthia transnationally with South Tyrol
- Finland: women at risk of exclusion
- Estonia: older people with unrecognized abilities
- Slovenia: social exclusion of disabled young people and older people
- Slovakia: multivulnerable Roma communities
In addition, a total of 26 case studies are being conducted in 13 countries, two of which are in Austria:
- NEETs (economically inactive young people), including those with a migration background: analyzed by the Carinthia University of Applied Sciences
- Verein Silbersberg, Quellenhof: Gloggnitz and Schwarzau im Gebirge, analyzed by the BAB
The BAB is leading the work package WP1: Conceptual Framework. The theoretical foundations of social exclusion, vulnerability, but also unrecognized skills, untapped capacities and the SSE concept (Social and Solidarity Economy) will be developed through literature research.
In WP2, the analytical dimensions and categories, cohesions, synergies and syntheses in the project are examined and recorded. WP3 comprises the case studies, WP4 the co-creation pilots. In WP5, the results are communicated and disseminated in a community of practice. WP6 develops policy recommendations, WP7 comprises project management.
Work 2025
In 2025, under the leadership of BAB, in collaboration with Wageningen University and with the support of all other project partners, the Initial Conceptual Framework Report was completed. This report was presented at the SERIGO Online Webinar and also at the ÖGS (Austrian Sociological Association) Conference in Graz from 30 June to 2 July 2025.
In 2025, under the leadership of BAB, in collaboration with Wageningen University and with the support of all other project partners, the Initial Conceptual Framework Report was completed. This report was presented at the SERIGO Online Webinar and also at the ÖGS (Austrian Sociological Association) Conference in Graz from 30 June to 2 July 2025.
Regular drop-in meetings led to intensive digital exchanges with partners in all other work packages. Two meetings of the SERIGO consortium and two Community of Practice (CoP) workshops took place during the year (6-8 May 2025 in Maribor, Slovenia, and 9-11 September 2025 in Bratislava and Ostrovany, Slovakia). On 20 November 2025, the first policy workshop and exchange meeting with the Horizon Europe sister project ESIRA, as well as representatives of the European Union's Research Executive Agency (REA), DG Agri and DG EMPL, took place in Brussels.
Over the course of the year, several waves of qualitative narrative interviews were conducted as part of the Silbersberg Association case study in Gloggnitz and at the Quellenhof in Schwarzau im Gebirge. On 15 August 2025, participatory observation took place at the association's summer festival. Initial results from the case study were presented at the ESRS (European Society for Rural Sociology) in Riga from 7 to 11 July 2025, at the ÖGA (Austrian Society for Agricultural Economics) conference in Graz from 18 to 19 September 2025, and at the Forum Carpaticum 2025 in Bratislava on 9-11 September 2025.
The first periodic project report was completed and approved.
Planned work for 2026
In 2026, a report will be produced based on the qualitative analysis of the case study interviews using MaxQDA. The results will be compared with the results of the other case studies and pilots, and used to develop strategic positions and concepts for socio-economic and solidarity-based enterprises. Further CoP meetings are planned in Villach and Bolzano.
Schedule
Project start: 01/2024
Project end: 12/2027
Cooperation partner
FH Kärnten (A); Diakonie Kärnten (A); ZSI Zentrum für Soziale Innovation (A); EURAC Bozen (I), Universität Wageningen (NL); Universität Vigo (E); National University of Ireland Galway (IRL); Universität Tallinn (EST); Võrumaa Partnership (EST); Universität Bratislava (SK); Region Ostrava (SK); Universität Eskişehir (TR); Pro Agria (FIN); Prizma Foundation (SLO); AEIDL European Association for Innovation in Local Development (B)
