In Rotterdam, the Resilient Bospolder-Tussendijken 2028 initiative has been working with the local community since 2019 to leverage the energy transition as a means to build social cohesion and community capacity. The initiative applies the Asset Based Community Development approach and is working with local residents, informal social networks and bottom-up initiatives to (1) build an information and support network for the residents, (2) create technical capacity, local energy jobs and vocational training, and (3) address energy poverty and debt, and explore affordable energy options. 

2019 - Present

In BoTu, the main lever for social development and improving resilience is the energy transition. BoTu is one of five neighbourhoods in Rotterdam which is piloting to become net zero by 2030. Climate neutrality has been recognised as a means to improve social cohesion, holistic community development and unlock several societal and environmental co-benefits.  

The City of Rotterdam has been working closely with the BoTu since a decade due to the complex climate and socio-economic challenges that the neighbourhoods faced. With the Rotterdam Resilience strategy in 2016, there was support to transform BoTu into the “first resilient district”. Hence the city initiated the Resilient BoTu 2028 program and selected BoTu as one of 5 neighbourhoods in Rotterdam to pilot neighbourhood level energy transition. 

The capacities of individual residents, informal networks and communities, institutions and businesses form the foundation for make BoTu the first resilient district of Rotterdam by 2028. This means in figures that BoTu will attain the urban social average in the social index within 10 years. This result will not be reached solely by attracting new, more highly educated residents to BoTu. The aim of the Resilient BoTu 2028 programme is first and foremost to invest in the current residents of BoTu. 

Resilient BoTu 2028 employs the following three methods in BoTu 

• Community Building: Community building is aimed at further strengthening, connecting and mobilising local communities. District development from within and bottom-up with a focus on capacities instead of on problems and shortcomings. The basis for this is the Asset-Based Community Development (ABCD) method. 
• Social Impact by Design: Social Impact by Design is about new forms of cooperation between the market, society and public authorities. Through a Call for Action, creative entrepreneurs, citizens, private parties and other organisations were invited to make a (financial) contribution to integral and structural solutions that make BoTu resilient 
• Resilient Professionals: There is a wide gap between residents and facilities in BoTu. To bridge this gap, we need flexible and responsive public authorities and resilient professionals These are professionals who work closely with residents, key figures and informal networks in the district. Resilient professionals know what is going on in the district, work both for and with residents and are given the freedom to provide customised solutions. 

Ongoing challenges remain  

• the scaling up of various actions to maximize impact,  
• the retrofitting of the housing stock (which takes time)  
• and how to replicate this model to other neighbourhoods within Rotterdam 

Resilient BoTu builds on the work that the city began in the district over the past decade, and has already seen a transformation in the lives of BoTu residents. They have reached roughly 1,500 people so far with support to help them reduce debt, address social isolation, access education opportunities, and find work. Just as importantly, Resilient BoTu has garnered the active, ongoing participation of roughly 500 people from BoTu. They’ve seen the people in the district, and the network these people form, flourish and take significant ownership of the work, which they hope will integrated long-term resilience building into the fabric of BoTu.  

Several interventions and initiatives have already taken place to eliminate the use of natural gas, combat energy poverty and build community. Thanks to ad-hoc capacity-building modules it was possible to train energy coaches  and  energy ambassadors  to  spread  awareness  within  the  neighbourhood.  At  the  same  time,  employment opportunities were created by educating people on how to install solar panels and car charging stations. Schools and public  areas  are  being  redesigned  to  be  more  sustainable  and  climate-adaptive.

Successful aspects:

• Building upon existing networks and strengths of the community. Putting residents at the centre and giving them the power to shape their neighbourhood. 
• Implementing initiatives in collaboration with the residents to maximise support and ownership. Supporting development and scaling up of community led initiatives. 
• Improved social cohesion and capacity to respond to challenges as a district 

The Resilient BoTu 2028 programme is a testing ground for the entire city. To be able to monitor the changes in BoTu, the Veldacademie (Field Academy) will be systematically observing and documenting the developments in the area. In consultation with the municipality and partners, the Veldacademie is developing criteria and indicators for monitoring the interventions and methods applied over the next four years. Some of the indicators used in preliminary assessments are:  

• Residents engaged 
• Informal networks and organizations involved 
• Collaborations between networks and organizations achieved 
• Initiatives and projects implemented 
• Stakeholders joining the coalition 
• Jobs and skills created 
• Support for resilience thinking and approach 
• Education and awareness 

Resilient Bospolder Tussendijken, Resilient Rotterdam

Making Rotterdam’s First Resilient Neighbourhood through Social Cohesion, Resilient Cities Network

Training ABCD Community Building, Veerkrachtig BoTu 2028

Resilient BoTu 2028