Area-based initiatives to transform neighbourhoods: An international policy mapping

Talia Melic, Anni Huovinen and Anna Rubin

No 2026/04, OECD Local Economic and Employment Development (LEED) Papers from OECD Publishing

Abstract: Across OECD countries, the geography of opportunity is fractured, with too many communities feeling left out and left behind. In some neighbourhoods, multiple forms of exclusion intersect, shaping both daily experiences and long-term life chances. This paper presents a first-of-its-kind mapping of over 40 area-based initiatives targeting neighbourhoods across OECD countries. By linking economic, social and physical dimensions of development, Area-based initiatives provide a framework to deliver targeted and tailored support, test new delivery models and strengthen community capacity to plan and implement locally driven solutions. With a combined focus on people and place, these initiatives can add up to more than the sum of their parts, harnessing synergies between different areas of policies and practice, and between diverse local partners. This can include local authorities, backbone organisations, schools, local businesses, health services, social economy and civil society organisations, housing providers, employment services, and families and communities, among others. This paper distils key insights on policy innovations and approaches, as well as identifying persistent challenges and relevant learning questions.

Keywords: community development; inclusion; inequality; local development; neighbourhoods; place-based policy (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2026-02-18
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:oec:cfeaaa:2026/04-en

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