Tackling rural depopulation

Tackling rural depopulation is a shared challenge across many countries including Wales. Yet the commonality of the challenge does not translate into an easy set of ‘off the peg’ solutions. Effective policies will need to be alert to the complex dynamics of multilevel policymaking and governance, as well as economic structures, social and cultural histories, all of which differ between national contexts. So, whilst examples from other countries are useful, it is also vital to keep in mind how contexts differ. In the Welsh (and Scottish) context this means, for example, thinking about what the relationship between policy and resource is (including the mechanisms by which resource is distributed) and how the sharing of power both between devolved and UK governments and with local authorities might facilitate or create barriers to implementing ideas developed elsewhere. Moving to a more local level, place-based interventions need to consider and work with the actual resources and dynamics of different places. This includes thinking about the precise configuration of actors (across different levels of government but also local community stakeholders, private and third sector bodies and other partners) who should be involved. It requires a clear process and accessible tools for understanding and communicating the direct and indirect consequences of the challenges faced. It means developing a set of interventions with sufficient local buy-in, capacity and resource to address these, with realistic outcomes as part of both planning and evaluation processes.