Social challenge and reasons for project’s initiation

Immediacy of the social problem

With the growth of globalization and foreign trade, monotowns have become counterproductive. They were brought down by the 2008-2009 crisis, and the problems, which started in 2014, are threatening to ruin their economies. The population of monotowns accounts for about 10% of the population of Russia, and the unemployment rate there is almost two times higher, than in the country in general. Monotown characteristic features are: population – not less than 3000 people, employment at one enterprise accounting for not less than 20% of general employment.

Today there are 319 monotowns in Russia. There are three types of monotowns: with tough social and economic situation, towns with a risk of deterioration of the economic environment and more stables towns. Developing infrastructure, providing new employment opportunities and developing self-employment are priority tasks for monotowns.

External reasons for project’s initiation

One of the major barriers to improve the quality of the environment of monotowns is passivity and non-involvement of their residents into urban issues. Creating comfortable urban environment is one of the priority tasks for monotowns’ development and is a key player in strengthening their appeal and increasing the living standards of their residents. Engaging local communities into developing urban space and environment protection, developing public initiative in social project management, improving public services and utilities, raising environmental awareness and preserving urban natural resources are key players in monotowns’ development.

Internal reasons for project’s initiation

EVRAZ strongly believes, that business sustainable development is ultimately connected with the prosperity of the communities in the regions where the company operates, and supports them through social and improvement programs. Transparent and constructive cooperation with local communities is an integral part of EVRAZ’s activities and development. Creating shared value and respecting human rights, views and traditions of the people in the regions where it operates are the basic principles, that the company follows.

EVRAZ strongly believes, that it can positively change the lives of people at the territories of its presence. EVRAZ strives to demonstrate respect and care of these people, making significant social investments into local communities.  EVRAZ strives to adhere to international best practices by making a meaningful contribution to local economies and supporting communities, wherever it operates.

Project description

“EVRAZ The City of Friends – The City of Ideas!” is an annual grant contest, which EVRAZ has been running for more than 10 years. In 2007–2008 it was held for the first time in Nizhny Tagil. Kachkanar joined the project in 2010 and since 2017 the Contest has been running n four cities: Novokuznetsk, Mezhdurechensk, Nizhny Tagil and Kachkanar.

Contest principles are: publicity of its events, transparency and publicity of decisions taken, equal rights of all its participants.

Contest projects should be of a high social and ecological importance; high efficiency, with wide public engagement, strongly contributing to the development of environmental and public initiatives at the territories of its conduct.

Projects themes:

• Initiatives in education, children and youths’ leisure, development of career guidance and additional skills and abilities of youths;
• Conduct of ecological activities, planting greenery in public places;
• Promotion of healthy lifestyle;
• Improving the environment;
• Arts and culture: support to young talents;
• Strengthening and promoting family values, protecting children’s rights and interests;
• Preserving historic and cultural heritage and developing ecological tourism;
• Supporting older and disabled people;
• Introducing digital technologies in any social projects;
• Social advertising;

To identify non-profits’ possibilities and interests, as well as social and ecological problems of the town, the Contest accepts all applications (outside of the above themes). This will enable local enthusiasts to implement their own initiatives, attract children and youths, identify ecological and social problems of the town.

Projects not financed within the program:

• Commercial projects;
• Projects, non-compliant with Contest’s goals;
• Projects, financed by the state;
• Scientific research;
• Political projects;
• Religious projects;
• Organization of demonstrations, picketing, etc.;
• Current expenses and debts of non-profits;
• Business trips expenditures.

Expertise and assessment of projects, submitted for the Contest, announcing results and winners is done by the Expert Committee, which includes representatives of EVRAZ and local communities.

The Expert Committee makes a major rating of projects, recommended for the face-to-face presentation (no more than 30 projects). Following the presentation of projects, the Committee announces the final winners.

While assessing the projects, the focus is made on the following:

• Compliance with organization’s charter and mission;
• Public, social, ecological importance, relevance and practical implementation;
• Innovative methods to solve social and ecological problems;
• Projects’ strategy and methods of its implementation, own material resources and funds raised;
• Organization’s sustainability, complexity of run events;
• The level of public engagement; possibilities of project’s further development and replication;
• Project’s coherence with Contests themes.

Project term is from 3 to 12 months. All projects should have perspectives of their further development.

Team and partners 

Partners

EVRAZ actively cooperates with all stakeholders: public and municipal organizations, local authorities, cultural institutions, youths organizations, honorary citizens.

Contest Expert Committees include heads of local city administrations, representatives of public organizations.

Government authorities.

“EVRAZ The City of Friends – The City of Ideas!” events are attended by city mayors, representatives of local city administrations, honored citizens, representatives of public organizations, who support project’s development and promotion. Local media actively cover the events.

Local administrations provide their informational resources (web-sites, information boards, social media) to inform local communities about the Contest and its winners. With the support from local administrations, EVRAZ holds regular meetings with perspective Contest participants – non-profits, municipal and private educational, medical, social, cultural and sports institutions. The feedback is provided by means of telephone calls, personal meetings, e-mails and following educational events.

Resources

Financial resources

In 2018 the budget amounted to 14,5 mln RUB:

• 5 mln RUB – Nizhny Tagil;
• 5 mln RUB – Novokuznetsk;
• 3 mln RUB – Mezhdurechensk;
• 1,5 mln RUB – Kachkanar.

Grants:

• up to 500 000 RUB – in Nizhny Tagil and Novokuznetsk;
• up to 300 000 RUB – in Mezhdurechensk;
• up to 150 000 RUB – in Kachkanar.

Human resources

The majority of authors and working groups of Contests projects are volunteers. Initiative local residents are actively involved into projects’ implementation. Each year about 200 active volunteers take part in project.

Achieved results

Immediate results:

The Contest was conducted for the first time in 2007 in Kachkanar. Since then, over 70 projects have been implemented in the town with the aim to improve the quality of life of its residents: creating favorable environment for children’s development and socialization, organizing sports and cultural events for teenagers, strengthening and promoting family values, supporting arts and culture, education, etc.

In 2018 in all four cities 354 projects were submitted for the Contest (187 – in Urals, 167 – in Siberia), out of them, 51projects (25 – in Urals, 26 – in Siberia) received grants.

Contest web-site was visited by over 72 757 people, 23 405 people voted for the projects online.

Social results:

The winning projects contribute to improving the quality of life in the towns, where the Contest is run, raising the cultural level of their residents, promoting healthy lifestyle. Most important, their residents believe, that they have an opportunity to implement their own projects, to change the life in their towns for better. Projects, which won in previous contests successfully work, which proves the Contest’ efficiency and motivates other perspective participants. Success of “EVRAZ The City of Friends – The City of Ideas!” project, high demand of the Contest, increasing number of applications prove the fact, that the society is changing, starting to believe in their power and proposing improvements. 100% of winning projects are implemented.

Social impact:

Engaging local communities into developing urban space and environment protection, developing public initiative in social project management, improving public services and utilities, raising environmental awareness and preserving urban natural resources certainly contribute to the development of people’s self-consciousness and improvement of the urban environment of monotowns. The project has created favorable conditions for the organization and further development of social services in education, healthcare, etc. and contributed to the economic sustainability of the towns, participating in the project.

Internal project assessment:

Expertise and assessment of projects, submitted for the Contest, announcing results and winners is done by the Expert Committee, which includes representatives of local authorities and local communities.

While assessing the projects, the focus is made on the following:

•          Compliance with organization’s charter and mission;

•          Public, social, ecological importance, relevance and practical implementation;

•          Innovative methods to solve social and ecological problems;

•          Projects’ strategy and methods of its implementation, own material resources and funds raised;

•          Organization’s sustainability, complexity of run events;

•          The level of public engagement; possibilities of project’s  further development and replication;

•          Project’s coherence with Contests themes.

Each year EVRAZ records the number of submitted applications and projects, and makes assessment of their quality. There is a strong upward trend, –

in 2018 there were 187 applications in Urals and 167 – in Siberia.  The quality of projects submitted is also growing, mainly due to the educational courses held for Contest participants.  

Plans of further development   

In 2019 the Contest was traditionally implemented in 4 cities.

In 2020 there will be some changes introduced into the project. The Contest will include obligatory face-to-face presentation of projects, recommended by the Expert Committee based on projects’ ranking (not more than 30 projects). Following the presentation of projects, the Committee will announce the final winners.  

Project’s documents

Regulations on the Contest