/ What does it offer as a specific replicable or extendable experience, to meet the territory’s social needs? / How can it contribute towards building the local staff’s capacities and strengthening their existing skills? / How can it serve as a pilot experience for possible processes of citizen participation or collaboration among stakeholders? / How will it influence the quality of local democracy?
By looking at these examples, it is clear that the general effects of a project extend beyond the concrete results that were originally planned. Thus, the local government, as it begins to identify these possible effects, may realise that the most important objectives (from a LPP perspective) concern the medium and long-term changes that the project can contribute. They are not limited to obtaining specific tangible results, but are expressed in terms of strengthening processes, boosting capacities, transmitting experiences, consolidating institutions, etc. In a somewhat simplistic way, it could be said that the tangible results sought in the short term should give way to an emphasis on the intangible benefits, in the medium and long term. (See chart 7.)
Chart 7 Change the objective being sought
Specific project
Supporting LPPs
Project aimed at obtaining specific tangible results
Project aimed at obtaining specific results
Project aimed at obtaining specific tangible RESULTS
Focused on strengthening PROCESSES, boosting CAPACITIES, consolidating INSTITUTIONS
Beyond the short-term results, the project seeks changes in policies and structures
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