Evaluation of “Midt-Skandinavisk regionprosjekt (Mid-Scandinavian regional project) – Evaluering av Midt-Skandinavisk regionsprosjekt

TMid-Scandinavian regional project has been a community development project in a transnational region which includes Frostviken and Hotagen in the Swedish municipalities Strömsund and Krokom, and the municipalities Lierne and Røyrvik in Norway. The project has run for three years from 2009 to 2011, and it’s main objectives have been to reduce depopulation from the region, to improve the public service provision, contributing to increased quality of life among people, and to be a showcase for Norwegian and Swedish regional policy through the testing of new measures to reduce border-hindrances and contribute to development in this border region. Centre for Rural Research has evaluated the project. The conclusion is that the project had too ambitious goals when it comes to stopping the decline in population and the removal of border-hindrances. These goals were not reached. The project has nevertheless achieved much through increased municipal cooperation, mobilization of many residents in a wide range of activities, recovery of a regional identity within the region, and external highlighting of the region with its opportunities and challenges.