This synthesis report weaves together the results of OECD activities conducted as part of the Strengthening Regional Specialisation and Competitiveness in Estonia project funded by the European Union. During this 28-month project, the OECD accompanied the Estonian Government as it tested a new approach to regional development planning and implementation. This methodological annex outlines the activities upon which this synthesis report is based, including foresight and vision-setting workshops, capacity-building workshops and action plan workshops.
Fact finding interviews: The project included fact‑finding interviews with over 40 representatives from central and local governments, the private sector, civil society and educational institutions.
Foresight and vision setting workshops: In both Central and South Estonia, foresight workshops invited regional stakeholders – pilot regional council members, municipal and county development actors, industry representatives and others – to explore potential futures for their regions. Participants worked with facilitators to clarify their preferences for the region’s future and to identify key directions for the regional development agreements. Approximately 50 participants attended across both regions.
Follow-up vision‑setting workshops in both regions (with 44 participants total) brought together representatives from national ministries, local governments, academia and civil society. These sessions guided participants through a process of solidifying their ambitions for their regions, and defining the conditions required to realise those ambitions, such as the availability of skilled labour, sufficient housing, enhanced connectivity and stronger innovation ecosystems.
Capacity-building workshops: The OECD offered a capacity-building workshop on regional development contracts for the members of the two pilot regional councils. A second high-level workshop brought together vice-chancellors and senior civil servants from seven Estonian ministries to consider how to advance cross-government working for regional development.
Action planning: Action-planning workshops helped the two pilot regional councils develop more detailed implementation plans. Participants prioritised between previously identified development areas, formulated specific objectives, sequenced implementation steps, assigned responsibilities and anticipated risks. After these sessions, each council had a clear roadmap of how the forthcoming development agreement would underpin the delivery of priority areas. Approximately 40 participants participated in these sessions.