Oriol Estela highlights missions as a tool for urban transformation at the XAUL seminar
On 6 March, the Local Urban Agendas Network (XAUL) hosted the webinar "Missions in the framework of the Urban Agenda: How to work with missions from the Urban Agenda", a day of discussion with experts and municipal representatives on how missions can contribute to the effective implementation of the Urban Agenda at the local and enterprise level. Oriol Estela, General Coordinator of the Barcelona Metropolitan Strategic Plan (PEMB), focused his speech on how missions can act as catalysts for structural change in cities. He emphasised that this approach is not just a methodology, but a way of understanding the solution to major urban challenges.
Sustainable and safe mobility
Territorial cohesion
Proper housing
Oriol Estela: "Missions are a tool to innovate and transform cities"
Drawing inspiration from the work of economist Mariana Mazzucato, Estela noted that mission-oriented innovation not only drives economic development, but also redefines the role of the public sector in value creation. This philosophy has been key in the development of the 2030 Metropolitan Commitment, which establishes eight strategic missions to transform the metropolitan region of Barcelona with concrete and achievable objectives.
As a paradigmatic example, he cited the project of the Paris City Council to make it possible for citizens to bathe in the Seine River. A clear and understandable objective that, in order to be achieved, requires the involvement of multiple actors and profound structural transformations.
In the metropolitan context of Barcelona, Estela stressed that the application of the missions requires new alliances, innovative tools and collaborative processes, especially in a territory without its own metropolitan government.
Municipal experiences: Viladecans and the Ministry of Housing and Urban Agenda
After Estela's speech, Marina Jarque, director of the Office of the Future of the Viladecans City Council, shared her municipality's experience in the application of the missions within its Urban Agenda. He highlighted how this approach facilitates the understanding of urban policies and allows for more effective and results-oriented planning.
For her part, Sonia Hernández, Deputy Director General of Urban Policies of the Ministry of Housing and Urban Agenda (MIVAU), highlighted the compatibility between the Urban Agenda and the mission-based approach. He concluded that the missions not only help to structure the Urban Agenda internally, but also make it more understandable and communicable for citizens and the different actors involved.
Commitment to the promotion of Local Urban Agendas
This webinar has highlighted the growing interest of local governments in adopting innovative strategies that allow them to address major urban challenges in a transversal and collaborative way.
XAUL reaffirms its commitment to supporting and promoting the Local Urban Agendas of the Barcelona demarcation. For this reason, spaces for reflection and learning will continue to be promoted, providing tools and resources for the design of more effective urban policies aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The event was presented by Pilar Cervantes, head of the Urban Planning Service of the Barcelona Provincial Council, who highlighted the importance of missions to promote innovation in urban policies and align municipal efforts with strategies for the transformation of towns, cities and territories.