18/07/2025

Flagship Report on Rural Social Exclusion Drivers Submitted

The INSPIRE project just reached an important milestone with the submission of its latest report, “Drivers and Factors of Social Exclusion in Rural Areas”, on 30 June 2025. Co-authored by the University of Barcelona (UB), Q-PLAN INTERNATIONAL, and the University of Groningen (RUG), the report investigates why some people, especially people in a vulnerable situation, in rural areas across Europe face greater barriers to participation, services, and opportunities.

The study explores this issue at three levels:
🔹 Global and transnational trends (like climate change or ageing populations),
🔹 National systems and institutions (such as welfare services or regional policies),
🔹 Regional and local realities (like access to healthcare, transport, and community networks).

 

By combining data and triangulating insight from surveys, interviews, and community-based fieldwork in seven rural regions (Delphi method, Semi-structured interviews with stakeholders at national level, Online surveys, Paper-based surveys, CATI surveys, Observational fieldwork) the report offers a clearer picture of the forces and parameters shaping rural social exclusion and what can be done to address it.

 

Key findings include:

Global megatrends such as climate change, technological automation, and population ageing intensify rural vulnerabilities.
National-level barriers include short-term policy planning, bureaucratic fragmentation, and underfunded social services.
Local challenges are marked by limited access to healthcare, education, digital infrastructure, and social capital.

The findings will help shape future actions within INSPIRE, including practical tools and resources that support local communities and decision-makers working to improve rural well-being and inclusion.

Access the full report here

 

What’s Next for INSPIRE?

Building on the findings from this report, the next step is to develop a new way of categorising Europe’s rural areas based on their strengths, vulnerabilities, and needs in relation to multi-level social inclusion. This upcoming framework will help policymakers and community leaders identify the most effective strategies for their specific context. Once ready, it will be published on the INSPIRE website and form the backbone of an interactive policy dashboard (to be delivered at the end of the project).

 

In parallel, the project team is analysing existing rural services and community initiatives to understand what’s working and where gaps remain. Soon, local “Smart Village Labs” will be launched in pilot regions, where residents and local organisations will test new approaches to digital inclusion, access to services, and community-driven innovation.

The data and insights from this latest report will help ensure these efforts are grounded in the real-life experiences and needs of rural residents.