Kobieca Strefa Rozwoju (Women’s Development Zone)
Poland
supported by ERDN
Empowering rural women in Parczew through skills, collaboration and locally rooted social entrepreneurship.
About
The Women’s Development Zone (WDZ) is a Smart Village Lab in Parczew District, eastern Poland, led by ERDN under the EU-funded INSPIRE project. Launched in autumn 2025 with two community warm-up events reaching over 200 residents, the Lab brings together rural and unemployed women to co-design local solutions. Three pilot initiatives focus on social services, women-led workshops and rural tourism, building on the district’s rich natural heritage and strong community spirit.
Where & What?
Parczew District, Lublin Voivodeship
Remote rural region
Social Exclusion Typology NUTS3 – Cluster 6
District Employment Office in Parczew, ul. Gen. Bema 2, 21-200 Parczew, Poland
Learn more below
Territory context and inclusion challenges
Territory profile
Parczew District (NUTS3: Biała Podlaska subregion, NUTS2: PL81 Lubelskie) is a predominantly rural, peripheral area in eastern Poland with approximately 32,000 inhabitants. The territory is characterised by agricultural lowlands, extensive forests and the Łęczna–Włodawa Lake District, including multiple Natura 2000 sites. The only small urban centre is the town of Parczew. The local economy is based on family farming, food processing, forestry, public-sector employment and small-scale entrepreneurship; nature-based eco-tourism is emerging.
The district faces typical post-socialist rural challenges: population ageing, youth out-migration and gradual depopulation. Registered unemployment stands at 8.8% (2022)*, with approximately 379 officially registered unemployed women and an estimated 1,200–1,500 economically inactive women. High social capital – active women’s rural circles, local associations and NGOs – provides a strong foundation for community-driven development.
Top inclusion challenges
Lack of time due to care and household responsibilities – identified by 67% of SVL participants*
Social barriers and gender stereotypes limiting women’s economic participation (61%)*
Difficult access to financing and limited knowledge of funding instruments (50%)*
Limited access to customers, markets and digital channels for local products and services (39%)*
Low digital literacy and digital exclusion, particularly among older rural residents
*The data on unemployment came from the Statistical Yearbook of the Lublin Voivodeship, published by the Central Statistical Office. The inclusion challenges were derived from a survey of participants in the local workshops of the Smart Village Lab in Parczew.
Local assets/strengths
Strong existing skills: culinary arts, baking, handicrafts, cosmetology, event organisation and digital communication
Rich natural and cultural heritage: Polesie National Park, Łęczna–Włodawa Lake District, local traditions and agritourism potential
Active civil society: Rural Women’s Circles (Koła Gospodyń Wiejskich), NGOs, Local Action Groups and cultural institutions
Institutional support: District Labour Office (co-presenter at warm-up events), municipalities offering premises (Dębowa Kłoda)
Lab approach – How we work locally
Who leads the Lab?
The European Rural Development Network (ERDN) is the Lead partner and facilitator of the Smart Village Lab, coordinating co-creation processes, organising workshops and linking participants with the INSPIRE project methodology.
How does the Lab operate?
The Lab operates in two phases. Phase 1 (autumn 2025) comprised two community warm-up events: a festival booth in September reaching ~200 residents, and a workshop in October with 30+ women featuring four thematic presentations and a photo contest award ceremony. Phase 2 (2026–2027) delivers a structured series of three co-creation workshops at the District Labour Office in Parczew. Between workshops, a four-member Working Group (two rural women + two ERDN representatives) coordinates progress. Digital tools including Slido (live polling) and online platforms support engagement and transparency. The Lab plans geographic expansion to three communes within the district.
Co-creation steps used locally
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Warm-Up Event 1 (Sept 2025): INSPIRE festival booth at local Parczew festival – ~200 participants, Smart Village Wheel of Fortune, ~30 verbal sign-ups, photo contest launched
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Warm-Up Event 2 (Oct 2025): Interactive workshop with 30+ women – 4 thematic presentations, photo contest awards, grassroots leaders identified
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Co-creation / Founding Workshop (Feb 2026): Formal SVL launch with 17 participants – barrier diagnosis, skills mapping, anchor activity selection, Working Group established
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Workshop 1 (May 2026): INSPIRE Atlas presentation, idea generation, impact-feasibility matrix, participatory voting – 3 priority solutions selected
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Workshop 2 (2026, planned): Co-design of deployment roadmaps for three priority solutions
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Workshop 3 (2026, planned): Introduction to the INSPIRE MOOC platform, digital skills and online educational resources
How we ensure participation of target/vulnerable groups
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Workshops held at the District Labour Office in Parczew – a neutral, accessible and familiar venue for local women
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Active outreach through the Labour Office, local NGOs and informal networks to reach unemployed and economically inactive women
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Use of participatory tools (Slido live polls, flipcharts, sticker voting) to ensure all voices are equally heard
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Co-leadership model and planned representation from three communes ensure geographic and demographic inclusivity
Pilot initiatives and activities
Social Services Hub in Dębowa Kłoda
Rural women in the Parczew district lack integrated access to social, educational and entrepreneurship support services within their local community.
What will be done: A community-based Social Services Hub will be established in premises offered free of charge by the Municipality of Dębowa Kłoda, integrating educational workshops, social support and local entrepreneurship activities. The Hub will serve as the operational centre of the Smart Village Lab, coordinating women-led workshops, local product promotion and community events.
Main beneficiaries: Rural women (especially unemployed), families and local communities in Parczew District and Dębowa Kłoda commune.
Status: planned
Timing: May 2026 – September 2027
Stay tuned through the INSPIRE website for more updates.
Women-led Workshops, Gastronomy and Local Products
Rural women’s skills in culinary arts, baking, handicrafts and local product processing remain underused due to the lack of organisational structures and market access.
What will be done: Women-led educational workshops will be organised covering regional cuisine, baking traditions, folk crafts and creative activities, providing both skill development and income-generating opportunities. Products and services will be promoted through joint marketing channels, local events and the CYNAMON initiative (Klub Parczew), which aims to create a new community meeting place for women and youth in Parczew.
Main beneficiaries: Rural women, youth, families, local communities and tourists in Parczew District.
Status: planned
Timing: May 2026 – September 2027
Stay tuned through the INSPIRE website for more updates.
Rural Tourism, Recreation and Cultural Promotion
The Parczew District’s significant natural and cultural heritage – including the Polesie National Park and lake district – remains largely untapped as an economic resource for local women.
What will be done: Tourism and recreation services will be developed based on local natural and cultural resources, including cycling routes, nature trips, agritourism, kayaking and cultural events promoting local heritage. Women from the Lab will be supported to organise guided tours, eco-tourism services and cultural festivals, connecting rural tourism with local entrepreneurship and community promotion.
Main beneficiaries: Rural women, tourists, local residents, families and visitors from urban areas.
Status: planned
Timing: May 2026 – September 2027
Stay tuned through the INSPIRE website for more updates.
Stakeholders and partnerships
Lead: European Rural Development Network (ERDN) – Lab coordinator and INSPIRE project partner (Poland).
Supporting institutions:
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District Labour Office in Parczew (venue, outreach, employment support);
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Municipality of Dębowa Kłoda (premises for the Hub);
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local NGOs and cultural institutions (facilitation and community engagement);
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INSPIRE project consortium (methodology, training resources, MOOC platform).
Target participants: Rural and unemployed women from Parczew, Dębowa Kłoda and neighbouring communes.
Resources and downloads
INSPIRE Services and Social Economy Atlas – Digital tool – Online repository of verified European rural social economy initiatives.
INSPIRE MOOC Platform – Online course – Digital learning resources for rural women (Workshop 3)
News from Women’s Development Zone
Warm-Up Event 1
INSPIRE at Parczew Festival – 28 September 2025 – INSPIRE presented at local festival reaching ~200 residents, including rural women and single mothers, with Smart Village quiz, photo contest launch and ~30 verbal sign-ups for future SVL activities; Parczew. Learn more here.
Warm-Up Event 2
Interactive Workshop for Rural Women – October 2025 – 30+ women participated in four thematic presentations on rural tourism, future of work, social entrepreneurship and the INSPIRE project; photo contest awards ceremony; grassroots leaders identified for the Lab. Learn more here.
Co-Creation / Founding Workshop
Formal launch of the Smart Village Lab with 17 participants on 11 February 2026; diagnosis of barriers, selection of educational workshops and rural tourism as anchor activities, Working Group established; District Labour Office, Parczew. Learn more here.
Workshop 1
Idea Generation and Prioritisation – 5 May 2026 – 12 participants co-designed solutions using the INSPIRE Atlas and participatory voting, selecting three priority initiatives: Social Services Hub, Women-led Workshops and Rural Tourism; District Labour Office, Parczew. Learn more here.
Workshop 2
Deployment Roadmaps – 25 May 2026 (planned) – Participants will develop implementation roadmaps for the three selected solutions in group work sessions; District Labour Office, Parczew.
Get involved!
Join the Women’s Development Zone in Parczew – share your skills, co-create local solutions and help build an inclusive rural community.
Contact persons: ERDN Lab Coordinators
Adam Wasilewski, adam.wasilewski@erdn.eu
Marcin Adamski, marcin.adamski@erdn.eu
Organisation: European Rural Development Network
