October 31, 2017
As part of the "Let's Make Tottori the Best Place to Live in Japan" joint project with Tottori Prefecture, The Nippon Foundation, in collaboration with the Keio Research Institute at SFC (Social Innovation Lab) at Keio University, has developed the "Richness of Connections Index," which focuses on the "connections" among people that underlie the emergence of voluntary cooperative activities in the community.
Going forward, under the recognition that revitalizing voluntary initiatives that leverage "connections" between people in the community will contribute to true regional revitalization that creates sustainable, fulfilling, and prosperous lives, we will utilize this index as an evaluation axis for the entire joint project and will also promote its use by municipalities within the prefecture and throughout the country as a "Tottori-originated" evaluation index for regional revitalization.
1. Purpose of Developing the Index
By visualizing and indexing the "richness of connections" in Tottori Prefecture based on the residents' real-life experiences and sense of engagement in activities, thereby enabling the assessment (evaluation) of the situation, we will use it as an evaluation foundation for the joint project and create an environment that enhances the effectiveness of regional revitalization in Tottori Prefecture.
2. Index Development Process
Focusing on the fact that Tottori Prefecture residents have a high interest and participation rate in volunteer activities and are actively involved in community activities such as neighborhood associations and local resident organizations, we conducted a survey to understand how those active in Tottori Prefecture perceive the "connections" among people that underlie the emergence of such voluntary cooperative activities.
In the survey, we conducted interviews with active groups within the prefecture and analyzed newspaper articles. Based on the statements obtained, we established 60 items as "connection factors." We then conducted a "questionnaire survey (survey to prioritize connection factors)" targeting "prefectural residents (3,000 people)," "NPOs and wide-area community management organizations (388 organizations)," and "government officials (19 municipalities)."
Based on these results, we extracted 22 "connection factors" that should be particularly focused on in Tottori Prefecture going forward (items recognized as important but with low realization rates). We also examined the "degree of connection" to measure the actual state of these factors as specific numerical values and established these as the 22-item "Tottori Prefecture Richness of Connections Index."
3. Future Utilization of the Index
In the future, we will monitor its changes over time from multiple perspectives and use it as an evaluation axis for the entire joint project and grant programs. We will also support collaboration among diverse actors to foster, maintain, and enhance the "richness of connections" and "social capital" in Tottori Prefecture, thereby promoting more effective regional revitalization.
The use of the "richness of connections" as an evaluation index for regional revitalization is a national first. We will advocate for its concepts and findings as originating from Tottori and will encourage its adoption by municipalities within the prefecture and throughout the country in the future.
For the full press release, please see 【全国初】地方創生の評価指標として「つながりの豊かさ指標」を共同開発.pdf .
For inquiries regarding this matter:
Social Innovation Lab, Keio Research Institute at SFC, Keio University (Tamamura, Inagaki) 03-4590-0444
Distributed by:
Academic Research Support, Shonan Fujisawa Campus (SFC) Office