Results’ Review of the Arctic Municipalities’ Strategies 2021

The review article was prepared for the special issue of the journal dedicated to the results of the 19th Annual Strategic Planning Leaders Forum of the Regions and Cities of Russia. It examines the progress and results of one of the key events of the forum and it is the Competition of municipal strategies “The best implemented strategy in the Arctic region”. Severodvinsk (Arkhangelsk Oblast), Dudinka (Krasnoyarsk Krai), Apatity and Kandalaksha District (both Murmansk Oblast), Oleneksky Evenki National District, Tiksi (both Sakha Republic (Yakutia)), Usinsk (Komi Republic) and Shoinsky Village Council (Nenets Autonomous Okrug) reached the final of the competition. According to the results of the competition, the suggestions for of the cities of Severodvinsk and Dudinka were recognized as the best strategies. The article provides brief characteristics of the content of strategic documents and the speeches of participants of the competition, as well as comments of the jury members. The lessons of the competition are phrased in two aspects. First, the elements of the best practice of strategic planning in the Arctic municipalities are identified. It was revealed that for the success of the strategy implementation, such factors as scenario development remains important, which allows taking into account the variability of the external environment on the long-term planning horizon; control of results, involvement of the local community and monitoring, visual and convincing demonstration of results, including “quick wins”; involvement of the local community, business, media, population and key stakeholders into the development and implementation of the strategy. The second aspect it is the assessment of the results of the experience of holding several competitions of municipal strategies, of the technology of organizing competitions which was given. Such competitions are valuable because they give participants the opportunity to get an independent assessment of their work, compare themselves with other municipalities, and also spread the information about their experience and achievements.