Strategic Planning Support for Russian Arctic Policy Documents

PORA regularly provides assistance to government bodies responsible for Arctic affairs, including, inter alia, support for strategic planning.

PORA made a substantial contribution to the Ministry for the Development of the Far East and the Arctic during the preparation of a comprehensive strategy document for the Russian Arctic. As part of this effort, in late 2019 and early 2020, PORA organized and moderated ten strategic sessions held across nine polar regions of Russia and in St. Petersburg, resulting in the collection of more than 650 proposals from representatives of academia, the expert community, business, local authorities, non-governmental organizations, and Arctic residents. A number of these proposals were subsequently incorporated into the final version of the policy document adopted in 2020 as the Strategy for the Development of the Russian Arctic and Ensuring National Security through 2035.

In 2022–2023, PORA coordinated a participatory process for the preparation of the Strategy for the Development of Norilsk as a key hub of the Eastern Arctic through 2035. More than 150 proposals were submitted via a dedicated online platform by residents and other stakeholders, with contributions focusing primarily on urban infrastructure, economic development, and environmental issues, as well as social services. Public consultations were conducted in multiple locations and online, ensuring broad stakeholder engagement. The collected inputs enabled the identification of key development priorities and informed the strategic vision for Norilsk’s long-term development.

In 2024, the PORA team conducted a comprehensive evaluation of Russia’s strategic documents defining the principles and guidelines for Arctic policy and decision-making, including the Framework of the State Policy for the Russian Arctic, the Strategy for the Development of the Russian Arctic and Ensuring National Security, as well as relevant national programs and projects. Based on the findings, a set of recommendations aimed at improving Arctic-related strategic planning was submitted to Russian government institutions.

PORA’s projects produced tangible policy outcomes by integrating expert and public input into national and municipal Arctic strategies, including the adoption of stakeholder-driven proposals in the Russian Arctic Development and National Security Strategy through 2035 and the Norilsk Development Strategy to 2035. In addition, PORA’s analytical review of Arctic policy documents informed concrete recommendations submitted to government institutions, contributing to the refinement of strategic planning and decision-making for Arctic development.