During the recent Polish Country Chapter meeting, partners worked intensively on defining a strategic pathway for the development of Zielona Opieka (Green Care) in Poland. Using a collaborative Miro board, the group mapped priorities, assessed feasibility, and outlined a long-term implementation timeline, creating a clear and structured vision for the years ahead.
The impact/effort matrix
One of the key outcomes of the session was the development of an impact/effort matrix, helping to identify which actions can deliver the greatest results and how complex their implementation might be.
The discussion highlighted several “Quick Wins” — high-impact actions that require relatively moderate effort. These include:
- Defining key concepts related to Green Care
- Establishing shared terminology and core definitions
- Developing official guidelines or recommendations
- Building awareness and creating a foundation for scalable projects
Participants emphasized that without a clear and commonly accepted definition of Green Care, it is difficult to develop legislation, build infrastructure, or launch sustainable initiatives. Standardization and clarity are therefore seen as essential first steps.
At the same time, the group identified Major Projects, initiatives with high impact but requiring significant effort, coordination, and time. These include:
- Developing comprehensive legislation
- Creating cross-sector funding mechanisms (health, social policy, agriculture, education)
- Establishing a unified system for training and certifying professionals
- Building formal structures to support long-term implementation
Such projects depend heavily on political support, inter-ministerial cooperation, and systemic change.
The matrix also helped identify potential Resource Drainers, actions that may consume significant energy while delivering limited progress. These risks include legislative conflicts, long administrative procedures, infrastructure financing challenges, and potential disputes related to urban space management. Recognizing these early allows the chapter to better anticipate barriers and mitigate risks.
A long-term timeline for Green Care in Poland
In addition to prioritizing actions, the Polish Chapter developed a preliminary implementation timeline, outlining short-, mid-, and long-term objectives, some aligned with the duration of the GreenME project.
Short-term (until 2030):
- Introducing Green Care into strategic policy discussions
- Developing legal groundwork and initial regulatory frameworks
- Creating an infrastructure map
- Building a catalogue of services
- Popularizing the concept of Green Care and increasing awareness
Mid-term (until 2037):
- Implementation of legislation
- Launching pilot programs and conducting evaluations
- Establishing infrastructure and stable legal foundations
Long-term (until 2047):
- Expanding and strengthening service networks
- Deepening cross-sector cooperation
- Building widespread public awareness of Green Care
- Developing a comprehensive and sustainable ecosystem
A scalable approach
The outcomes of the Polish Country Chapter meeting demonstrate a structured and forward-looking approach. The work clearly shows that building Green Care requires both immediate practical steps and long-term systemic change, from defining concepts and raising awareness to creating legislation and cross-sector cooperation mechanisms.