Projects

The project is a comprehensive socio-cultural study assessing the effectiveness of the My District programme’s initiatives across Moscow’s municipalities. Commissioned by the Autonomous Non-Profit Organisation “My District” and conducted by the Agency for strategic development "CENTER" in 2025, the study provides a systematic analysis of how residents perceive completed projects, identifies emerging needs and expectations, and defines the socio-cultural profile of the model territories.

The combination of qualitative and quantitative methods - including interviews, surveys, analysis of event activity and assessment of how the programme’s initiatives are integrated into the urban environment - makes it possible to develop evidence-based recommendations for the strategic planning of urban infrastructure and improving residents’ quality of life.

Study objective: to assess the effectiveness of projects under the My District programme, identify residents’ values, needs, interests and expectations, and analyse the impact of external factors on quality of life at the level of Moscow’s municipalities.

Study objectives:

• Define the socio-cultural profile of each Model Territory.
• Systematise residents’ views and assess the My District programme as a whole.
• Identify residents’ emerging needs and priorities in relation to the programme’s initiatives.
• Describe and assess the effectiveness of completed projects.
• Develop recommendations for strategic planning and improving the effectiveness of projects under the My District programme.

Research methods:

• Desk research of the Model Territories:
  • analysis of their socio-demographic and socio-economic profiles;
  • mapping the location of projects at the district level;
  • analysis of how the Pets in Moscow and Designing the District projects are integrated into their surroundings within a five- to seven-minute walking radius;
  • analysis of event activity over the previous two years;
• In-depth interviews with experts.
• Telephone survey of residents of Moscow’s municipalities.
• Review of international and Russian experience in implementing comparable projects.

Projects under the My District programme covered by the study:

• Pets in Moscow
• Designing the District
• District Tours
• The “About My District” Children’s Competition

Photo: Agency for strategic development "CENTER"

Project outcomes

The study conducted by the Agency for strategic development "CENTER" found that 69% of Moscow residents consider their districts more comfortable than they were three to five years ago. The most visible results of the My District programme were the renovation of streets and boulevards, the upgrading of social and cultural institutions, and the improvement of parks.

The study involved 1,000 Moscow residents, experts and representatives of nine districts. The analysis showed that further attention is needed in the areas of safety, cleanliness, public realm improvements and the aesthetic quality of the urban environment.

The next stage in the programme’s development is to create self-sufficient districts with a distinct identity, a high-quality socio-cultural environment and opportunities for leisure, social interaction and the implementation of residents’ initiatives. Recommendations for improving the effectiveness of the Designing the District, Pets in Moscow, District Tours and About My District projects were also developed.