This document collects a number of elements from the work programme of the OECD Rural Policy Programme on service availability in rural areas. Rural service delivery is a clear concern of member countries and the Rural Working Party of the OECD in collaboration with the Commission for Rural Communities has supported a multi-year project by the Secretariat to investigate underlying problems in rural service delivery and innovative approaches that can resolve these problems. Collecting different parts of the work in a single volume provides a number of elements in one place: a conceptual structure for thinking about the rural service delivery challenge, a strategy for thinking about the role of government in service delivery, a focus on innovation and co-design and co-delivery public management tools in relation to designing a better approach to service delivery, and a reprise of a set of best practices in rural service delivery.

This chapter provides an overview of the challenges in rural areas and outlines some broad policy approaches that are contributing to improving rural service delivery. It is arranged as follows: First, a context is set that includes all services, not just public services, and not just services that are provided by governments; and the point is made that while rural and urban citizens have common aspirations, the differences in their geography lead to different service delivery issues. Second, there is a discussion of the problems associated with delivering these services in rural regions. Third, a close look is taken at the evolving role of services in OECD countries and the opportunities for improved service provision. Finally, the chapter concludes by illustrating some new, and not so new, approaches visible in OECD countries that have the potential to improve service delivery in rural regions.

Government and citizens should make the decisions about public services. And, one way of dealing with the policy questions identified in the preceding chapter is more user participation through co-production schemes. Moreover, codesign and co-delivery can also answer questions about which services are to be provided and how they are to be provided. This chapter provides an overview of the role innovation and public management tools such as co-design and co-delivery can play in improving service delivery in rural regions. In addition, to co-production, it explores the benefits of incorporating long-term planning (futures thinking) and rebalancing the rural-urban relationships in designing services (vis-à-vis place based approach to policy design). This chapter is a result of a joint OECD-Commission for Rural Communities workshop held in London, in June 2009.