Erripagaña: Listening to Citizens to Make Better-Informed Decisions

02/06/2026

Erripagaña is one of the most unique urban developments in Navarre. Although its residents perceive it as a single neighborhood, administratively its territory is divided among several municipalities: Pamplona, Burlada, Huarte, and Valle de Egüés. This situation has created a complex reality over the years, in which a single community coexists under different administrations, regulations, and management models.

As the population steadily grew and a distinct neighborhood identity began to take shape, concerns emerged among residents. Many of these concerns were related to perceived differences in service provision, infrastructure planning, and coordination among local administrations. Added to this was a shared feeling among residents: belonging to a single community whose day-to-day reality was not always reflected in the existing administrative structure.

In this context, the municipalities of Pamplona, Burlada, and Huarte decided to take an important step: to rigorously understand the views of local residents. Beyond perceptions or positions expressed by different social and political stakeholders, there was a need for objective information to better understand how residents experience their neighborhood, what their needs are, and what expectations they have for the future.

To this end, Ikerfel carried out a comprehensive opinion study based on 702 face-to-face household interviews with residents aged 15 and over living in Erripagaña. The research was designed to accurately capture the social pulse of the neighborhood, analyzing aspects such as quality of life, use of public services, sense of belonging, community identity, and perceptions of the current administrative organization.

The results provide a precise snapshot of Erripagaña’s social reality. The study confirms a widely shared perception that the neighborhood should be managed by a single administration, while also identifying the population’s main concerns, including the need for new healthcare, educational, sports, and cultural facilities. It also highlights the existence of an increasingly consolidated neighborhood identity that transcends municipal boundaries.

It is now up to the administrations to analyze these findings and assess the possible next steps. Research does not determine which decisions should be made, but it does provide a solid foundation for making those decisions with a better understanding of reality and of citizens’ needs.

This project illustrates the role that social research can play in public management. When administrations face complex situations, having rigorous evidence helps reduce uncertainty, identify priorities, and support decision-making with reliable data. Ultimately, it enables public policies to be built upon a deeper understanding of the people they are intended to serve.

The case of Erripagaña is a good example of how active listening and research can help generate shared diagnoses and facilitate more informed, transparent, and socially grounded decision-making processes. Because the best decisions are those that stem from a deep understanding of the people they affect.

More info here.