Community Catalysts for Regenerative Development
European Union Erasmus + Strategic Partnership
October 2019 - December 2020
European society is demanding a greater voice in decision-making in order to ensure greater equity and prosperity in their communities and to contribute to a more biodiverse and healthy environment. Some municipalities are responding to this demand by facilitating citizen participation processes and promoting localised sustainability projects. In spite of these initiatives, local actors are facing a series of challenges for developing and implementing appropriate and cost-effective public policies and projects to support resource-efficient low-carbon and climate-resilient European societies.
Community Catalysts for Regenerative Development is driven by the social and global need to promote citizen participation towards the strengthening of community resilience. Over two years the consortium of European organisations will develop a pioneering training aimed at youth leaders, community leaders and technical staff of local governments so that they can become community catalysts of regenerative development in their bioregions, through tools and activities of participatory action research, citizen participation and the co-creation of public policies.
Project Deliverables
Phase 1: Participatory Action Research
Collect the knowledge, strategies and good practices of community and youth leaders in promoting regenerative development in their bioregions.
This phase was carried out primarily by the four project partners based in bioregions, regions defined by their distinct geological, morphological and ecological characteristics. The partners interviewed diverse local community catalysts involved in environmental activities in order to collect examples of regenerative development practices and in order to deepen the collective understanding of regenerative practice at a bioregional level.
Phase 2: Guidelines, Toolkit & Video
Create a guide and didactic material for trainers and a toolkit for community and youth leaders and technicians in regenerative development.
In this phase, we created theoretical and methodological Guidelines for trainers and practitioners as well as a comprehensive, aesthetic and printable Toolkit for participants. Additionally 6 videos were produced to accompany the six dimensions of the WeLand framework which structures the Toolkit. All six partners were involved in the production of these two outputs, with bioregional partners providing content related to local and bioregional applications of regenerative development, and the two network partners providing a European and international framework and reach.
Phase 3: Training & Multiplier Events
Conduct a series of pioneer training in regenerative development for youth researchers, trainers, youth leaders, community leaders and technicians.
All partners participated in a transnational training to test the emerging framework. Once all project outputs were completed, all partners carried out multiplier events in their local countries in order to disseminate the results widely amongst activists, researchers, trainers, youth leaders, community leaders and technicians. Please follow our blog space for news on the training and multiplier events.
WeLand Toolkit
This toolkit is framed within an international model with broad legitimacy that allows intercultural dialogue – the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals 2030 – and presents practical tools to assess and implement them locally, namely SDG’s Flash Cards, Equilibrium – Catalyse Community Towards Resilience and WeLand – Making Sense of Place.
It is an effective and inclusive way for actors in a community to develop strategies and actions for regenerative livelihoods through a nature-based design journey that brings integrity, meaning and sense of belonging while actively contributing to the global goals.
Regenerative Development is designed to move beyond sustainability. While sustainability focuses on development today that protects the ability of future generations to develop, the priority of regenerative development is to apply holistic processes to create feedback loops between physical, natural, economic and social capital that are mutually supportive, self-organising and self-evolving.
Project Partners
News and Articles
Free ‘Community Catalysts for Regenerative Development’ Webinar!
We are delighted to invite you to attend our webinar entitled Community Catalysts for Regenerative Development on 26 November at 5 PM (UK).
Driven by the social and global need to promote citizen participation towards strengthening community resilience, the Community Catalysts project aims to empower local actors to create lasting change in their communities, ensuring greater equity and a healthier environment. Through a focus on holistic approaches, regenerative development supports commun…