Work packages

1. Project governance, coordination and internationalisation 

2. Transversal project coordination: content integration of other work packages, digitisation of tools, and capacity building 

• sWP2-1: Coordinating the integration of all PhD-projects in terms of design, methodology, scenario-building, and policy advice 
• sWP2-2 Digitization and platform integration of 5 existing tools and research  
• sWP2-3 Organisation of capacity building activities for citizen collectives and stakeholders  

3. Empowering citizen collectives in societal transitions throughout their lifecycle 
The aim is to enhance the visibility of citizen collectives in the Netherlands and Flanders and to identify their life-cycle stages, including scaling, adaptation, and development processes. 

• sWP3-1: Monitoring citizen collectives in their lifecycle development 
• sWP3-2: Supporting citizen collectives in their lifecycle development through self-governing principles 

4. Empowering citizen collectives in societal transitions as IDENTIFIERS 
Citizen collectives can act as ‘identifiers’ of market and government failures through various mechanisms and methodologies, leveraging their grassroots presence, local knowledge, and ability to mobilise and organise.   

• sWP4-1: Understanding and dealing with transition tensions and conflicts in citizen collectives 
• sWP4-2: Making governance collaboration inclusive through CLRA with (non-)formal citizen collectives 
• sWP4-3: Identifying collective values to enhance sustainability transitions 

5. Empowering citizen collectives in societal transitions as EDUCATORS 
Citizen collectives can act as ‘educators’ due to their specific form of governance. Regular meetings foster a space for debate and the exchange of ideas, encouraging members to think critically about issues, solutions, and the perspectives of others. Their activities advance active citizenship, democratic behaviour and leadership in societal transitions.  

• sWP5-1: Identifying prosocial effects of participatory decision-making in citizen collectives  
• sWP5-2: Sensing place together 

6. Empowering citizen collectives in societal transitions as ENABLERS 
Citizen collectives can act as ‘enablers’ once they have reached a more mature phase. Through innovation, advocacy, community engagement, resilience building, network formation, and cultural change, citizen collectives contribute to more sustainable, equitable, and resilient communities and influence broader systemic changes. Networks of collectives (e.g. Energie Samen, LaNSCO, NLZVE, Cooplink) and franchise models (e.g. Broodfondsen, Herenboeren, Knarrenhof) leverage the enabler role of citizen collectives, amplifying their impact and creating a collective voice for change.  

• sWP6-1: Building the infrastructure of (mass) mobilization through coalitions of citizen collectives 
• sWP6-2: Motivating people to contribute to societal transitions 

7. Empowering citizen collectives in societal transitions as GO-BETWEENS 
Citizen collectives can act as ‘go-betweens’, bridging the gap between citizens and other stakeholders (incl.  governments), by enhancing communication, fostering collaboration, and ensuring that the needs and perspectives of their members are represented in governmental processes.   

• sWP7-1: Creating core values for partnerships 
• sWP7-2: Getting all on board  
• sWP7-3: Sparking innovation for new collaborative partnerships  

8. Advising policymakers on increasing citizens’ capabilities through citizen collectives 

Note: PhD positions available in work packages 3 to 7. Interested? Let us know.