Nadja Yampolskaya joins research group

Research group Social Enterprises & Institutions for Collective Actions welcomes Nadja Yampolskaya in her role as team supporter.

“I am excited to join the SEICA and CollectieveKracht team because their focus on social innovation and collaborative approaches perfectly aligns with my passion for applying technology to solve real-world problems. My background in computer linguistics and user research allows me to turn complex information into practical, human-focused solutions. I believe technology, combined with community-led initiatives, can bring sustainable positive change. I’m excited to contribute my skills to collective power for social impact.”

Welcome! See her profile page for more information.

Publication on how citizen collectives can boost societal transitions

An article published in Bestuurwetenschappen explores how closer collaboration between government and citizen collectives can contribute to tackling societal transitions and restoring trust in democracy. The Dutch article “Citizen collectives at the helm? In co-creation with the government towards successful transitions” is a collaboration between the following researchers working in the academic field of citizen collectives in the Netherlands: Tine De Moor, Darinka Czischke, Carola van Eijk, Marianne Groep-Foncke, Lukas Held, Ina Horlings, Lise Jans, Reinout Kleinhans & Ingmar van Meerkerk.

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Join our symposium with Ruth Meinzen-Dick

We are delighted to invite you to a thought-provoking symposium featuring Ruth Meinzen-Dick, Senior Research Fellow at the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI). Ruth is a renowned scholar whose research spans governance of natural resources, agricultural development, and gender issues, with a strong focus on the management of commons and innovative field methodologies. 

This symposium, titled Aspiring Commons – (Re)discoveries and Learning Opportunities from the Global South, aims to explore how practices from the Global South can inspire and inform collective action initiatives in Europe. The event will also include presentations and a panel discussion on how transdisciplinary approaches, reciprocity between academics and practitioners, and innovative frameworks can address wicked problems and support sustainable resource management. 

The program, panel speakers, presenters and other details will be added to the event page. This event will take place at Campus Woudestein, Erasmus University Rotterdam. If you would like to attend, sign up through the form.

Submission for 10th EMES conference started

Together with EMES International Research Network and Universiteit Utrecht we are looking forward to receiving your abstract for the 10th EMES International Research Conference ‘Scaling Through Communities: The role of Social Entrepreneurs and Social Enterprises in Boosting Societal Transitions’.

Visit the submission portal or check the Call for Papers for thematic lines and additional details.

Make sure we can welcome you on 3-5 November in Rotterdam, 6-7 November in Utrecht, and the interesting excursions to social enterprises we offer in transit.

CollectieveKracht platform awarded €100,000 KHMW Brouwer Vertrouwensprijs

We are honored and proud that CollectieveKracht, our knowledge sharing platform for citizen collectives, has received the 1st KHMW Brouwer Vertrouwensprijs (Brouwer Trust Prize). ‘The jury – together with the people behind the knowledge platform – believes that trust must be anchored in the collective power of a society’, according to the jury report.

The accolade comes with €100,000 in funding, which will contribute to the continuity and consolidation of the platform. ‘This prize validates the value of supporting science to strengthen trust within society,’ said Tine De Moor, founder of CollectieveKracht and professor at Rotterdam School of Management, Erasmus University. ‘It shows that our efforts to bridge the gap between science and society are resonating. Initiatives like this remind us that trust is an essential foundation for collective action and societal progress.’ Read more about the award and our knowledge platform.

Open Seminar Talk – Maximiliaan Menten (UvA)

On December 10, Maximiliaan Menten, research assistant with the University of Amsterdam, gave a presentation as part of our SEICA Open Seminar Series, titled: History of Dutch Water Management: Lessons for Societal Challenges.

He introduced his research on 17th-century Dutch water management, linking stakeholder theory with participation and representation. With examples of dike projects in Bunschoten and along the Lek River, he examines cooperation in Dutch water boards by identifying the different stakeholders and stakeholder relationships.

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Paper on the emergence of citizen collectives for care

How does social cohesion foster the development of care collectives in the Netherlands?

This question is answered in the paper ‘The Emergence of Citizen Collectives for Care: The Role of Social Cohesion‘ (BMC Public Health, vol. 24) by Kevin Wittenberg, Rense Corten, Tanja van der Lippe, and Tine De Moor. Using Dutch data from 2020, they find that stronger community ties correlate with the emergence of care collectives, particularly in areas with greater care needs, though longitudinal evidence is less conclusive. These findings highlight the potential for care collectives to address healthcare gaps.

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Community spirit in the neighborhood

Communities are the foundation of liveable neighbourhoods. On November 26, residents, experts and housing corporations came together in Pakhuis de Zwijger (Amsterdam) to discuss how strong neighbourhood communities are formed.

The program included seminars by Tine De Moor and Teun Gautier. Four initiators of citizen collectives discussed their role as an ‘active resident’ within their local community, their current challenges are how they can be better supported by housing corporations.