• Objective 1

    amplify the voice of rural areas to bring them higher on the political agenda

  • Objective 2

    structure and enable collaboration and mutual learning between Pact members
Description

EcoCitizen is dedicated to advancing sustainable development and links between rural and urban areas through collaborative research, innovation, and stakeholder engagement. We work with public, private, and NGO partners to collect, structure, and integrate ecosystem data (e.g., forestry, agriculture, marine, etc.) educating stakeholders and informing our development with their perspectives. Our approach makes an emphasis on rural stakeholders, especially young people and women, and involve them in design and decision-making processes, ensuring their voices shape technology that will impact communities.

Objectives:

  1. Actively involve rural stakeholders in scientific research, design, and development of software, workshops, and monitoring frameworks, for example by incorporating citizen science.
  2. Provide preferential rates for our services (B2B and B2C) to rural clients and users, ensuring equitable access to innovative tools and resources.
  3. Facilitate co-creation sessions, round-table discussions, and data collection initiatives to capture not only traditional datasets but also broader insights into the relationships between rural communities and nature.
  4. Enhance the understanding of interactions between rural human and environmental systems, fostering sustainable practices and resilience.
  5. In the case of indigenous communities, ensure that any data is owned by the stewards of nature in situ, and that any business models are ethical, recognising and rewarding their ownership and work.

Concrete Activities:

  • Organise co-creation and co-design workshops with rural and urban stakeholders to design and develop software tools and monitoring frameworks.
  • Conduct citizen science initiatives to engage local communities in data collection and ecosystem monitoring.
  • Host round-table discussions to gather diverse perspectives and integrate them into our scientific research and software development.
  • Publish and share insights from rural ecosystem stakeholders to inform policy-making and sustainable practices.

Impact:

By prioritising inclusivity, ethics, and a more holistic understanding of nature, EcoCitizen aims to empower rural communities, strengthen ecosystem conservation and regeneration, and contribute to the EU Rural Pact's vision of thriving, sustainable rural areas.

Commitment's information

Themes
  • Bioeconomy & circular economy
  • Climate
  • Agriculture and food
  • Digital
  • Education and training
  • Forestry
  • Land use
  • Nature and environment
  • Soil health
  • Research and innovation
  • Spatial planning
  • Stronger Rural Areas
  • Women
  • Youth
    • Stakeholder beneficiary(ies)
    • Academic/research institution
    • Citizen
    • EU Institution
    • International organisation
    • National Rural Network
    • Non-governmental / civil society organisation
    • Private Business
    • Public authority
    Activities
    • Communication and/or Advocacy
    • Knowledge sharing
    • Networking activities
    • Events
    • Research or/& evaluation
    • Capacity Building
    Expected Outcomes

    Milestones

    Year 1: Foundation and Engagement

    • Milestone 1: Establish partnerships with at least 5 rural communities, NGOs, educational institutions and local governments to identify key stakeholders, including women and young people, for co-creation initiatives.
    • Milestone 2: Launch the first round of co-creation workshops and round-table discussions in 3 rural areas, focusing on identifying local ecosystem challenges and data needs.
    • Milestone 3: Develop and pilot a citizen science program in one rural community, engaging at least 50 participants in data collection and ecosystem monitoring.
    • Milestone 4: Define ethical data ownership and business models in collaboration with indigenous communities, ensuring their input is central to the process.

    Year 2: Implementation and Scaling

    • Milestone 5: Finalize and launch the first version of a software tool co-designed with rural stakeholders, incorporating citizen science data and multi-dimensional indicators.
    • Milestone 6: Expand citizen science initiatives to 3 additional rural communities, engaging at least 200 participants in total.
    • Milestone 7: Host 5 round-table discussions with rural and urban stakeholders to foster dialogue and integrate diverse perspectives into ongoing research and development.
    • Milestone 8: Provide preferential rates for services to at least 10 rural clients (B2B and B2C), ensuring equitable access to tools and resources.

    Year 3: Consolidation and Impact

    • Milestone 9: Publish a comprehensive report on insights gathered from rural ecosystem stakeholders, including policy recommendations for sustainable practices.
    • Milestone 10: Scale the software tool to 10 rural communities, with at least 500 active users, and integrate feedback for continuous improvement.
    • Milestone 11: Establish a sustainable business model for indigenous communities, ensuring they are recognized and rewarded for their data stewardship and contributions.
    • Milestone 12: Conduct an impact assessment to measure the effectiveness of the tools and initiatives in fostering sustainable practices and resilience in rural areas.

    Final Outcomes

    1. Empowered Rural Communities:
      • At least 1,000 rural stakeholders, including women and young people, actively participate in co-creation workshops, citizen science initiatives, and round-table discussions.
      • Rural communities report increased capacity to monitor and manage their ecosystems sustainably.
    2. Inclusive and Accessible Tools:
      • A co-designed software tool is widely adopted in at least 10 rural communities, with preferential rates ensuring accessibility for underserved areas.
      • At least 20 rural clients (B2B and B2C) benefit from discounted services, enhancing their ability to leverage innovative tools.
    3. Ethical Data Ownership:
      • Indigenous communities have full ownership of their data, with ethical business models in place to recognize and reward their contributions.
      • At least 3 indigenous communities actively participate in data stewardship and benefit from equitable partnerships.
    4. Policy and Practice Impact:
      • Insights from rural ecosystem data inform at least 5 policy recommendations or initiatives at local, national, or EU levels.
      • Published reports and case studies contribute to broader knowledge sharing and best practices for sustainable rural development.
    5. Strengthened Rural-Urban Links:
      • Round-table discussions and collaborative initiatives foster stronger connections between rural and urban stakeholders, promoting mutual understanding and shared goals.
      • At least 3 joint projects between rural and urban stakeholders are initiated as a result of these efforts.
    6. Sustainable Practices and Resilience:
      • Rural communities demonstrate measurable improvements in ecosystem health and resilience, supported by data-driven tools and practices.
      • At least 80% of participating communities report adopting sustainable practices as a result of the initiatives.

    Organisation/Company information

    EcoCitizen

    Academic/research institution
    • 11-50
    • International
    TOPICS OF INTEREST
    Research and innovation, Nature and environment, Forestry, Agriculture and food, Bioeconomy & circular economy, Climate, Connected rural areas, Digital, Education and training
    Status
    Ongoing
    Funding
    Commitment's fund
    EU funds, National funding, Private funding
    Further details
    Scope of action
    International
    Beneficiary country
    Luxembourg
    Type of territories
    Rural area, Remote rural area, Urban area, Inland area