Experimentation with new models of collaboration among different stakeholders in Arantzazulab
Aranzazulab is developing with 14 other local organisations, within the framework of the co-creation ecosystem, the knowledge to rethink the relations between civil society and institutions.
In order to deepen Collaborative Governance, it is necessary to rethink, make more effective and strengthen the relationships between civil society and institutions; as well as to create new networks, spaces and models of collaboration. This is one of the objectives of the co-creation ecosystem promoted by Arantzazulab, which held its second meeting this year on 13 July.
The previous year, in December, Arantzazulab launched a new call to experiment with the new structures and models to create networks between different actors. Twenty people from 14 organisations are involved and we are organised in five working groups: orientation and promotion; building connections and relationships; experimentation; observation and evaluation; and connectors group.
Drawing on cutting-edge practice and on the main international ecosystem building trends, the aim is to deepen collaborative governance, among other things, to establish relationships between institutions and civil society. Ultimately, the ultimate goal of these collaborative networks is also to amplify individual impact, generate collective responses and strengthen social capital.
Based on experimentation and collective sense making, some key elements of the ecosystem promoted by Arantzazulab are being reflected upon are the followign: what are the roles, leadership styles, organisational models, capacities, tools, mechanisms and spaces necessary for people, civil society with diverse points of views and experiences to listen, deliberate and act together? What are the conditions for generating shared leadership from individual leadership? What are the necessary resources and new financing models to sustain this type of networks over time and have a sustainable impact?
They have begun to experiment with new organisational forms to respond to these questions and challenges, incorporating innovations in the process and developing new knowledge from both reflection and practice. In the last meeting, each of the 5 working groups shared and contrasted their work with the rest of the members. In this sense, the orientation and promotion group has presented the ecosystem strategy, the mission and governance model, as well as the network decision-making method. The networks and connections team carried out a mapping to make stakeholders and projects visible and explore links, and proposed a session in the Bilbao Design Week initiative. Likewise, the observation and evaluation team proposed an innovative approach to measure the impact of the ecosystem and the processes’ evaluation. On the other hand, the experimentation group has shared the work done to deepen the approach to the systemic approach. In addition, the team that connects the groups (the connectors group) has been in charge of sharing information between the groups and has carried out the design and facilitation of the session.
The different groups are taking productive steps, and in the coming months they will put this knowledge at the service of organisations and social actors who want to deepen their understanding of collaborative governance and ecosystem innovation activation. The next meeting will be in September!
The co-creation ecosystem is integrated by Arantzazulab, Apitropik, Beta, Colaborabora, Elhuyar, Emun, Farapi, Impact Hub Donostia, JM Aholkularitza, Kutxa Fundazioa, Maraka, Pez estudio, Tipi and Wikitoki.