The Relevance and Success of Co-Production in Local Governance (CO-SUCCESS)

Overview

CO-SUCCESS is an international project funded by the Swiss National Science Foundation that studies the relevance and success of co-production in cities and municipalities across four countries.

What is co-production?

Co-production refers to arrangements in which local civil servants and citizens work together to design and deliver local public services. The goal of co-production is to create innovative solutions to important societal problems.

Who we are

We are a team of international public sector experts in collaborative governance, civic participation and local governance. We are based in Switzerland (ZHAW School of Management and Law, Winterthur), Austria (University for Continuing Education Krems), Germany (University of Stuttgart) and the United Kingdom (Governance International).

What we do

We conduct a large-scale survey with civil servants in all cities and municipalities in the relevant regions. Based on the survey results, we select and carry out in-depth case studies of co-production initiatives in the areas of social and environmental services. By working closely with citizens and public servants, we aim to identify the success factors and challenges of these initiatives.

What we aim for

Our goal is to make local co-production more effective. We aim to provide local governments and civil society with the necessary knowledge to improve their collaborations and provide better services for citizens.

Our territorial focus

Cities and municipalities in:

German and French-speaking cantons
Austria
Baden-Württemberg
Midlands

Our sector-specific focus

During our interviews and case studies, we focus particularly on two key areas of public services:

Environmental services (climate adaption, waste management, circular economy, green spaces etc.)
Services for an aging society (housing, care, social isolation, volunteering, etc.)

What are the benefits for partner municipalities?

Partner municipalities (citizens and local employees) who participate in the project will benefit from:

Evidence-based insights and tailored support

Access to research findings on what makes co-production successful or challenging
Improvement of their own participatory processes through evidence-based insights
Customized feedback and evaluation of local co-production efforts
Opportunities to connect with peers and experts across countries
Enhanced reputation as a champion in participatory governance
Support to test and scale new governance models

Networking and visibility

Opportunities to connect with peers and experts across countries
Enhanced reputation as a champion in participatory governance

Policy Innovation

Support to test and scale new governance models

How can you participate?

Are you a citizen or public sector employee in the relevant areas? Would you like to share your experiences and learn more about the project? Please feel free to contact us. The best way to do so is by emailing Gabriel Gasser (gasg@zhaw.ch).