Coordination (how we are as a society)
Coordination Systems for Regenerating Local Communities
Introduction
Regenerating a local village or valley involves implementing diverse coordination systems that foster sustainability, resilience, and community well-being. This article explores various approaches to achieve these goals, each contributing uniquely to the holistic regeneration of local areas.
Regenerative agriculture focuses on restoring soil health, increasing biodiversity, and improving ecosystem services through practices such as no-till farming, cover cropping, and rotational grazing. These methods enhance soil fertility, sequester carbon, and increase water retention.
Flexible Schooling
Flexible schooling provides education tailored to the needs of individual students and the community. It integrates outdoor learning, vocational training, and community-based projects, fostering practical skills and a connection to local culture and environment.
Sociocracy is a governance system that emphasizes equality and collective decision-making. It uses a circular hierarchy, where decisions are made by consent rather than majority vote, ensuring that every voice is heard and valued.
Alternative currencies, such as local currencies or time banks, support local economies by keeping wealth within the community. These currencies encourage local trade and strengthen community ties by valuing time and skills equally.
The circular economy promotes sustainable production and consumption by designing out waste and keeping products and materials in use. It involves recycling, repairing, and repurposing materials to create a closed-loop system.
Doughnut economics, proposed by Kate Raworth, balances essential human needs with the planet’s ecological boundaries. It provides a framework for sustainable development that ensures no one falls short on life’s essentials while not exceeding the earth’s capacity to sustain us.
Citizen dashboards are digital platforms that provide real-time data on various community metrics, such as energy use, water consumption, and air quality. These dashboards enable informed decision-making and community engagement in sustainability efforts.
Participatory budgeting allows community members to decide how to allocate a portion of the municipal budget. This democratic process ensures that funds are used in ways that reflect the community’s needs and priorities.
Federalism and Cantons (Swiss System)
The Swiss federal system divides the country into semi-autonomous regions called cantons, each with its own constitution and government. This decentralized approach allows for local decision-making and tailored policies that address specific regional needs.
Bioregionalism advocates for living within the natural boundaries of a region, rather than political ones. It promotes sustainable living practices that are adapted to the local ecosystem, culture, and resources, fostering a deep connection to the environment.
Agroecology
Agroecology integrates agricultural and ecological principles, promoting sustainable farming practices that work in harmony with nature. It emphasizes biodiversity, ecological resilience, and the social aspects of farming.
Permaculture is a design system that creates sustainable human habitats by following natural patterns and principles. It integrates land, resources, people, and the environment through mutually beneficial synergies, focusing on sustainability and self-sufficiency.
Community Land Trusts (CLTs)
CLTs are non-profit organizations that acquire and manage land for the benefit of the community. They ensure long-term affordable housing, sustainable land use, and community stewardship.
Transition Towns
Transition towns are grassroots community initiatives that aim to increase local resilience and reduce dependence on fossil fuels. They focus on localizing food production, generating renewable energy, and building community networks.
Food Sovereignty
Food sovereignty emphasizes the right of communities to control their own food systems, including the production, distribution, and consumption of food. It supports local farming, traditional knowledge, and sustainable practices.
Urban Agriculture
Urban agriculture involves growing food within cities, utilizing rooftops, community gardens, and vacant lots. It increases food security, reduces food miles, and provides green spaces for urban residents.
Ecovillages
Ecovillages are intentional communities designed to be socially, economically, and ecologically sustainable. They integrate green building, renewable energy, and communal living to create a low-impact lifestyle.
Local Energy Cooperatives
Local energy cooperatives are community-owned organizations that produce and distribute renewable energy. They promote energy independence, reduce carbon emissions, and keep profits within the community.
Time Banking
Time banking is a reciprocal service exchange system where hours of service are the currency. It values everyone’s time equally, fostering a sense of community and mutual support.
Commoning
Commoning is the practice of managing resources collectively by the community. It involves shared stewardship of natural resources, cultural assets, and digital commons, promoting sustainable and equitable use.
Cooperative Businesses
Cooperative businesses are owned and operated by their members, who share the profits and decision-making. They prioritize community benefit over profit, promoting local economic resilience and social equity.
Local Resilience Networks
Local resilience networks connect individuals, organizations, and businesses to share resources, knowledge, and support. They enhance community resilience by fostering collaboration and preparedness for environmental and economic challenges.
Conclusion
Implementing these coordination systems can significantly contribute to the regeneration of local villages and valleys. By fostering sustainability, resilience, and community well-being, these approaches create a holistic framework for thriving, sustainable communities.
There’s a lot more on this topic to unpack. If you’re interested in more detail – read on:
Here’s an expanded and enriched version of your Coordination article for https://growyourfood.africa/wiki/coordination/, written in the same voice and purpose-driven tone as the rest of the Grow Your Food wiki. It broadens the scope, adds examples, reduces repetition of the word “coordination”, and introduces global case studies, recommended resources, and actionable insights.
Strong Communities Organise Themselves
The future belongs to organised people. Just like nature flourishes when ecosystems are interconnected, human communities thrive when individuals work together towards shared goals. The greatest challenge facing many villages, towns, and neighbourhoods in Africa today is not a lack of talent or resources—but a lack of structure and trust to bring those talents together in service of the whole.
While governments struggle to reach every corner and project managers get stuck in top-down control, there’s a growing global shift toward self-managed groups that rely on trust, transparency, and regular conversation to make decisions. These are not new ideas—they’re rooted in African traditions of palaver, indaba, and village councils—but they’ve been forgotten in many places and must now be adapted to modern complexity.
How Do We Make Group Decisions That Work?
One of the most powerful tools available today is sociocracy—a method of inclusive governance based on circles, consent, and continuous learning. Unlike voting systems where the majority can override the minority, sociocracy aims for collective clarity. Everyone’s voice is heard, but the group moves forward when there are “no objections” rather than full agreement.
Other modern tools include:
- Holacracy: Designed for organisations and startups, holacracy distributes authority based on roles, not hierarchy.
- Circle practice and talking sticks: Based on indigenous and restorative traditions.
- Dragon Dreaming: A participatory process combining project planning with personal growth and community building.
These tools all work best when paired with regular rhythms: weekly meetings, monthly gatherings, seasonal check-ins. Without rhythm, things fall apart.
Real-World Examples of Community Self-Management
1. Village Homes – Davis, California, USA
This suburban community was designed around permaculture principles in the 1970s. Instead of following the typical grid layout, the planners built winding streets, food forests, and communal decision-making systems. Residents still manage green spaces, irrigation, and pathways together—without relying on external authorities.
2. The Barefoot College – Rajasthan, India
In remote parts of India, this college trains women to become solar engineers, water testers, and village leaders. The project uses bottom-up decision-making led by local councils, with elders and youth involved. It shows how trust and training go hand in hand.
3. Eco Caminhos – Brazil
A regenerative farm and training centre that practices sociocracy to manage everything from food growing to volunteer schedules. Decisions are made in circles, with clearly defined roles, visual task boards, and regular reflection sessions.
4. The Transition Network – Global
Started in the UK, the Transition movement supports towns and cities in building resilience and local control. From food co-ops to community-owned energy, each local initiative runs autonomously but connects through a shared learning network.
5. Namibia’s Traditional Councils
Long before colonial structures, many Namibian communities had layered governance systems: elders, chiefs, healers, and farmers each playing a role. These can be rebuilt and modernised to combine ancestral wisdom with tools like sociocracy and digital communication.
Recommended Books
- “Many Voices One Song” by Ted Rau & Jerry Koch-Gonzalez A practical guide to sociocratic governance, filled with templates and examples.
- “Reinventing Organizations” by Frederic Laloux Describes how forward-thinking organisations operate without traditional hierarchies.
- “The Empowerment Manual” by Starhawk A spiritual and practical guide to building effective, healthy groups—especially for changemakers and activists.
- “Designing Regenerative Cultures” by Daniel Christian Wahl Goes beyond sustainability to explore how cultures can thrive long-term, starting from local communities.
Must-Watch Videos
- 🎥 Introduction to Sociocracy (8 min – clear and practical)
- 🎥 How to Run a Circle Meeting by Sociocracy For All
- 🎥 Reinventing Organizations Animated Summary
- 🎥 The Village Homes Story
Start Small, Grow Steady
Building shared leadership in a community doesn’t require permission or large funding. You can start with:
- A group of 3–7 people meeting every week.
- Clear roles (note-taker, facilitator, communicator).
- A circle format: everyone speaks, no one dominates.
- Transparent task lists on paper or a wall.
- Decisions made by consent—not majority vote.
Use language that makes sense locally. Avoid academic or foreign terms unless they’re clearly explained. For example, instead of saying “sociocracy”, you might call it “team circles” or “shared decision meetings”.
Tools to Help You
- Loomio.org – Online tool for group discussion and decision-making.
- Sociocracy For All – Training, templates, and case studies.
- Dragon Dreaming Project Design – A method that connects dreams to action plans.
- Kumu.io – A free tool for mapping relationships, networks, and projects visually.
Why This Matters
Without strong local structures, even the best ideas fail. Seeds dry up, water projects break down, training is forgotten. But when a village or urban group self-organises, it becomes more powerful than any NGO, donor, or political leader.
Africa’s future depends not only on what we grow, but on how we work together. Let’s rediscover the power of shared leadership, deepen our roots in tradition, and grow structures that can outlast crises.
