Facilitating Grassroots Transformation: The Systemic Role of Facilitation in Supporting Participatory and Adaptive Culture in Ecovillages

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School of Arts, Design and Architecture | Master's thesis
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Date

2025-05-26

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Major/Subject

Creative Sustainability

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Degree programme

Master's Programme in Creative Sustainability

Language

en

Pages

134

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Abstract

In response to environmental concerns related to climate change and the need for a life aligned with one’s values, an increasing number of people have begun to seek more sustainable lifestyles that provide a sense of belonging and sharing. In this context, the Global Ecovillage Network (GEN) has emerged and continues to expand. Ecovillages are intentional communities that systemically embed sustainability into every aspect of life. The creation and long-term sustainability of such ecological settlements require a significant commitment to self-improvement and relational dynamics (GEN Europe, 2017). Indeed, the social sphere serves as the primary foundation of these eco-realities, facilitating the functioning of the ecological, economic, and cultural dimensions of sustainability (Dias & Loureiro, 2019). To sustain ecovillage regenerative projects, facilitation equips the community with tools not only to conduct meetings but also to build the capacity to collaborate, communicate, and manage conflict. This thesis explores how facilitation contributes to the sustenance of ecovillages, delving into its roles, tasks, and generated impact. Specifically, the case of CLIPS (Community Learning Incubator Programme for Sustainability) is examined. This is a project born from the need for emerging ecovillages to be supported in building solid foundations, and which today offers guidance to European communities at every stage of their development. The data collection was structured in two phases. The first phase involved studying the CLIPS guide and website and interviewing four facilitators from the Italian CLIPS network. The second part of the research was conducted at Torri Superiore ecovillage (Italy), gathering data through participant observation during the CLIPS training course, volunteering in community practices, and semi-structured interviews with six residents and four course participants. The findings reveal that the role of facilitation in ecovillages is characterised by various nuances, ranging from participatory decision-making to the promotion of individual and collective growth, including strategic planning, capacity building, conflict management, and the recognition of power and rank. Here, facilitation emerges as a lever for personal and cultural transformation, fostering the development of adaptive, evolutionary, and self-regulatory capacities within the community. The research also highlights that the approach used by the CLIPS method is grounded in systems thinking, which views the group as a living system composed of individuals and relational dynamics. The thesis situates the findings within a broader theme of grassroots sustainability transitions, emphasising how facilitation in ecovillages fosters the development and nurturing of cultural niches for experimenting with regenerative practices. In particular, the CLIPS approach, which holistically supports ecovillage projects, appears to be valuable for sustainable living and systemic change-oriented design. Finally, this thesis reveals the need for further exploring concrete strategies and practices employed in ecovillages and opens a reflection on the role of facilitation in broader transitions towards sustainability.

Description

Supervisor

Botero Cabrera, Andrea

Thesis advisor

Villaman, Natalia

Keywords

ecovillages, facilitation, participation, systems thinking, sustainability transitions, regenerative culture

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https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:aalto-202506174807

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[master] Taiteiden ja suunnittelun korkeakoulu / ARTS