Commons Convening: Reflections and Pathways for Collaborative Action

Over the past three days, I had the privilege of attending a commons convening that brought together changemakers, activists, government officials and community leaders from across the country. The theme, “Reflect, Discuss, and ACT,” set the tone for what was an enlightening and inspiring series of discussions centered around protecting and sustaining our commons and role of community in that — shared resources essential for community well-being.

Stories of Change: A Chain of Changemakers

The convening opened with powerful stories of change from diverse commons across India. These stories highlighted an important insight: communities are not isolated entities but rather a “Chain of Changemakers.” This perspective gave a new way of thinking about communities, recognizing that the actions of one can inspire and propel others forward, creating a ripple effect of positive change.

Design Principles for Tech and Data

A key discussion centered on the role of technology and data in enabling community-led governance of commons. The design principles emphasized were simple yet profound: tech and data should serve to empower communities, not overpower them. This aligns closely with Reap Benefit approach to civic engagement, where technology is a tool to enable, not replace, grassroots efforts.

The Urgency of Climate Action

In the 21st century, the environment we’ve shaped is pushing back against us, making climate action more urgent than ever. The convening underscored the need for behavioral change, drawing an analogy to how hunting with guns was replaced by shooting with binoculars and cameras — a shift driven by incentives and rewards. The message was clear: new models of behavior must be adopted to ensure sustainability.

IMS: A Framework for Protecting Commons

One of the practical frameworks discussed was IMS — Identification, Management, and Sustaining Resources. This simple yet effective approach reinforced the need for actions & consistent actions and resonated with our philosophy at Reap Benefit: “Solve Small, Dent Big.” Every small action contributes to the larger goal of sustaining our commons.

Building Changemakers: From Individual Suffering to Community Action

Changemakers are often forged in the fires of personal and community suffering. The journey from recognizing individual pain to addressing community needs was illustrated through a powerful example: a community’s need for water led to the creation of an anicut (a small dam), showcasing how local action can lead to sustainable solutions.

The Role of Citizen Groups in Commons Management

An inspiring example came from Bangalore, where citizen groups are leading the way in managing lakes, supported by MOUs with local governance. This collaboration is a model of how governance and community efforts when converged leads to the Sustainable Development. This goes well with our supply side analogy where citizens be in the side of governance and solve problems.

Reality Check: Challenges in Commons Management

Despite existing systems and processes, execution remains a challenge. The solution lies in building capacity and sensitizing communities to the importance of commons. This is why citizen-generated data is vital — it provides the insights needed to manage and sustain commons effectively. Also, communicate the narrative to the larger community the need of action.

Samaajdata: Connecting Data for Commons

At Reap Benefit, we see immense potential in connecting legacy data, user-generated data, and available secondary data to create narratives that drive policy change. Our Samaajdata initiative embodies this approach, aiming to bring dialogue through the integration of diverse data sources. Our recent effort around Dengue hotspot mapping in Bangalore and the user generated data was used with the intersection of climate and rainfall data to build a narrative about the impact of climate change with health in urbanisation.

Building Tech and Data for Commons: Principles and Practices

To build effective tech and data solutions for commons, we must adhere to principles of equality, power balance, and contextual relevance. The need for decentralization and a shift from transactional to relational governance was emphasized — local communities should not only be represented but should actively participate and form committees to manage their commons.

To achieve sustainability through community led governance the key lies in:

1. Access to knowledge and solutions as commons

2. Access to data as commons

3. Access to space as commons

Goes very well with Reap Benefit TOC and the key enablers of change: 1. Local mentors 2. Peer community 3. Knowledge 4. Technology 5. Nudges

Moving Forward: Collaborative Action for a Sustainable Future

The convening validated many of our approaches at Reap Benefit, particularly our belief in bottom-up, community-led solutions. Moving forward, we must continue to unlearn and unstructure outdated methods, empowering youth agency through local actions leading to resilient communities who can take charge of their commons.

Call to Collaboration

As we reflect on these learnings, it’s clear that collaboration is key. I invite all those committed to sustainable development, civic engagement, and community empowerment to join us in this journey. Together, we can create resilient communities and ensure that our commons are protected for future generations.