LODIRAS

Bringing together local administrations and the social economy for a sustainable rural future.

What is LODIRAS?

LODIRAS is an innovative project that seeks to strengthen the link between local administrations and Social and Solidarity Economy (SSE) structures in rural areas. In the face of current climate and social challenges, the project promotes the SSE as a key tool to put people at the centre and foster environmentally respectful local development.

Through a research-action methodology, LODIRAS is co-constructing a hybrid training programme designed to enable elected representatives, technical staff and SSE organisations to speak the same language and work together on sustainable local solutions.

Why do we do it?

Our societies are facing an urgent need for a just socio-ecological transition. However, in rural areas, there is a significant gap:

• Disconnection: Local administrations often lack awareness of the potential of the SSE to address challenges such as employment, housing or waste management.
• Lack of tools: SSE organisations in rural areas sometimes lack appropriate channels to communicate their projects to policy-makers.
• Territorial inequality: While information flows more easily in urban contexts, rural areas require high-quality, attractive training resources tailored to their specific realities.

Target groups

The project is specifically designed to impact:

• Elected representatives: Mayors and councillors from rural municipalities who make direct decisions affecting their territories.
• Technical staff: Municipal secretaries and area technicians who implement public policies and maintain daily contact with citizens.
• SSE organisations: Rural entrepreneurs and associations that energise local economies through sectors such as tourism, social care or environmental action.

The value of transnational cooperation

LODIRAS emerges from the partnership between Spain and France, two leading countries in the development and regulation of the Social and Solidarity Economy. This cooperation allows us to:

• Exchange successful tools and diagnostics between both countries.
• Strengthen European networks of social economy experts.
• Develop a replicable methodology that can be applied in other European Union territories through platforms such as EPALE.