Promising Summer Start: Extra Funding For Research
Researchers are collaborating with knowledge institutions and societal organisations in these projects. This partnership ensures that knowledge is developed and applied to create both scientific and societal impact. Researchers from FGGA are involved in two projects: DeMoCraft and ECCO.Two research projects focused on democracy and citizen collectives have been awarded grants through the 2024 round of the National Science Agenda’s (NWA) ‘Onderzoek op Routes door Consortia (ORC)’. Each project will receive around €6.8 million to get started immediately.
DeMoCraft: Democratic Moral Craftsmanship for Just and Resilient Institutions
In times of major societal change and crisis, it’s crucial that politicians uphold democratic and moral values. DeMoCraft explores the knowledge, skills, attitudes, and practices politicians and officials need to do this.
Led by Leonie Heres of Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, the project also includes a strong representation from Leiden University. Toon Kerkhoff (FGGA – Public Administration) is a Work Package Leader, and Geerten Bogaard (Leiden – Law) is also a co-applicant.
The team investigates what helps or hinders the development of ‘democratic moral craftsmanship’ among politicians and the impact this has on the quality and integrity of (crisis) policymaking. The project aims to enhance public administration’s resilience and rebuild citizen trust by designing interventions that support democratic and moral behavior in governance.
The project brings together five universities, two universities of applied sciences, and 27 societal partners, combining expertise in public administration, organizational science, political science, communication, constitutional and administrative law, and history.
ECCO: Empowering Citizen COllectives in societal transitions
Many Dutch citizens feel they lack control over their lives and surroundings, and trust in government is waning. Meanwhile, the country faces major challenges in housing, liveability, climate, and energy.
ECCO: Empowering Citizen COllectives
Citizen collectives might be part of the solution, helping communities become more resilient and adaptive.
ECCO aims to develop new models, tools, and methods that promote equal collaboration between citizen groups and governments and foster mutual trust. The project emphasises connecting academic research with society.
The grant will help fund 11 PhD positions across universities. From FGGA, Carola van Eijk and Caelesta Braun will supervise one of these doctoral candidates. The PhD research will focus on the dynamics between citizen collectives, (local) governments, and non-participants. Understanding each other’s perspectives and processes is key to avoiding exclusion and ensuring collectives are truly effective.
‘It’s about avoiding talking past each other and instead engaging constructively’, explains Carola. ‘We want to better understand how mutual understanding forms and what supports or hinders it. This funding allows us to do that and strengthen the role of citizen collectives in addressing key societal issues like housing and liveability.’
Carola van Eijk is also one of the project’s Work Package Leaders, ensuring coordination between the various PhD tracks.
The growing knowledge-sharing platform CollectieveKracht, founded by Professor Tine De Moor (Rotterdam School of Management, Erasmus University), will play a key role in the project. ECCO represents a major step toward a future in which citizens and governments jointly shape their communities.
Meeting partners ECCO
https://www.universiteitleiden.nl/en/news/2025/07/a-promising-summer-start-extra-funding-for-research