Call for Support: Digital Engineer to Co-Create a Portfolio for a New Ecovillage
LiRA is looking for someone to join on a voluntary basis to help shape a peaceful, meaningful future.
By Post Growth Fellow, Konkankoh
The relationship between the West and the Global South is entering a new era that emphasizes human values and dignity. Across continents, young people face social and economic challenges that require urgent attention. To address these disparities, we need deeper knowledge about fostering local socioeconomic vitality by combining community wisdom with innovative academic research.
Introducing LiRA: Living Labs for Live Climate Research, Action, and Learning
LiRA is a platform born from Community-University partnerships being experimented as part of the African Way initiative. It invites co-creation of research methodologies that address barriers and unlock opportunities by integrating Indigenous wisdom, social and natural sciences, local traditions, arts, and storytelling. LiRA’s focus is on restorative climate actions centered on the critical role of green and blue water in restoring Earth’s disrupted water cycle and promoting prosperity.
LiRA hosts real case studies within an action research framework, emphasizing diverse voices and data to support investment in biodiverse living systems as the foundation of a post-extractive, post-growth economy.
Engaging youth and marginalized communities across diverse ecosystems, LIRA builds local capacity for discerning and learning with ‘more-than-human voices’ — ecological, sociocultural, and political dimensions essential for long-term resilience.
Our partnerships span academic fields including economics, agriculture, climate science, ecology, public health, philosophy, and organizational management. By combining indigenous wisdom with scientific knowledge, we design and test business models tailored for a post-growth era.
Our current social enterprise project: Burgau Permaculture Ecovillage
Burgau Ecovillage Project is a practical case study of a fully functional post-growth learning center designed with social permaculture and ecovillage principles. This economic food sovereignty project also serves as hub for green cultural travel and a think tank for low-energy, ecologically aligned living. It layers multiple functions — food production, water stewardship, biodiversity conservation, cultural tourism, and hands-on learning — to create high-value, resilient local economies.
The Burgau Ecovillage Project is part of a broader initiative connecting bioregional mosaic of water cycle restoration projects that use plants as agents of climate and habitat stewardship and livelihood generation. The project invites action research focused on generating evidence to support large-scale investment in biodiverse living systems as the foundation for a real post-growth economy.
Call for shared value collaboration and support
LiRA is seeking a Digital Engineer willing to work with us on a voluntary basis. We are looking for someone who can help co-design a platform and build a portfolio for funders/investors. This portfolio will facilitate the exchange of information on action research and promote Community-University partnerships.
Together, we aim to explore co-creative learning models essential for mutual cooperation in a post-capitalist socioeconomic system.
If you’re interested in shaping a peaceful, meaningful future through economic partnerships, we invite you to collaborate with us.
For further information and to register your interest, please contact
Heide Maria Baden on heidenjoy@gmail.com
