Toolkit
The Co‑City Toolkit translates the framework’s five principles into practical mechanisms that support collaborative governance in action. The tools fall into four categories—institutional, legal, financial, and digital—and are designed to be adapted to local contexts and community needs. Rather than prescribing a fixed model, the toolkit offers flexible structures that help cities and communities build and sustain co‑governance systems.
Tools
Institutional tools refer to the governance arrangements that enable coordination and collective management of shared resources. They go beyond individual projects or community initiatives by creating structures that support collaboration, ensure accessibility, and sustain commons‑based systems over time.
Our empirical research shows that the institutional ecosystem of a Co‑City can include several forms of co‑governance at different scales, such as:
- Policy Innovation Labs
- Collaborative Districts
- Collaborative Working Hubs
- Collaborative Housing
These institutional arrangements help cities and communities organize participation, align stakeholders, and build durable platforms for shared stewardship.
Legal tools provide the formal mechanisms that support resource pooling and shared stewardship. They include contractual and institutional instruments that structure collaboration among multiple actors — often three to five partners — and help make shared resources more available, accessible, and affordable to a broader range of residents.
Examples of legal tools used in Co‑City contexts include:
- Public–Community Pacts
- Urban Civic Uses
- Land Banks (LB)
- Community Land Trusts (CLT)
- Neighborhood Investment Trusts
These mechanisms create enabling conditions for co‑governance by clarifying roles, establishing rights and responsibilities, and ensuring long‑term protection of community assets.
Financial tools support the development of collaborative urban infrastructure and services by enabling diverse forms of social project financing. These mechanisms reflect the principle of pooling economies: they attract funding from multiple actors and segments of society, channel resources toward shared goals, and help sustain community‑driven initiatives over time.
Examples of financial tools used in Co‑City contexts include:
- Crowdfunding and Civic Financing
- Solidarity Funding
- Social Bonds and Social Impact Investing
By mobilizing resources collaboratively, financial tools strengthen the capacity of residents and stakeholders to partner for the general interest and build durable, equitable systems of shared stewardship.
Digital and technological tools support collaboration by connecting actors, enabling communication, and expanding access to shared resources. Reflecting the Tech Justice principle, these tools help reduce inequalities by improving connectivity, broadening access to information, and making participation easier for residents and institutions. When designed to be open and inclusive, digital systems strengthen co‑governance by allowing communities to coordinate action, share data, and build solutions together.
Examples of digital and technological tools used in Co‑City contexts include:
- Digital Platforms
- Local Networks & Connectivity
- Open Data Portals
- Participatory Mapping Tools
- Community Wi‑Fi Initiatives
- Digital Civic Engagement Platforms
These tools enhance transparency, support coordination, and help communities participate fully in shared stewardship of urban resources.