A local learning ecosystem (LLE) brings together civil society organizations, local authorities, universities, schools, teachers, and engaged citizens to co-create inclusive, participatory learning initiatives and contribute to DECITEL outputs with local stakeholders involved by the DECITEL consortium members and actively supporting the out-of-school dimension of citizenship education. The role of the LLE includes supporting co-creation exchange of practices, promoting civic engagement, fostering social responsibility, and enhancing local capacity for citizenship education. The desired future impact with LLEs is to create a model that embodies citizenship education in everyday social and institutional life.

Through identifying and mapping all relevant stakeholders who will be involved in the LLEs, the partnership will engage with these stakeholders to understand their needs, gather input, and build collaborative relationships. Effective stakeholder engagement is crucial for ensuring the toolkit is relevant, comprehensive, and widely supported. Based on the insights gathered from stakeholders, the project team will design a toolkit that provides resources, guidelines, and best practices for creating and maintaining LLEs. This toolkit will be designed to support the practical implementation of democratic Citizenship Education at the local level. Once the toolkit is designed, it will be tested in pilot environments to assess its effectiveness, usability, and impact. Feedback from these tests will be used to refine and improve the toolkit.

Lastly, the project team will develop and model LLEs based on the toolkit. This involves creating detailed plans and models for implementing these ecosystems in various local contexts. The aim is to provide a replicable framework that schools and communities can use to foster democratic Citizenship Education through collaborative, real-world learning experiences. These models will serve as examples and inspiration for other communities looking to establish their own LLE.