Co-construction in the field of social welfare (Cocoso)

The Society of Social Psychiatry P. Sakellaropoulos participates as an associated partner in the HORIZON project entitled “Co-construction in the field of social welfare (Cocoso)”, in cooperation with 6 universities and 16 institutions/organizations from the NGO sector and the public sector.

The project aims to create a network dedicated to participation and co-construction as a core dimension of democracy and innovation in social welfare. The project is coordinated by the University Paris Nanterre.

The Society of Social Psychiatry P. Sakellaropoulos will operate as a “Secondment Organization” linked with the field. It will host a PhD candidate for 18 months from the Department of Social Work of the Democritus University of Thrace in order to be connected with the field and the rich experience of the organization in the field.

Doctoral research and training are designed to address the pressing demand for meaningful and efficient participation of citizens involved in social services and policies: services users, practitioners, managers, decision and policy-makers.

Citizens experiencing welfare systems are often subject to one or several factors of inequality and vulnerability, which directly or indirectly hinders their participation. To effectively address contemporary challenges in co-construction of social policies and practices requires the following steps:

• identify different perspectives on participation and co-construction;
• overcome power, trust and management barriers to embed co-construction in policies and services;
• address limitations in co-construction due to vulnerability and cross-sectionality;
• enhance the potential of digital tools for participation.

These tasks will be fulfilled by researchers under close collaboration and supervision of senior academic and industrial partners from different disciplines including social policy, education, sociology, management and history; as well as different sectors such as local authorities and non-for-profit social organisations.

Cocoso will thus contribute to develop:

1. research- and practice-based evidence and knowledge about barriers and facilitators to co-construction;
2. edge-cutting methods to embed co-construction in practice and collaborative research (networking of universities, NGOs, users, local authorities) and
3. effective implementation of co-construction by highly skilled researchers who will be well prepared to face the challenges experienced by organisations and policy-makers in their relationships with vulnerable citizens.

Project number: 101169183
Project name: Co-construction in the field of social welfare
Project acronym: Cocoso
Call: HORIZON-MSCA-2023-DN-01
Topic: HORIZON-MSCA-2023-DN-01-01
Type of action: HORIZON TMA MSCA Doctoral Networks – Industrial Doctorates
Granting authority: European Research Executive Agency
Project starting date: fixed date: 1 January 2025
Project end date: 31 December 2028
Project duration: 48 months

For more information please select the link below:
https://cref.parisnanterre.fr/accueil/cocoso-15-phd-positions-in-2025