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Community Currency Implementation Framework

Version: November 2013

This Community Currency Implementation Framework has been produced by Qoin, Spice and the New Economics Foundation. It is part of the Community Currencies in Action (CCIA) partnership. The CCIA partnership leads the way in sharing knowledge and best practice on professional Community Currencies that enable vibrant and prosperous communities. It designs, develops and implements Community Currencies across North West Europe. And it provides a rigorously package of support structures to facilitate the development of Community Currencies and promote Community Currencies as a credible (policy) vehicle for achieving positive outcomes. CCIA is part funded through INTERREG IVB North West Europe (NWE), a financial instrument of the EUs Cohesion Policy - Investing in Opportunities. For more information, see: www.communitycurrenciesinaction.eu

This framework is created by the Community Currencies in Action Project: www.ccia.eu

Compiled by:

Qoin www.qoin.org (Edgar Kampers and Rob van Hilten)

Spice www.justaddspice.org (Becky Booth)

The New Economics Foundation www.neweconomics.org (Leander Bindewald)

Building on the contributions from:

Social Trade Organisation www.socialtrade.org (Henk van Arkel)

Arthur Brock www.lifeblooddesign.com

John Rogers www.valueforpeople.co.uk

Bernard Lietaer www.lietaer.com and Gwendolyn Hallsmith

MonNetA www.monneta.org (Ludwig Schuster)

Scott Morris www.mylocal.coop

Community Forge www.communityforge.net (Tim Anderson)

If you change or add elements, or build your own version of this framework, we kindly request you to send your changes or suggestions to ccia@neweconomics.org. This allows us to add your insights to this framework.

Community Currency Implementation Framework

In each phase, you describe, plan or execute many generic elements that are important for every successful project and others that are specific to a community currency project.

We will first run you through the phases and then go into some detail for each element. These elements can broadly be divided into 6 categories

Stage A Phase 1: Exploration Phase 2: Concept Phase 3: Feasibility Phase 4: Project planning

Stage B Phase 5: Implementation

Phase 6: Piloting

Stage C Phase 7: Replicate or Scale-up or Terminate

The framework is structured in 7 phases across 3 stages:

Community Currency Implementation Framework

Specific Currency design elements Aesthetics Dynamics

Aims, Objectives Partners, Stakeholders, Users Generic Project Planning Elements

5. B

uild

ing

Iterative Rounds 1. Exploration 2. Concept 3. Feasibility 4. Project Planning

Stop Terminate

6. Pilot

Demonstration (soft) launch

Replicate

Scale up

Stage A Phase 1-4

Stage B Phase 5 Phase 6

Stage C Phase 7

CCIF Overview: 3 Stages, 7 Phases

Stage A: Planning

Bu

ildin

g

Iterative rounds of 4 phases: Exploration Concept Feasibility Preparation

Stop Terminate

Pilot

Demonstration (soft) Launch

Replicate

Scale up

Stage A Phase 1-4

Stage B Phase 5 Phase 6

Stage C Phase 7

The 4 phases in Stage A each require the completion of the circular process shown below. Each iteration will revisit the same elements, adding more detail to the currency design and finishing with a completed project plan:

1. Exploration

2. Concept

3. Feasibility

4. Project planning

Stage A: 4 iterative Phases

Overall aims

Project Plan

Stakeh

old

ers

Project specific objectives

Partn

ers

End

use

rs

Currency Model

Stage A Phase 1: Exploration

- What should we start with? Create initial overall aims & potential objectives

Map the potential end-users & partners

Sketch the currency model

Estimate the costs and prepare project plan

Get commitment from initiator to move to the next phase

- Deliverables: Exploration 1 pager + presentation with draft flow diagram

Plan for Concept Phase

Stage A Phase 2: Concept

- What will the currency project look like? Invite end-users & partners to help with the design process

Find common base between stakeholders. Collectively describe overall aims & SMART objectives.

Who is missing? Detailed description of end-users & partners

Describe the concept of the currency model and start to map specific elements

Describe the generic project elements

Identify feasibility issues for next phase

Create milestone plan, funding overview, implementation brainstorm

Get commitment for next phase

- Deliverables: Concept 5-pager + presentation with flow diagram

Plan for Feasibility Phase

Stage A Phase 3: Feasibility

- What is possible? Research the feasibility of the generic project elements (e.g. legal, IT, finance,

marketing) -> This may lead to adaptions of the currency model!

Consolidate Partnership

Create a detailed project plan (turnaround time, milestones, staff needs)

Create funding plan (investments, grants, crowd-funding)

Get commitment for the next phase

- Deliverables: Feasibility 10-pager + presentation

Plan for Project Planning Phase

Stage A Phase 4: Project Planning

- What is needed to start implementing? Finalise full project implementation plan

Realization + production + output planning

Get the partnership agreement signed

Recruit staff to run the operational organisation

Create initiation pack for target area/group/market

Secure funding

Ensure everything is ready, and what is the contingency plan?

- Deliverables:

Detailed project implementation plan + presentation

Stage B: Implementation

Bu

ildin

g

Iterative rounds of 4 phases: Exploration Concept Feasibility Preparation

Stop Terminate

Pilot

Demonstration (soft) Launch

Replicate

Scale up

Stage A Phase 1-4

Stage B Phase 5 Phase 6

Stage C Phase 7

- What happens? Establish governance structure

Sign contracts + Appoint audit/accountancy (if required)

Establish project team + Train staff and partners on admin processes

Establish project administration processes and procedures, including reporting

Design and create currency administration processes

Commission and/or configure and test the payment platform and other IT

Design and print currency notes (if required)

Develop visual identity and publicity materials + Organise promotional events

Start pre-campaign: pre-register businesses, organisations and users

Implement evaluation framework + Collect baseline data

- Deliverables:

Pilot plan, Pilot is ready to start

Stage B Phase 5: Implementation

- What happens? Activate Admin systems + training

Payment platform and other IT is being used

PR and marketing campaigns

- Development and dissemination of PR and marketing materials

- Publicity campaigns + Press releases

- Promotional and introductory events

Sign-up of pilot end-users

- Sign-up and train end-users

- Sign up more partners, businesses, organisations, etc.

- On-going support

Stimulate Currency Circulation: (depending on model) bonus / malus, hoarding fee, brokerage etc.

On-going monitoring and reporting: review of Stage A and Phase 5

Stage B Phase 6: Piloting

Stage C: Replicate Scale up - Terminate

Bu

ildin

g

Iterative rounds of 4 phases: Exploration Concept Feasibility Preparation

Stop Terminate

Pilot

Demonstration (soft) launch

Replicate

Scale up

Stage A Phase 1-4

Stage B Phase 5 Phase 6

Stage C Phase 7

Option 1: Replicate - The currency achieved its aims and there is demand to replicate the same model in

other geographical areas or communities

Option 2: Scale-up - The currency is achieving it aims and the currency can be enlarged over a wider

geographical area or to more (inclusive) communities, covering new themes, incorporating new objectives and/or reaching out to new end-users

Option 3:Terminate - The currency did not achieve its aims and there is collective agreement to terminate the

currency project after the pilot period

Stage C Phase 7: Replicate Scale up - Terminate

Currency Implementation Elements:

Overall aims

Project Plan (Generics)

Stakeh

old

ers

Project specific objectives

Partn

ers

End

use

rs

Currency Model

(Specifics)

Currency Implementation Elements:

Aims, Objectives the elements describe the high level ambitions and set currency objectives

Users, Partners, Other stakeholders the elements clarify who is involved, what they need and what they should do