Publications

Here, we publish the results of our extensive fieldwork and research. Many are referenced in the official reports by the United Nations Secretary-General and the European Commission and become the source of policy-making at the European and international levels.

Lockdown Economy Report: How Entrepreneurs Worldwide Navigated the COVID-19 Pandemic

In 2020 Think Tank AlterContacts launched the Lockdown Economy, an international non-profit grassroots social-economic and educational initiative to help small businesses and self-employed professionals overcome the challenges of the pandemic and reactivate the economy. This report includes the results and insights: Country reports, Case-studies, and Articles by the volunteers. Access the full PDF on ResearchGate.

Towards Circular 2024: Analysis of the coastal areas of Greece, Italy and Spain

This collection of articles presents the desktop research a team of twenty online United Nations Volunteers conducted on various aspects of the circular economy, focusing on the coastal areas of Greece, Italy, and Spain. Our in-house expert team framed this research based on the findings of the fieldwork in the areas started in December 2023. Access the full PDF on ResearchGate.

Reviving Rural Europe: A Sustainable Vision for 2040 and Beyond

In an era marked by hypergrowth, a pressing need arises to address the challenges of overcrowded cities and underdeveloped rural territories within the European Union. The article invites readers to consider the potential of rural alternatives and a shift towards a more balanced and equitable future. Press here to read the article

Report from the SDG Networking Forum 2023

AlterContacts' SDG Networking Forum 2023 united 80 delegates worldwide to advance Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) related to clean water, clean energy, innovation, sustainable cities, and partnerships. It facilitated dialogue, showcased projects, and generated valuable insights. Read here

mOther Earth Reports

Rebuilding the Social Fabric of Rural Villages in Spain

Strategic plan for the government of Galicia, Spain, a sustainable ecosystem of "villages of the future" to address the demographic crisis of the region. Portfolio of 26 projects in three phases: a network of Living Labs, prototypes of sustainably-integrated business models, and public-private partnerships aimed at setting the social and economic conditions for a gradual repopulation in less than a decade. Press here to learn more

Fieldwork in Aldeas Modelo, Spain

In October 2022, Think Tank AlterContacts conducted fieldwork in five villages that are part of the program Aldeas Modelo. The objective of the fieldwork was to collect data supporting a set of project proposals to recreate the socio-economic fabric of the rural areas of Galicia. Press here to find the results of the fieldwork

Altercontacts co-founder Julia Skupchenko working with a group of children in the elementary school of Silleda, Spain

Community dialogue starts with the youngest

We asked 260 children between 3 and 12 years old how they see the future of their village. All the children are students of the public primary and nursery school CEIP Plurilingüe de Silleda located in a region of Spain - Galicia. The event was part of the United Nations registered initiative - mOther Earth. Press here to read the report on the event

artesania rural de la comunidad de Silleda, en Galicia

Fieldwork in Silleda, Spain

In October 2022, our co-founder carried out fieldwork in the village of Silleda, Galicia. We are very grateful to the wonderful people of Galicia for their hospitality, good spirit, and sharing their love for the region. Here we introduce local organizations and businesses. Press here to read the results of the fieldwork

Sustainable Corporate Villages

On November 16, at the 7th Future Workplaces Summit by Luxatia International, the co-founders of Think Tank AlterContacts hosted a workshop to explore how Sustainable Corporate Villages can become the Workplace of the Future. Together with 35 participants and an open dialogue, they explored the path to realizing this part of the mOther Earth program. Press here to read the reports from the events

Initial Concept Note

mOther Earth is an international program to revive rural areas by mobilizing local youth and contributing to a green, digital and resilient recovery of their economy. It is officially recognized and published by the United Nations as the SDG Acceleration Action #SDGAction46967. One of the phases of the program was rolled out in rural Spain as Villages of the Future - Las Aldeas del Futuro. Press here to read more in English.

Leer mas del programa en Español aqui.

Familias Emprendedoras

Propuesta para fomentar el espíritu emprendedor en la comunidades rurales y menos privilegiadas, mediante la formación técnica para la identificación de oportunidades y el desarrollo de unidades productivas; que les permita a las familias la generación de ingresos y el mejoramiento de la calidad de vida de sus integrantes. El líder de esta iniciativa es el Dr. Lucimio Jiménez Paternina, Decano de la Facultad de Ciencias Económicas y Administrativas, CECAR, Colombia. Press here to read more

Laboratorio de Innovación Ciudadana en Colombia

Citizen-driven, social innovation laboratory to address institutional gaps in the justice system of the country. AlterContacts delivered the high-level design of the lab, the systemic plan for public engagement, and the project plan, to the Procuraduría General de la Nación de Colombia. Press here to read the project proposal

ICSD Conference Publications

Informing Policymaking on Rural Development through Community Dialogue and Children Participation

The EU Rural Vision 2040 identifies ten shared goals to help rural communities reachtheir full potential in the coming decades. Many questions remain to be answered: How can the European Unionrevive rural areas? Will they follow the blueprint of the cities? Would people come tovillages to live if they could choose? Is it possible to grow and still be sustainable? More importantly, will the opinions of people who live there be included? Read the full article on ResearchGate.

Systemic Approach to SDG Impact Assessment

Defining a Systemic Approach to SDG Impact Assessment on the Example of Small Enterprises in the Context of Regional and Local Communities.

Abstract on Lockdown Economy Challenge

The paper "Lockdown Economy Challenge as an Enabler for Remote Cross-university Social Action Towards Sustainable Development" was done in collaboration with Epoka University, Anahuac Mayab University, "Dunarea de Jos" University of Galati, Polytechnic University of Madrid, Pontifical Bolivarian University.

Lockdown Economy Country Reports

Lockdown Economy Books

featuring collections of interviews with small business owners from each location. Available to download on ResearchGate.

Bachelor Graduation Project at Epoka University 2020-21

In July 2021, two Bachelor students of Operations Management at Epoka University completed their graduation project based on the Lockdown Economy. On the side of the university, their work was supervised by Dr. Alba Kruja. As a result two graduation projects were produced:

The Effects of the Covid-19 Pandemic On Albanian MSMEs And the Coping of Albanian MSMEs with the Situation by Rexhina Tare

Lockdown Economy: What was the Impact it had on the Food & Beverages Sector In Europe? by Kleida Sharra

This and more interviews from the field research you can find here.

Master Thesis at Erasmus University Rotterdam 2020-21

From January to July 2021, an MSc student in Global Business & Sustainability at Rotterdam School of Management from the Erasmus University Rotterdam was analyzing field data of Lockdown Economy to see how female entrepreneurs were affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Master's thesis produced:

I am Not a Female Entrepreneur, She Said: Contextualising Female Entrepreneurship in Crisis and Leveraging Diversified Networks by Karen R.

Lockdown Economy Case Studies

Small Business Surviving the COVID-19 Pandemic

A Look at the Tourism Sector in France.

The Plight of Small Businesses in the wake of COVID-19

A case study of a Woman Entrepreneur in Cyprus.

The Downside of Running a Remote Service-based Small Business

Exploring challenges faced by an online sleep consultancy run by a ‘mumpreneur” in Lebanon.

Rethinking the Agricultural Sector after the Pandemic

Here are the key challenges that small agricultural businesses in the United Arab Emirates are facing due to the COVID-19 pandemic and how the government can help.

The Future of Small Businesses is Hybrid

A small consultancy firm in Malta shares from its privileged observatory the opportunities and difficulties of being a small company during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Case-Study of a Female Entrepreneur in Canada

Overcoming Challenges Faced by Small Businesses During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

The Repercussions of the COVID-19 on a Romania-based Web-Design Business

While the gig economy is quickly gaining ground among students and employees, its effects entail a double burden that inflicts both psychological and organizational repercussions on a Romania-based Web Design company.

Small Business in Romania Started During the Pandemic

Amid the COVID-19 crisis, when most of the businesses were shutting down, some HORECA entrepreneurs defied the market trends and took the leap of faith.

The Power of Doing Nothing: What I Learned in a Pandemic

In this story, the small business owner from Paris reflects on her experience of sustaining her cooking school through the pandemic.

The Food and Beverage Industry in the Lockdown Economy

Herein, thirty interviews including three follow-ups of small business owners from thirteen countries, conducted by Lockdown Economy from June 2020 to April 2021, are analyzed.

The Agriculture Industry in the Lockdown Economy

Here are four Lockdown Economy interviews from the Philippines, United Arab Emirates, India, and Nepal that revealed effective strategies to grow a business during this pandemic.

The Fashion Industry in the Lockdown Economy

Four small business owners from Nepal, the Philippines, Indonesia, and Lebanon reveal effective strategies to survive during this pandemic.

How Are Small Businesses Surviving the Lockdown?

Everyone knows that the coronavirus has caused many small businesses to go bankrupt. But why have some of these businesses survived? This is what Julia Skupcheko explores in her masterclass for the MBA students.

How is the Coffee Catering Business in Amsterdam Surviving the Lockdown?

If you run a catering business for gatherings and events, the current situation makes you seriously wonder about the future of your company.

A Fabric story unweaved

This story reveals the struggles of a woman-entrepreneur in charge of a sustainable fashion venture.

Earlier Publications

How Will Europe's Online Market of Small Businesses Recover?

From the beginning of the crisis, the online space became the main market for entrepreneurs and especially small businesses. But the countless 'freebies' made it nearly impossible to make a profit.

The Transformative Power of an Accelerator

“The majority of games are about “either I live or you live”… Independently from the polemic among researchers, our families are exposed to violence even in the most simple games. My idea is to make games safe for the people who play them. I have seen and prototyped alternative ways to build entertainment without negative influences: just to enjoy and be playful in whatever way you feel.”

How To Scale A Sustainable Non-profit Initiative On Zero Budget

What started as one person’s idea turned into a global social movement three months later — one that was supported by universities and recognized by the United Nations, involved a team of 70 people and reached thousands of entrepreneurs around the world.