NGI Local for Local
Design, connect, renurture your local economy
What is Local for Local?
Local for Local unites local currencies throughout Europe, and helps in their institutionalization and technology. We are funded by the Next Generation Internet (NGI) under Horizon Europe.
- A European network of local currencies.
- Supports local currencies with open source technology.
- Helps with the institutionalization of local currencies.
- Can connect you with experts.
Ambitions
Local for Local aims to create a thriving ecosystem of local currencies across Europe. Our goal is to support the development and integration of these currencies into local economies, enhancing their impact and sustainability.
A European network of local currencies
Socio-economic impact in the local regions
A high-performing software stack
Currency Ecosystem Members & Pilots
Local for Local supports a network of existing local currencies across Europe, the Currency Ecosystem Members (CEMs). Each brings its own technical approach and community context. Below is an overview of the projects we collaborate with and the Kampen CityPass pilot.
Main Pilot: Kampen CityPass
The Kampen CityPass, known in Dutch as Gemeentepas, is the primary pilot of the Local for Local project. Built on the Locasus-B stack, the application runs on AWS Cloud in React Native for iOS and Android with a PostgreSQL database and GNU Taler for payment. Its primary use-case is replacing the physical voucher system the city uses to give citizens access to services such as swimming pools and events.
Currency Ecosystem Members
Monnaie Léman
A regional complementary currency serving the Lake Geneva area (France & Switzerland). Work in the project includes thematic currencies to strengthen the local economy, a new communications and marketing strategy, and migration of the payment tool from Biletujo to the Monujo app (developed by Lokavaluto). Pilots include a LETS integration at Kultura, a one-time event token with convertibility, and a pilot scheme with the Caisse Alimentaire.
Link coming soonLoader Token
A Dutch digital token ecosystem supporting transactions in local commerce networks. Work includes building API endpoints for token transactions, payment interoperability across resellers, and onboarding merchants such as restaurants, gyms, and service businesses. The project also produces open-source documentation and training material to enable replication and developer onboarding.
Link coming soonStro / United Economy
A Dutch initiative operating the United Economy local payment network based on Cyclos. Work includes configuring the local payment network, defining a KYC (Know Your Customer) onboarding process, and researching the legal feasibility of cooperative share-tokens. The initiative also participates in ecosystem networking events and economic impact assessment.
Link coming soonLe Val'Heureux
A Belgian complementary currency focused on automating its banking and membership infrastructure. Key technical work includes an automated top-up integration (Mollie-Cyclos), SEPA direct debit for membership fees and subscriptions, a user incentive subscription mechanism, and a communication and user adoption campaign. Val'Heureux has also piloted the adoption of open-source management software for complementary currencies.
Link coming soonEusko
The Basque local currency (France), operating on an open monetary infrastructure built on the Cyclos-Dolibarr stack. Eusko is a frontrunner in documenting this architecture for reuse and in researching ACPR regulatory requirements under the PSD2 banking directive, a key structural barrier for complementary currencies seeking direct banking connectivity in Europe.
Link coming soonLokavaluto
An open-source platform and network for local currencies. Technical work includes payment requests and recurrent contracts, a digital currency circulation dashboard, an Odoo-bank connection for automating SEPA transfers and membership fees, and deployment of a full Lokavaluto stack. Lokavaluto also developed the Monujo payment app now used by other CEMs including Monnaie Léman.
Link coming soonEcoxarxa
A Catalan social currency network. Work includes migrating the back-end from IntegralCES to the Komunitin platform (CES2), adding NFC payment card support for community currency accounts, building an automated newsletter with marketplace features (offers and needs), and developing in-app euro convertibility. Ecoxarxa also contributes legal infrastructure for currency users and management.
Link coming soonIs your local currency interested in joining?
Local for Local is building a cross-European network of complementary currencies. If you represent a local currency initiative and would like to connect, share knowledge, or explore collaboration, we'd love to hear from you.
Contact usCollaboration in funding
Unfortunately, both calls have since been closed. We know about the need for funding complementary currency projects.
In the future, we hope to open more calls for funding, and are trying to achieve this for you.
Open calls
Ambitions for the Future
While NGI Local for Local helps complementary currencies in adopting open source software technology, more is needed to create impact with complenatary currencies. For both the remainder of this project and beyond, we articulate two main ambitions for the future.
Municipal Currencies
Integration of local currencies with municipal and regional authorities to gain legitimacy and increase impact.
European Federation of Currencies
Create a federation of local currencies at the European level to provide scale, structure, and political voice.