Co-Production as a Key Driver in Capacity-Building Processes

This contribution offers a snapshot of the knowledge-building process within the FRED2 project, providing a psychosocial perspective on co-production as a key driver. This chapter aims to explore how co-production has shaped knowledge creation through the active engagement of di-verse stakeholders. The FRED2 project was structured around an “experien-tial co-lab-learning itinerary”, engaging university profes-sors, researchers, experts in EU project fraud prevention, institutional bodies such as AFCOS, and students from both Italian and European universities. Their interac-tion proved essential in achieving the project’s learning and capacity-building objectives. Co-production—understood as a collaborative process in which clients and providers jointly generate value—emerges as a crucial mechanism for knowledge creation. Rooted in service management theory (Normann, 1984), the concept has evolved into a multidisciplinary approach, particularly effective in fostering learning and capacity building at both the meso (individual) and macro (organizational) levels. Three core elements underpin co-production: interaction, trust, and reflexivity. Interaction is the foundation of any collaborative endeavor. Trust, gradually built throu¬gh in-formation sharing and reciprocal engagement, enables deep-er knowledge exchange and the emergence of new power dynamics. Reflexivity allows continuous evaluation of roles and processes, fostering learning and improvement. The FRED2 project embodied these principles through a range of co-productive initiatives—including webinars, study visits, and collaborative workshops—with the inten-tion of establishing an anti-fraud observatory. This initiative strengthened transnational and multidisciplinary coopera-tion, enhancing knowledge-sharing and collective capacity building. In conclusion, FRED2 stands as a prototypical example of how co-production processes enable collaborative learn-ing, foster trust and transparency, and contribute to building legitimacy within complex, multi-stakeholder environments.