Municipality of Faro Held a Working Session as Part of the “Portugal Social Innovation 2030” Initiative
On February 19th, the Municipality of Faro organized a working session at Casa do Povo de Estoi as part of the “Portugal Social Innovation 2030” initiative. The event aimed to promote entrepreneurship, social innovation, and impact investment in Portugal. This project, established by Council of Ministers Resolution No. 54/2023 of June 9, seeks to contribute to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals, aligning with the principles of the European Pillar of Social Rights.
Key Figures and Representatives in Social Innovation Attend the Event
Various key figures and representatives in the field of social innovation, including the councillor and representative of the Municipality of Faro, Carlos Baía, and the Head of Social Innovation in Portugal and President of the Portugal Social Innovation 2030 Mission Structure, Filipe Almeida; the regional representative of Portugal Social Innovation, Francisco Fragoso; and the technical secretary of the ALGARVE 2030 Program from CCDR Algarve, Patrícia Neto Martins. Representatives from all entities with approved and ongoing projects that have a social impact in the municipality of Faro also attended the event.
The session primarily aimed to foster collaboration between funding entities and project promoters, encourage interaction between initiatives, and ensure effective execution to generate positive social impacts in the region.
Projects in Faro
Among the recently approved projects, notable initiatives include those of APPIA – Associação Pró-Partilha e Inserção do Algarve (Project RIA – Reducing Food Insecurity), Plataforma Saúde em Diálogo (Project “Espaço Saúde 360º Algarve 2.0”), Associação SALVADOR (Project “Accessibility 2.0”), Associação GATO – Grupo de Apoio a Toxicodependentes (Project “IKIGAI – Digital Balance”), and Centro Humanitário de Tavira da Cruz Vermelha Portuguesa (Project “Info.Caregiver 2.0”). These projects join others approved at the end of 2024, such as AIPAR – Associação de Apoio à Rapariga e à Família (Project “V”), Sê Mais Sê Melhor – Associação para a Promoção do Potencial Humano (Project “Clube de Jovens de Faro – CJF”), Associação Teach For Portugal (Project “Teach For Portugal Leadership Development Program”), and Associação Cristã da Mocidade de Setúbal – YMCA (Project “Farol”), totaling nine ongoing projects in Faro.
With these efforts, the Municipality of Faro positions itself as the largest social investor in the region, with a municipal financial commitment expected to reach nearly €450,000 by 2027, representing a total investment of over €2 million in the municipality’s social sector.
President of the Portugal Social Innovation 2030 Mission Structure Encourages Entities to Work Together
During the session, the President of the Portugal Social Innovation 2030 Mission Structure encouraged the participating entities to collaborate so that they could maximize social outcomes and impact on the population. Meanwhile, Councillor Carlos Baía expressed his optimism regarding the anticipated results of the projects, emphasizing their significant positive impact on the community over the next three years. Furthermore, he underscored the importance of the diversity and complementarity of the initiatives.
Subsequently, the event concluded with a visit to Poeta Emiliano da Costa Primary School, where the Teach For Portugal project is currently being implemented.
Overall, this meeting was regarded as a significant milestone in the implementation of these projects, as it marked the beginning of a series of sessions aimed at optimizing the impact of social investment. Ultimately, the working session underscores the Municipality of Faro’s ongoing commitment to supporting social innovation and sustainable development, thereby reinforcing its position as a leading hub for social investment and impact in the region.
