Since 2004, the Urban Community Support Programme has helped transform diverse urban neighbourhoods in Greater Lisbon into safer, more participatory and socially connected places to live. Currently expanding to Porto, the programme involves networking with institutional and local partners, while canvassing communities about their perceptions, needs and priorities. This has encouraged participation, leveraged local talents and boosted creative energy within communities to respond to global challenges and local needs. The programme’s commitment is long term to ensure quality and sustainability.
127,000
The Aga Khan Foundation (AKF) is supporting 336 civil society organisations, reaching 127,000 people
We strengthen the knowledge and capacity of civil society organisations (CSOs) and their professionals through:
We bring together representatives from health, education, social security, civil society and local authorities to engage with culturally and linguistically diverse communities and organisations. We respond to constituent needs through mutual understanding, collective action and planning.
In Portugal, K’Cidade, AKF’s urban community support programme, brings together people from different backgrounds and ages by involving them in community improvement and development activities. As time goes on, minds open up and encouraging participation becomes easier. This programme has known particular success in Tapada, one of the most ethnically diverse parishes in which K’Cidade works.
We stimulate partnerships between vulnerable youth and professionals from civil society organisations, public services and local governance bodies. This helps to develop new opportunities, spaces and approaches for youth to engage in collective action.
All of this work is sustained by locally co-designed models and solutions, which has resulted in a set of materials that build local capacity.
Downloads are available in Portuguese: please contact akfportugal@akdn.org.
We engage with the government, municipalities, CSOs, universities, the private sector and practitioners’ associations to scale up these programmes nationally.
By working with others, the programme seeks to strengthen local governance, increase participants’ self-confidence and resilience, and create better opportunities for everyone.
AKF aims to ensure the well-being of seniors by increasing their participation and representation in society, including in local decision-making processes; strengthening formal and informal primary-care networks; and valuing seniors as a source of knowledge and experience in the community.
We: