VALONGO

The initiative is based on the experience in the implementation of participatory processes at the local level in Valongo and on current theoretical knowledge about public participation policies.

Within the framework of the implementation of its participatory budgets, Valongo City Hall has worked with Portuguese universities and international experts in the implementation of participatory processes. 

At the same time, Valongo participates in national and international studies about participatory processes and is even referred to and invited to participate in studies on the dissemination of good practices in citizen participation.

The Local4Action HUB Valongo, Participation4All, stands committed to enhancing local democracy. Its primary objective is to facilitate inclusive citizen participation within municipalities. The initiative places particular emphasis on engaging underrepresented groups, encompassing children, youth, the elderly, individuals with special needs, migrants, and ethnic minorities, aiming to cultivate an inclusive and participatory societal framework.

In pursuit of this goal, Participation4All proactively tackles structural barriers impeding involvement. Its core mission involves empowering these marginalized groups, ensuring their active engagement in shaping and influencing community-oriented endeavors. Additionally, the initiative envisions extending invitations to various local governments, encouraging their involvement, and providing comprehensive training sessions. It further commits to overseeing the implementation of participatory processes, monitoring their progress through a dedicated online platform, and ultimately disseminating the resultant findings through a culminating international event.

Endorsed by UCLG and spearheaded by the Municipality of Valongo, this initiative receives invaluable scientific backing from the University of Aveiro’s Planning and Public Policy Laboratory.

The Local4Action HUB Valongo seeks to inspire further local action and build an ecosystem that will more easily meet global sustainability goals, achieving more sustainable and resilient cities and communities, ensuring peace, justice, and strong democratic institutions. By doing this, the HUB is contributing to accelerate and localize the implementation of global agendas.

Link to Agenda 2030

• SDG 5 – Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls
• SDG 10 – Reduce inequality within and among countries
• SDG 11- Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable
• SDG 16 – Promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all and build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels

Link to the UCLG Pact for the Future for Humanity 

• Commitment for People
  • C1. Guarantee equal rights and opportunities for all and respect and celebrate diversity.
  • C2. Foster universal and equitable access to public services, including housing, health, education and participation in cultural and political life. 
  • C3. Promote informed and sustained citizen’s participation in public life and decision-making promoting freedom of speech and conscience and artistic expression.
  • C6. Promote the role of voluntary associations, and facilitate caring through voluntary activities. 
  • C7. Ensure that women and girls are fully empowered to achieve their full potential as citizens and foster a feminist way of going about politics
  • C9. Foster open, accessible and verifiable information and data to promote inclusion, education and communication. 

• Commitment for Planet
  • C4. Empower local communities to play a central role in protecting biodiversity, water, the environment and the planet and recreate local employment, optimise resources, to increase quality of life and protect the environment.

• Commitment for Government
  • C1. Promote inclusive, participatory, responsible and accountable multilevel governance leading to global action. 
  • C3. Protect and promote all public institutions, ensure the integrity of the justice system, and ensure equal access for all citizens. 
  • C4. Strengthen public institutions to enhance the protection of our global commons and provision of public goods. 
  • C5. Involve the scientific-community, civil society and local communities in the process of policy and decision making. 
  • C6. Promote truthful independent and accountable information sources to combat the spread of misinformation which fuels polarization and a widening cultural divide, notably in the digital sphere and counter hate speech, threats and violence. 

Link to other Global Agendas

• European Charter of Local Autonomy

• Key activities
  • [Launching] – 18 December 2023. Read more here
  • Training and Capacity Building for Participatory Processes
  • Facilitating networking spaces and exchanges among diverse municipalities
  • Providing research opportunities

• Local4Action HUB Valongo Promotional video
• Local4Action HUB Valongo Official Website 

In order to join the Local4Action HUB, apply to the form on the following webpage between 18 December 2023 and 19 January 2024: https://www.cm-valongo.pt/pages/1910.

For further information please contact:

• Municipality of Valongo – local4action.participation4all@gmail.com
• Local4Action HUBs Program – local4actionhubs@uclg.org