The Government has decided not to continue the Healthy Neighborhoods program, as informed by the Deputy Secretary of State to the Presidency, Dr. Rui Armindo de Freitas, in a meeting with the current national coordinator, João Afonso, on August 7th, according to a statement from the coordination structure.
While noting that this information still requires formal confirmation from the Democratic Alliance Government (AD, a coalition of PSD/CDS-PP/PPM), the national coordination of the program – João Afonso (2nd edition) and Helena Roseta (1st edition) – proceeded with the announcement, considering it necessary to share with all interested parties, including organizations that were awaiting the launch of a new competition.
“The Government believes that, with the pandemic context in which the program was created now overcome, and not sharing the premises of the previous executive [PS] that led to its continuity (as explained in the Council of Ministers Resolution No. 158/2023, of December 11), it wants to terminate the program,” the coordinators explained.
As part of the conclusion of the work, the Government led by Luís Montenegro requested the execution of a final report by October 31.
“Despite this decision, the Deputy Secretary of State to the Presidency thanked the commitment and efforts made towards launching the competition for the 2nd edition and closing the 1st edition,” the national coordination highlighted.
Without directly commenting on the decision, João Afonso and Helena Roseta, both architects, stated that “it was not easy to launch and implement a participatory program to support vulnerable communities and territories on a national scale (with the exception of the autonomous regions).”
“An effort that was worthwhile, as the enthusiasm and social energy of the partnerships that brought 240 projects to completion exceeded all expectations, and we are very proud of the results achieved,” they emphasized, thanking the “enormous work” developed by local partnerships and entities involved in implementing Healthy Neighborhoods.
Although respecting the current Government’s decision, João Afonso and Helena Roseta argued that “the need for public policies that combat social and territorial inequalities, promote social cohesion and civic participation, involving the most vulnerable people and communities, persists beyond the pandemic.”
“The Healthy Neighborhoods program ends, but the social energy capable of doing much with little, promoting health and quality of life where it is most needed, will remain available to intervene,” they reinforced.
As such, the architects hope that “sooner or later” new public, participatory, transversal, and creative programs will be launched, “which are so necessary to put into practice the great motto of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals: leave no one behind.”
In effect since July 2020, Healthy Neighborhoods was created to support local interventions promoting health and quality of life in territorial communities, through projects presented by “associations, collectives, non-governmental organizations, civic movements, and residents’ organizations.” In the 1st edition, the available funding was 10 million euros.
Developed in the health, social, economic, environmental, or urban planning axes, the projects eligible for application could be small interventions (up to 5,000 euros), community services (up to 25,000), or integrated projects (up to 50,000 euros), all of which were evaluated and scored by an independent jury.
In June 2023, at the closing of the 1st edition, then Prime Minister António Costa (PS) praised the program’s example of social mobilization and announced that it would become permanent, with editions every three years. For the implementation of the 2nd edition, architect João Afonso was appointed as national coordinator, replacing Helena Roseta.
