The Government of the Azores signed a protocol with twenty institutions from different areas of intervention that will formalise the establishment of a strategic partnership for development and social cohesion, which will be reflected in the creation of the local activity and social intervention centre in the northern part of Ponta Delgada.
 
The Regional Secretary for Social Solidarity spoke at the signing ceremony, stressing that the participation of the civil society contributes to the democratisation of governmental departments and, in this context, "territories should make the assessment of their situation."
 
"We believe that participation contributes to the democratisation of local development processes and efficiently directs them to the goals that society wishes to accomplish," said Andreia Cardoso.
 
The protocol includes 20 partners, namely public and private entities that develop their activity in the villages of Fenais da Luz, São Vicente Ferreira, Capelas, Santo António, Santa Bárbara, Remédios, Ajuda da Bretanha and Pilar da Bretanha.
 
The partnership now signed arises from the activity developed by the Regional Network of Local Development and Social Cohesion Centres. It aims to achieve an integrated and systemic territorial approach, with a focus on community-based local development.
 
In her speech, Andreia Cardoso stressed that this "effort is not solely undertaken by the Social Security Institute; it is rather carried out with the involvement of all parties." According to the government official, "this participatory diagnosis should symbolise and implement what is intended to be an intervention in the territory involving all parties."
 
The comprehensive survey to identify local needs was carried out by all entities involved in the area of Housing, Social Infrastructures and Services, Education, Employment, Economy, Economy, Environment and Heritage, among others. Now, the new local activity and social intervention centre will have the mission to implement actions and projects, based on a territorial social intervention approach, with the aim of strengthening the social and economic fabric of villages.
 
Established by the Regional Government in 2015, the Regional Network of Local Development and Social Cohesion Centres aims to create the necessary conditions to avoid the duplication of responses, through the efficient use of resources. This will be achieved with strategic planning that will be agreed on by all parties involved in this process, benefiting institutions and their users.