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1. Social Network Programme and Social CohesionThe Contribution of the CQIMLSN Project for the Promotion of Social Cohesion in Minho-Lima Territory http://www.altominhoemrede.pt http://www.facebook.com/cqirs cqirs@ess.ipvc.pt +351 258 809 573 Carminda Morais Daniela Gomes Miguel Ângelo Valério International Conference on Advances in Social Science, Management and Human Behaviour 12-13 October, 2013. Zurich, Switzerland

2. Social Cohesion - dimensions - • Productive-occupational dimension • universal access to employment and beneficial consequences of economic growth • Social dimension • universal access to basic social services • Territorial dimension • reducing territorial imbalances • Civic Dimension • building a social and cultural identity • Institutional dimension • inter-sectorial strategic planning

3. Social Cohesion - components - • Inclusion • socio-economic component • Participation and Legitimacy • political component • Recognition and Belonging • cultural components

4. Social Network Programme - brief contextualization - • Council of Ministers Resolution no. 197/97 of November 18th • social development program anchored a territorialized vision of social problems and resources, defined "[...] as a forum for coordination and pooling of efforts and based on open membership by municipalities and public entities or private nonprofit organizations willing to take part on it“ • Several strategic documents [Treaty of Lisbon (2007); Territorial Cohesion Green Paper (2008); Barca Report (2009)], highlighting the following key aspects: • relevance of the territorial dimension in the development and initiative and organization capacity of territorial base for the full mobilization of resources; • understanding of the territorial cohesion as a way to invest to improve cooperation between the territories; • link the territorial cohesion to the harmonious development and the reduction of disparities and inequalities between different regions.

5. Social Network Programme - brief contextualization - • the Social Network Programme intends to… • Promote double activation • Beneficiaries. by adopting policies of inclusion • Contexts and response agents • Network is an instrument of leverage synergies and coherent actions for the development of an Active Welfare State • By production, at a local level (municipalities) of strategic documents • Social Diagnosis (SD) • Social Development Plan (SDP) • annual or biannual Action Plans (AP) • constitute itself as an innovative and facilitating instrument to the operationalization of active social policies and promotes the mobilization and coordination of a broad partnership and participation, in a logic of empowerment

6. Conclusion • Social Network Programme can have a strong impact on the social cohesion of the population of municipalities where it was (and is) implemented • Having this social policy as specific objectives, leading to diagnosis and participated planning and promoting coordination of interventions at the local level, it is easy to recognize that all dimensions and components of social cohesion can be promoted and achieved in a clear way • This first and general conclusion is not something totally guaranteed only if it not met a set of assumptions inherent in the creation of this social policy, as defined by law and/or if the application of participatory methodology present there is not idealized and held in a correctly, efficiently and effectively manner.

7. Conclusion • And this is where it is also possible to see, clearly, the potential and powerful impact that the development and the intervention of the CQIMLSN Project had (and has) in the promotion of that social cohesion. • Taking into account the results obtained in the first action of the CQIMLSN Project (as well as other studies mentioned) where are reflected the needs and difficulties, felt by it appears that Program Social Network might not have the expected effectiveness. • However, the work done by CQIMLSN Project, together with Municipal Social Networks professionals, under the capacitation for the use of these same participatory methods and the monitoring that it held among professionals, aims exactly that correct, efficient and effective implementation • This intervention also allowed to support the creation of a Social Diagnostic and of an Action Plan for the all territory of Minho-Lima, where the needs of people are present, and where it is promoted a more rational management of resources in the territory

8. Conclusion • Finally, it should also be noted that the CQIMLSN Project considers (as well as our partnerships) that, even taking into account all the achievements that go far beyond the initial assumptions will require a continuation of the monitoring of Municipal Social Networks, either for the consolidation of the results obtained, and for promote capacitation for the methods of implementation of activities that are resulting from Social Diagnostics and Social Development Plans, built in this methodological basis.