News

Registration is now open for the second edition of the training course “Public Participation: Concepts and Methods”, promoted by the Network of Participatory Municipalities (RAP). The course will take place entirely online between February and March 2027.

On 24 September, in Cascais, the Network of Participatory Municipalities (RAP) held its Democratic Innovation Academy, a meeting dedicated to capacity building, experimentation and the development of new public participation practices.

The practice promoted by Cascais Municipal Council was recognised simultaneously as Best Participation Practice and Best Inclusive Practice. The 9th edition of the Award received 18 applications from Portuguese local authorities.

The initiative will take place on 24 September 2026 and aims to support local authorities in designing new participatory practices.

The Municipality of Matosinhos is the newest member of the Network of Participatory Local Authorities (RAP), reinforcing the municipality’s commitment to promoting public participation, active citizenship, and closer relations between the Municipality and its residents.

The Network of Participatory Local Authorities (RAP) is launching the process to create its Youth Advisory Council and prepare “The Future of Participation” Panel, two initiatives included in its Plan for the 2026–2027 period.

Associação Oficina and the Municipality of Odemira have released the Odemira Territory Forum Dissemination Guide, a new publication documenting an innovative experience in participatory governance.

The Network of Participatory Local Authorities now welcomes the Municipality of Estarreja among its members, strengthening the community of municipalities and parishes committed to promoting citizen participation, participatory democracy and innovation in local public policies.

Youth volunteering, participatory budgets, children's and seniors' participation, citizen-led territorial planning, and more. The 9th edition of the Good Participatory Practices Award gathered 18 applications from members of the Participatory Local Authorities Network, from north to south of Portugal and from the Azores. The deadline closed on 12 June and the practices now move to assessment by an independent jury.