Final Conference of the Active Citizens Programme: closing summary
On November 20, 2024, the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation in Lisbon hosted the closing event of the Active Citizens Programme, a moment of celebration and reflection that marked the culmination of seven years (2018 – 2024) of efforts towards the strengthening of active citizenship and democratic participation in Portugal.
A cycle of success and impact
The Programme, which was implemented within the framework of the EEA Grants, had the main objective of promoting civic participation, defend human rights, empower vulnerable groups and strengthen civil society organizations. With a total budget of 11.5 million euros, the program supported 182 projects throughout Portugal, including the Autonomous Regions, with the cooperation of institutions from the Donor States: Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein.
Among the most significant results were the recruitment of more than 1,200 volunteers and the involvement of more than 5,400 young people in human rights initiatives. These figures reflect the positive impact of the Programme on Portuguese society. For more details on these and other results, see the brochure below.
A day for reflection and inspiration
The agenda of the event was structured around moments of reflection, sharing of experiences and inspiration. The opening session was attended by António Feijó, President of the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation, Patrícia Nascimento, President of the Bissaya Barreto Foundation, and Hanne Brusletto, Norwegian Ambassador to Portugal, with Fernanda Freitas as the keynote speaker. This was followed by three panels on the balance and future perspectives of EEA Grants support, where two studies funded by the program were presented – an external evaluation study and another on the evolution of the NGO sector in Portugal. Both available below.
The morning gave way to the external evaluation of the program, conducted by António Figueiredo and Filipa Barreira of Quaternaire Portugal, which analyzed the challenges faced and lessons learned during the seven years of implementation.
Aiming at a comprehensive analysis of the evolution of the NGO sector over the last decade, the afternoon session began with the theme “NGOs in Portugal and Europe – How has the sector evolved after 10 years?”, with the participation of Raquel Campos Franco and Américo Mendes from the Portuguese Catholic University, Martin Essayan from the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation, Kristīne Zonberga from the Civic Alliance – Latvia, and Anca Nicovescu from the Civil Society Development Foundation – Romania. The moderators were José Eleutério and Sofia Nunes from the Active Citizens Programme.
The third roundtable, “Narratives of Impact: Uniting Voices”, aimed to highlight the personal stories and experiences of the direct beneficiaries of the projects, thus illustrating the real impact of the program on the lives of citizens. It brought together August Knoke, Tiago Rodrigues and Susana Padilha, participants in the ACP Advisory Group, Margarida Gaspar de Matos of the University of Lisbon/Portuguese Catholic University, and film director Inês Rueff of More than Stories. All these narratives can be viewed by clicking on the link below.
Sharing best practices and networking
During the event, parallel sessions were held to share good practices on topics such as defense of human rights, citizenship at risk and in the legal system, strengthening of NGOs and sustainability strategies in working with vulnerable groups, namely the promotion of volunteering. These sessions provided a space for dialogue and exchange of experiences between the public and the promoting NGOs. Throughout the day, there were also spaces and moments for networking and project demonstrations.
The event reached its peak in a final moment in which the artist Dino D’Santiago, besides speaking about and presenting his latest social project, the Mundu Nôbu Association, created a song inspired by the contributions made by the public during the day, giving answers to the question “What does it mean to be an active citizen?” The entire event is available on video at the link below.
Looking ahead
The closing event of the Active Citizens Programme was not only a celebration of achieved results, but also an opportunity to envision future paths towards a more collaborative, inclusive and participatory civil society. Highlighting the role of the EEA Grants in strengthening transnational cooperation and ties between Portugal and the Donor Countries, it underscored the need to continue promoting active and democratic citizenship. It sought to reinforce the European values of democratic, supportive and inclusive societies, which are essential to address common challenges and build a future of peace and cohesion in Portugal and Europe.
watch conference watch narratives